When it comes to big-picture thinking, it seems there are countless more parenting books and resources promoting the concept of living in the moment. And while I'm all for learning to appreciate these singular gifts and even continue to count them myself, I believe limiting ourselves to the here and now of motherhood also limits us and our children. How easy it is for just one moment to consume and drain and overpower us faster than we consume our first cup of morning coffee. How quickly we lose focus and motivation because the impact of a moment knocks us off-balance and even off course. And how unexpectedly we find ourselves held captive by the drama of a moment we can't seem to escape. Instead of marking our moments, they leave a nasty smudge on us and our day. We become the mom Continue Reading
5 Keys to Finding Your Mama Mojo
We've all seen her...the mom who seems to have all the mojo. The one who drifts by us balancing and juggling and multitasking like it's an art form. The one who's fully engaged with her children and understands how to make each one feel loved and special. The one who often causes us to doubt if we're really doing the most effective job in this massive role of motherhood. I remember those days vividly. Two children seemed like a walk in the park, and then the news of a third surprise bundle came along. The thought of balancing and multi-tasking seemed a bit overwhelming as I considered trying to spread myself between three littles who all needed more of me than there was to go around. If you've found yourself in the same balancing act, you're not alone. It's easy to find Continue Reading
5 Ways to Clean Out Your Mom Closet
When was the last time you cleaned out your closet? When I want to get a better handle on my life, one of the first things I do is clean out my closet. Sometimes it just needs a little tidying up. But other times it needs to be a total reworking. To bring calm To energize To ignite hope To reclaim control To increase joy Often, the simplest transformation in our physical world has the capacity to profoundly transform our spirit and our soul. The same principle applies when it comes to the practice of cherishing motherhood. It's easy to let our calling overwhelm and get the best of us. Stuffing things and not really processing and organizing leaves us frazzled and complaining. Precious moments gifted are so easily eclipsed by the urgency of all that now claims. And both Continue Reading
You’re Not Just a Mom
How many times have you said to yourself or to someone else, "I'm just a mom?" How many times have you un-intentionally devalued your role in light of someone else's seemingly more important job? How many times have you disqualified yourself as a good mom when faced with another's apparent success? And how many times have you found yourself longing for something a bit more exciting and rewarding? It’s OK to be honest. Because the truth is always the best starting point. It's Ok to admit that "The World's Greatest Mom" banner might look better hanging above someone else's door. And it's Ok to confess that we really don't have it all figured out. But when these become labels which define us and hinder us from cherishing the gift of motherhood, it's time to do a little Continue Reading