Healing the Void: From CEN to Wholeness

Category: Motherhood; Nurturing the Self While Nurturing Others

Why Stillness Feels Unsettling for the CEN Mother at the Playground—And How to Heal

Do you struggle with stillness at the playground—feeling restless, unproductive, or even triggered? If you grew up with childhood emotional neglect (CEN), waiting and \”doing nothing\” can feel deeply uncomfortable. This article explores the hidden reasons behind this discomfort and offers healing steps, practical exercises, and resources to help you find peace in presence.

March 11, 2025
Why You Resist Sleep Even When Exhausted: The Hidden Emotional Roots of Insomnia

Struggling to sleep even when you\’re tired? Learn the hidden emotional reasons behind bedtime resistance, especially for mothers and those with childhood emotional neglect (CEN). Discover research-backed solutions and gentle ways to reclaim rest.

March 11, 2025
When Food Waste Feels Like a Personal Attack: Healing Parental Triggers Around Mealtime Struggles

Watching your baby refuse food can feel frustrating, triggering deep emotions around waste, control, and childhood food shame. Learn why this happens, how to reframe it, and practical strategies for a stress-free mealtime.

March 10, 2025
Why Your 1-Year-Old Refuses to Be Fed—And Why That’s a Good Thing

Picky eating in infants is a natural part of development, helping them gain independence. Learn why this phase is crucial, how to navigate food waste stress, and get 10 easy meal ideas for stress-free, baby-led feeding.

March 10, 2025
The Electra Complex & the CEN Mother: When a Daughter’s Love Feels Like Rejection

Why does your daughter’s attachment to her father trigger feelings of rejection or inadequacy? For mothers who experienced childhood emotional neglect (CEN), Electra complex behaviors can stir deep-seated wounds. This guide explores the psychological roots of these emotions, attachment theories, and practical ways to foster a secure mother-daughter bond.

March 9, 2025
Breaking the Cycle: How Your Attachment Style Shapes Parenting (and How to Foster Secure Attachment in Your Child)

Discover how your attachment style influences your parenting and learn practical strategies to foster secure bonds with your child. This comprehensive guide explores secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized attachment; offers healing frameworks like IFS, EMDR, and somatic work; and provides book recommendations, YouTube resources, and actionable Q&A to help break generational cycles.

March 8, 2025
Self-Care Rituals from Ancient Traditions for Modern Mothers

Discover the power of self-care rituals from ancient traditions like Ayurveda, Ikigai, and Wabi-Sabi, and learn how they can help modern mothers reconnect with their bodies and minds. Find practical tips and expert insights to create a balanced, fulfilling self-care routine that supports your well-being and happiness as a mother.

March 7, 2025
The Rewards of Motherhood: Finding Meaning, Growth, and Everyday Magic

Motherhood is more than its struggles—it’s a path of deep personal growth, joy, and meaning. Learn how to recognize the hidden rewards of motherhood, embrace glimmers of joy, and reframe challenges as opportunities for healing and transformation.

March 7, 2025
The Unexpected Challenges of Motherhood: A Dark Night of the Soul

Motherhood can feel like a profound identity shift, sometimes leading to a Dark Night of the Soul. This article explores matrescence, the Heroine’s Journey, and Polyvagal Theory to help mothers navigate this transformation with self-compassion. Includes real stories, reflective exercises, and practical self-care tips.

March 6, 2025
From Maiden to Mother: A Journaling Guide for Embracing the Transition

Struggling with the transition from maiden to mother? These 30+ journaling prompts, inspired by rites of passage theory and Jungian archetypes, will help you navigate identity shifts, heal past wounds, and step into motherhood with confidence.

March 6, 2025