In Our Elements
April 2026 | What’s Growing?
Spring has a way of inviting us to notice what’s changing.
What’s growing.
What’s blooming.
What’s slowly making its way up through the soil to be seen.
Some things push through quickly; others take time.
Some need more light, more warmth, more care.
And some things… need a little weeding.
So I’m wondering:
What’s growing for you right now?
What’s beginning to emerge — in your child, your family, your work?
And how are you nurturing it?
What are you watering… and what might need weeding?
ELEMENTAL MOMENT
I’m going to be honest — the past few weeks have been tricky.
I fell down the stairs and hurt my tailbone pretty badly… on top of navigating that good ol’ depression and anxiety that creeps its way back in without being invited.
But in the middle of all of that, something pretty awesome happened that helped me snap out of it… at least for a minute.
My oldest started making me breakfast and bringing it to me in bed.
Three mornings in a row.
I didn’t ask them to.
They didn’t have to.
They just… wanted to help.
And it reminded me of something I notice often, especially when the world feels heavy:
At our core, we are wired to care for each other.
It doesn’t always feel that way out there — especially right now.
But in small, quiet moments, it’s undeniably there.
If you’re needing something uplifting right now, look to children.
They’re often better at caring for one another (and themselves) than we are.
And honestly, it’s one of the things I feel most grateful for at Elements — that we get to be in a space that notices, nurtures, and protects the real human part of us that’s wired to care for each other. In many ways, there’s a lot of pressure and conditioning pulling us away from that right now. And it feels more important than ever that we come back to it — prioritize it — and fiercely protect it.
RESOURCE REVIEW
This month’s resource is an important one. I truly believe we are hardwired to support one another. And I also believe, sadly, that we are conditioned away from that innate ability from a very young age.
This book helps us hold onto that emotional intelligence in children - giving it words, giving it space, and allowing it to grow within relationships.
This resource review is for: Raising Good Humans by Hunter Clarke-Fields.
If you’ve ever wondered how to better support your child through big feelings — this is a great place to start.
One of the biggest takeaways:
Emotions themselves aren’t the problem — they’re opportunities for connection.
This book offers practical ways to respond to your child’s feelings with empathy, while also guiding them toward problem-solving and self-awareness, and also giving yourself a LOT of grace doing this incredibly difficult (seemingly impossible, sometimes) thing called parenting.
This book can gently shift how you see everyday moments — turning big feelings into opportunities rather than obstacles.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
We visited the Trailside Museum at the Blue Hills this week, and the kids absolutely loved it.
They saw a wide variety of non-releasable native wildlife and spent time hopping on logs and investigating fallen trunks — which, for our kids, is basically the definition of magic.
My 11-year-old came home saying, “I wish we could do that every day.” And honestly… maybe we can…
There’s something about kids + nature + a little freedom that just works.
If you’re looking for a local adventure, this is a really special one.
FROM THE FOUNDER
Mental illness is no joke.
It’s something we don’t talk about enough — and when we do, it’s often layered with shame, judgment, or the feeling that we should be handling it better than we are.
But here’s what I keep coming back to:
Our mental illness is not a flaw.
It’s information.
It’s our body and mind asking for something — support, rest, connection, care.
It doesn’t make us weak.
It doesn’t make us broken.
And it’s nothing to be embarrassed about.
What is hard, though, is letting ourselves receive support.
Especially if you’re an introvert… a people pleaser… a perfectionist…
(It’s me. Hi. I’m all three.)
But we’re not meant to carry everything alone. Whether it’s friends, family, a therapist, or a bit of all 3, finding your people — and letting them show up for you — matters.
I have a feeling you’re already doing so much to support the people around you. If you want to keep giving in a sustainable way, you have to let yourself receive, too.
Those old adages about putting on your oxygen mask first or not pouring from an empty cup… they really are true.
We don’t expect our phone battery to function on empty — why do we expect that from ourselves ?
At the very least, we can treat ourselves as well as we treat our technology.
Here at Elements, we believe therapy should be for everyone. If you’re looking for someone, here are a few places to start your search: (*I am in no way affiliated with these organizations, they’re just suggestions!)
Psychology Today Therapist Directory (you can filter by location, insurance, specialty, etc.)
TherapyDen (a more inclusive directory with great filtering options)
Open Path Collective (offers more affordable therapy options)
You can also try searching “[your town] therapist” or ask in local parent/community groups — personal recommendations can be incredibly helpful to tailor what you’re needing support with.
Finding the right fit can take time, and that’s okay. We all deserve support that feels safe, aligned, and truly helpful. It’s worth putting the time in.
Happy April, y’all. Keep breathing and putting one step in front of the other.
Hugs, (or like the snake in Zootopia 2 says, “Permission to hug?”)
Heather