Sidewalk Classrooms

Learning to Love the Missteps

Today, I embarrassed our 5-year-old for the first time. And our 3-year-old had an epically difficult day.

Let’s rehash, shall we?

We went for a bike ride after dinner. A block away from home, we saw our neighbors outside with their friends, and their motorcycles. My son could not wait to go say hi! My dad and I were excited to show my son our neighbors’ motorcycles, too.

We said, “You can ride one when you’re older!”

He thought we were saying he wanted to ride one now.

*Cue meltdown on the sidewalk.*

Grateful I could help him through it—naming the feelings, holding a safe space for him to feel.

Later, we went back quietly. He requested that we don’t talk at all. And, he got to show up the way he wanted to the first time.

I wasn’t expecting this to begin at 5 years old …

but apparently, this is the journey.

Taking Guilt Out of the Game

So many emotions lately.
The kids are still adjusting after I was away for a week:
yoga, meditation, work, and a lot of quiet (more on this soon).
The best kind of retreat.
And to be honest, I’m still adjusting too.

I need a lot of validating and soothing for me, too.
I’m human, I have emotions, and thoughts that want to control instead of flow.

So I remind myself of the following, every day:
♥️ Time away makes me a better mom.
♥️ Mom-guilt doesn’t get a seat at the table.
♥️ Nurturing me is necessary.

3 is Harder Than 2. Yup, I said it!

She’s learning so much,
and we can’t always see the changes happening in her brain.

• Overwhelmed.

• Screaming.

• Long naps.

• Big emotions.

• Lots of soothing and validating.

Today, she felt everything at once during a playdate.
We ended it early.

Did they play with their friends?
Yes, just not as long as we expected.
And it’s okay.

It was also messy.
How did we get through it?

• I surrendered.

• I slowed down.

• I went at her speed.

She needed a nap … I did too.

If mom-guilt was driving the bus,
I would’ve people-pleased my way through decisions.
Instead, I trusted myself, and
lead with a steadiness to help them through too.

Did I nap with her today? You bet I did!
I also did yoga, journaled, and rearranged my work schedule. #ReleasingSuperwoman

Parenting Is Wild

Sometimes the sidewalk is the classroom.
Sometimes the lesson is: They’re feeling everything. And so are we.

If this is your season too,
be gentle with yourself.
You’re doing great.

Breathe in … you are enough.
Breathe out … mom guilt, not good enough, caring what others think.

We’re not meant to do it all.
We’re meant to care for ourselves first …
so we can show up steady, loving, and real.

Not perfect.
Just present.

That’s what our kiddos (and we) need most.