The Mom in the Mirror

Our kids have an uncanny way of showing us exactly what we need to work on in ourselves. Just as I am finding that my business is my partner in my personal development, my kids are also very closely linked to my personal development. The things that drive me crazy are usually the things I need to pay attention to in order to grow in some way. My kids are my own personal mirror - they show me exactly what I need to see in order to evolve and, in turn, offer them what they need. This week, that showed up in a stress response of mine. When I’m stressed, I start doing more. Silly, right?! I feel this panic arise in me that causes me to feel the urgency of ALL tasks. So I overdo it. I try to cram in more than I can handle. And when things take longer because of an inevitable temper tantrum or traffic jam, I break. This has always been a pattern of mine - I’ll overdo it to the point of breakdown because that’s when A) I couldn’t keep it hidden anymore, and/or B) someone was more likely to lend a hand or rescue me. This has played out more times than I care to admit in motherhood. Facing unhealthy patterns, such as this one, is one of the more challenging aspects of motherhood because either we continue with our unhealthy habits or coping mechanisms (which I tried for many years, but motherhood is relentless!!) OR we can decide to face these patterns. As partners in our self development, our children have a way of providing many opportunities to witness ourselves if we’re willing to look in the mirror. Today, I’m looking in that mirror because I don’t want to keep repeating this pattern. I want to keep a steady supply of reserves so I can withstand the stressful moments and act as a healthy model for my kids. This is going to mean anticipating my tripper points (hello solo parenting!) and practising saying no rather than trying to fit it all in. I’m a work in progress, but I know that if I don’t get it right this time, my kids will find a way to make sure I get another opportunity to try!!