The irony of motherhood is that kids live 100% in the present and yet because they do I have always had this voice in my head telling me that: because they are, I can’t. Am I alone in this? How can we live our lives in a way that plans for the future needs of our families while also actually living in all of those moments as they happen? How can we trade living in a rushed blur, running from one thing to the next, hurrying everyone and ourselves, for connection and memories, with our feet firmly rooted in the present? Well, I definitely don’t have all the answers but I have spent a ridiculous amount of time studying this idea of “presence” over the past year and I am excited to be able to share all I’ve learned over this next month with you!
+ Early morning or early evening walk (no phones) + Pilates Postpartum Essentials class with
Jenny Redford + Yoga with Adrienne “
Yoga for Connection” +
Present Not Perfect journal + Schedule in one activity every day (write it down!) that helps you slow down. Could be as simple as making a cup of tea or planning a date to the movies with your partner. + Revisit in your mind three things you’re grateful for from the past week. Try to relive them in your mind for just a moment. + Plan the times when you check your phone and social apps so that it doesn’t creep into family or productivity time. (i.e. 9, 12, and 3, or only when the baby is napping, etc.)
+ Wrap up your babe and take a walk. Favorite wrap for “calm”:
Wren. + Get down and look at your kids at eye level. Quickest way to feel grounded and connected. + Make bath time a ritual with your littles. Favorite suds and lotion from
Tubby Todd. + Look at your family calendar and on days that feel too full, see if you can remove one thing from the day to loosen up your schedule. + For ten minutes every day, let your child (if you have multiple, do it with each individually) choose what you do. Let them lead and end the ten minutes with an expression of gratitude and love. + As impossible as it may seem, try to remove the word “hurry” from your vocabulary today. + Plan and prepare 5 ingredient or less dinners this week.
