If you see us wandering this summer, we’re (probably) not lost. Come say hi and maybe we’ll explore together for a little while.
Category: Real Talk w/Holly Richardson
In spite of all my imperfections – and any mother’s imperfections – it’s still been a lifetime of learning and loving.
I had “discovered” that mom’s work does not start at 8 am and end at 5 pm. There was always something more that needed to be done. The mom “to-do” list is never finished. I was burned out.
Embrace the ‘and.’ You’re a mother AND….There is a time and a season for everything. When it’s your season, go for it. I did it. So can you.
You can challenge all sorts of things – you can challenge inequities, challenge bias, challenge assumptions, challenge stereotypes, challenge the status quo, challenge the gender pay gap, and challenge sexism, both hostile and benevolent. You can even challenge yourself.
Being knee-deep in poopy diapers was not exactly my dream job…but I can look back on my 34 years of being a parent and see how selfishness has been squeezed out of me, how patience has increased many times over from those early days, how my abilities to deal with melt-downs and all manner of come-aparts have grown, and how I found God in the trenches.
Dreaming can be scary, I get it. It takes time to dream. It takes emotional energy to dream. But fellow traveler on the mom path – we need to do it. Our family needs us to do it. Our kids need us to do it and the world needs us to do it.
Check out the ultimate guide to your Christmas holiday by Holly Richardson! It includes journal prompts, service ideas, timeless gift ideas, recipes and much more to make your holiday more meaningful and help you be present for all the good stuff.
This year, I’ve found myself more anxious and more out of sorts than I normally am. I’ve needed to address the mom stress directly, especially going into the holiday season. I meditate. I breathe. I journal. I manage expectations – my own and others’. And I use music.
Some trials I never have and never will be grateful for. However, I have learned I can still find ways to be grateful in the middle of despair and later, I am often grateful for lessons learned, for empathy deepened and a heart softened. Gratitude and sorrow can co-exist.