The Ulisses Method

How to feel empowered with simplicity and care

The Ulisses method

Ulisses method is an analogy of the 12 trials that Ulysses go through in the Odyssey.

12 legendary trials of Ulysses (Odysseus) from Homer’s Odyssey onto the modern journey of new parenthood.

Each challenge symbolizes a real-world struggle parents face, paired with a practical 'Ulysses Method' solution.

Cicones – The 'First Victory Hangover'

Challenge: Parents feel overconfident after early wins (good latch, sleepy newborn), then hit setbacks.
Ulysses Move: Celebrate briefly, then reset routines immediately.

Cicones – The 'First Victory Hangover'

Challenge: Parents feel overconfident after early wins (good latch, sleepy newborn), then hit setbacks.
Ulysses Move: Celebrate briefly, then reset routines immediately.

Cicones – The 'First Victory Hangover'

Challenge: Parents feel overconfident after early wins (good latch, sleepy newborn), then hit setbacks.
Ulysses Move: Celebrate briefly, then reset routines immediately.

Lotus-Eaters – Doomscrolling & Advice Overload

Challenge: Endless online tips numb parental intuition and create confusion.
Ulysses Move: Curate three trusted sources. Ignore the rest.

Lotus-Eaters – Doomscrolling & Advice Overload

Challenge: Endless online tips numb parental intuition and create confusion.
Ulysses Move: Curate three trusted sources. Ignore the rest.

Lotus-Eaters – Doomscrolling & Advice Overload

Challenge: Endless online tips numb parental intuition and create confusion.
Ulysses Move: Curate three trusted sources. Ignore the rest.

Cyclops (Polyphemus) – The Single Giant Problem

Challenge: One big issue—colic, reflux, latch pain—overshadows all progress.
Ulysses Move: Break it into micro-goals and stack small wins.

Cyclops (Polyphemus) – The Single Giant Problem

Challenge: One big issue—colic, reflux, latch pain—overshadows all progress.
Ulysses Move: Break it into micro-goals and stack small wins.

Cyclops (Polyphemus) – The Single Giant Problem

Challenge: One big issue—colic, reflux, latch pain—overshadows all progress.
Ulysses Move: Break it into micro-goals and stack small wins.

Aeolus’s Bag of Winds – Schedule Sabotage

Challenge: Relatives, late visitors, or “just one nap in the car” disrupt fragile rhythms.
Ulysses Move: Post clear, loving house rules and protect boundaries.

Aeolus’s Bag of Winds – Schedule Sabotage

Challenge: Relatives, late visitors, or “just one nap in the car” disrupt fragile rhythms.
Ulysses Move: Post clear, loving house rules and protect boundaries.

Aeolus’s Bag of Winds – Schedule Sabotage

Challenge: Relatives, late visitors, or “just one nap in the car” disrupt fragile rhythms.
Ulysses Move: Post clear, loving house rules and protect boundaries.

Laestrygonians – Energy Vampires

Challenge: Critics or chaotic helpers drain emotional and physical energy.
Ulysses Move: Accept practical help; decline unhelpful opinions.

Laestrygonians – Energy Vampires

Challenge: Critics or chaotic helpers drain emotional and physical energy.
Ulysses Move: Accept practical help; decline unhelpful opinions.

Laestrygonians – Energy Vampires

Challenge: Critics or chaotic helpers drain emotional and physical energy.
Ulysses Move: Accept practical help; decline unhelpful opinions.

Circe – Short-Term Soothers That Backfire

Challenge: Quick fixes (constant rocking, overfeeding, nonstop motion) turn into dependency loops.
Ulysses Move: Use a soothing ladder—step down gradually and intentionally.

Circe – Short-Term Soothers That Backfire

Challenge: Quick fixes (constant rocking, overfeeding, nonstop motion) turn into dependency loops.
Ulysses Move: Use a soothing ladder—step down gradually and intentionally.

Circe – Short-Term Soothers That Backfire

Challenge: Quick fixes (constant rocking, overfeeding, nonstop motion) turn into dependency loops.
Ulysses Move: Use a soothing ladder—step down gradually and intentionally.

Underworld (Tiresias) – Hard Truths & Data

Challenge: Logs, charts, and weight checks can feel confronting.
Ulysses Move: Do a weekly 15-minute review of only key data.

Underworld (Tiresias) – Hard Truths & Data

Challenge: Logs, charts, and weight checks can feel confronting.
Ulysses Move: Do a weekly 15-minute review of only key data.

Underworld (Tiresias) – Hard Truths & Data

Challenge: Logs, charts, and weight checks can feel confronting.
Ulysses Move: Do a weekly 15-minute review of only key data.

Sirens – Night-Time Temptations

Challenge: At 2 a.m., every new online trick looks magical and urgent.
Ulysses Move: Pre-commit to one approach for a set number of nights.

Sirens – Night-Time Temptations

Challenge: At 2 a.m., every new online trick looks magical and urgent.
Ulysses Move: Pre-commit to one approach for a set number of nights.

Sirens – Night-Time Temptations

Challenge: At 2 a.m., every new online trick looks magical and urgent.
Ulysses Move: Pre-commit to one approach for a set number of nights.

Hot Stones & Healing: The Science Behind the Ritual

Scylla & Charybdis – Over-Responding vs. Under- Responding

Challenge: The fear of doing too much or too little during fussing.
Ulysses Move: Pause 90 seconds, observe, then respond with the lightest possible touch.

Scylla & Charybdis – Over-Responding vs. Under- Responding

Challenge: The fear of doing too much or too little during fussing.
Ulysses Move: Pause 90 seconds, observe, then respond with the lightest possible touch.

Scylla & Charybdis – Over-Responding vs. Under- Responding

Challenge: The fear of doing too much or too little during fussing.
Ulysses Move: Pause 90 seconds, observe, then respond with the lightest possible touch.

Cattle of Helios – Breaking Rules 'Just This Once'

Challenge: Tiny inconsistencies—late caffeine, bright lights, skipped naps—add up.
Ulysses Move: Treat red-line routines as sacred and visible.

Cattle of Helios – Breaking Rules 'Just This Once'

Challenge: Tiny inconsistencies—late caffeine, bright lights, skipped naps—add up.
Ulysses Move: Treat red-line routines as sacred and visible.

Cattle of Helios – Breaking Rules 'Just This Once'

Challenge: Tiny inconsistencies—late caffeine, bright lights, skipped naps—add up.
Ulysses Move: Treat red-line routines as sacred and visible.

Calypso – Getting Stuck in a Comfortable Rut

Challenge: What worked at 6 weeks no longer works at 4 months.
Ulysses Move: Recalibrate wake windows, naps, and routines monthly.

Calypso – Getting Stuck in a Comfortable Rut

Challenge: What worked at 6 weeks no longer works at 4 months.
Ulysses Move: Recalibrate wake windows, naps, and routines monthly.

Calypso – Getting Stuck in a Comfortable Rut

Challenge: What worked at 6 weeks no longer works at 4 months.
Ulysses Move: Recalibrate wake windows, naps, and routines monthly.

The Suitors – Competing Priorities at Home

Challenge: Visitors, chores, texts, and work demands choke out unity.
Ulysses Move: Hold a daily 10-minute partner check-in council.

The Suitors – Competing Priorities at Home

Challenge: Visitors, chores, texts, and work demands choke out unity.
Ulysses Move: Hold a daily 10-minute partner check-in council.

The Suitors – Competing Priorities at Home

Challenge: Visitors, chores, texts, and work demands choke out unity.
Ulysses Move: Hold a daily 10-minute partner check-in council.

What is it?

This guide maps the twelve legendary trials of Ulysses (Odysseus) from Homer’s Odyssey onto the modern journey of new parenthood.

Each ancient challenge mirrors a real struggle today’s parents face—paired with a practical Ulisses Method Move to keep your home calm, intuitive, and connected.

Cicones – The 'First Victory Hangover'

Challenge: Parents feel overconfident after early wins (good latch, sleepy newborn), then hit setbacks.
Ulysses Move: Celebrate briefly, then reset routines immediately.

Lotus-Eaters – Doomscrolling & Advice Overload

Challenge: Endless online tips numb parental intuition and create confusion.
Ulysses Move: Curate three trusted sources. Ignore the rest.

Cyclops (Polyphemus) – The Single Giant Problem

Challenge: One big issue—colic, reflux, latch pain—overshadows all progress.
Ulysses Move: Break it into micro-goals and stack small wins.

Aeolus’s Bag of Winds – Schedule Sabotage

Challenge: Relatives, late visitors, or “just one nap in the car” disrupt fragile rhythms.
Ulysses Move: Post clear, loving house rules and protect boundaries.

Laestrygonians – Energy Vampires

Challenge: Critics or chaotic helpers drain emotional and physical energy.
Ulysses Move: Accept practical help; decline unhelpful opinions.

Circe – Short-Term Soothers That Backfire

Challenge: Quick fixes (constant rocking, overfeeding, nonstop motion) turn into dependency loops.
Ulysses Move: Use a soothing ladder—step down gradually and intentionally.

Underworld (Tiresias) – Hard Truths & Data

Challenge: Logs, charts, and weight checks can feel confronting.
Ulysses Move: Do a weekly 15-minute review of only key data.

Sirens – Night-Time Temptations

Challenge: At 2 a.m., every new online trick looks magical and urgent.
Ulysses Move: Pre-commit to one approach for a set number of nights.

Scylla & Charybdis – Over-Responding vs. Under- Responding

Challenge: The fear of doing too much or too little during fussing.
Ulysses Move: Pause 90 seconds, observe, then respond with the lightest possible touch.

Cattle of Helios – Breaking Rules 'Just This Once'

Challenge: Tiny inconsistencies—late caffeine, bright lights, skipped naps—add up.
Ulysses Move: Treat red-line routines as sacred and visible.

Calypso – Getting Stuck in a Comfortable Rut

Challenge: What worked at 6 weeks no longer works at 4 months.
Ulysses Move: Recalibrate wake windows, naps, and routines monthly.

The Suitors – Competing Priorities at Home

Challenge: Visitors, chores, texts, and work demands choke out unity.
Ulysses Move: Hold a daily 10-minute partner check-in council.