This week we’ll be observing only ourselves as moms. I’m going to encourage you to identify transitions (big & little) in your everyday life.
We’re going to be honest with ourselves about how we handle transitions (gracefully, dramatically, from a place of worry, etc.) and what our expectations are of ourselves, our children, and others during transitions.
Remember to take Mommy Steps — small steps each day — as we work toward our bigger goals.
What
What are your daily or weekly transitions? What do they look like? Think about them. List them.
Emotions
How do you handle transitions? Calmly? Frantically? A mixed bag?
How do you react?
In other words, what do you model? Do you model what you want your children to do or do you have unbecoming reactions that you don’t want them to copy?
Preference
What are some guidelines you might want to keep in mind during transitions…for example, my husband prefers not to complete items on his “honey do list” right before bed. Instead, he prefers to wind down for a significant amount of time. What are your preferences during transitions?
The Shift
Thinking about your transitions list from Day 1: What are some ways you could make them more pleasant? For example, when you’re driving to and from work, could you listen to a favorite playlist, favorite radio station, or podcast? Could you make it a habit to call your mom or a good friend during that time? Brainstorm a list of ways you could make transitions more pleasant for you.
Hard and Soft Transitions
Soft transitions are something we do all the time in our daily schedule as we move through our daily rhythms. Hard transitions are the unexpected ones—last minute cancellations, unexpected visitors, interruptions in our routine. When transitions so smoothly, how do you react? When they are rough or unexpected, how do you react? How does the hard vs. soft element affect your reaction?
Timing
Do you leave enough time for your transitions? Do you have a routine or daily rhythm that includes enough time for transitions?