I never used to describe myself as a "fun mom". Or even just a fun person! That just wasn't me. I've always felt like I was more serious than others, even as a kid, and grew up feeling "blue" more than not. After my first child was born, I was diagnosed with postpartum depression and I remember worrying that he would turn also out to be a serious kid because he rarely saw me smile. And that broke my heart.
Read MoreRegardless of how the kids felt or whether or not they enjoyed it, it was something I wanted to do. And that was enough. That change in perspective didn't take away the frustration or disappointment in the way they behaved. But it colored my memory of the day a little differently. It helped me turn my attention to the things that I did enjoy.
Read MoreBut what if you could incorporate just a sliver of your vacation life into your everyday life? What if you could read for 5 or 10 minutes a night? Or spend an evening playing cards or puzzling? How would that change the way you felt about work and all your responsibilities? Maybe then, you wouldn't need a vacation like you need a lifeline. Maybe you wouldn't have to spend the week decompressing from the stress of your everyday life.
Read MoreDo you create a summer bucket list? I love the idea of going into a season with some intention. Choosing how you're going to spend the time as opposed to letting the weeks just pass you by. But I know the downside could be that it turns into something that creates overwhelm and pressure to do all the things. Not to mention that if summer doesn't go according to plan, you could wind up feeling disappointed or guilty. Well, what if we approached things differently? Realistically? I think it's possible and here's how I'm going about it.
Read MoreAs moms, it can be hard enough to be fully present in the best of moments: listening to your child tell you a story about their day or truly getting into a game of hide and seek. So what about the hard moments? When your vacation starkly contrasts what you’d looked forward to for months or your kids fall ill, turning the house upside down?
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