Hi friends, it’s been a minute. 😅 As many of you know, I have moved back from full-time content creation to part-time. You can click here to get caught up with my goals and refreshed vision for my blog and content. I have been so excited to get back to my blog and to focus more fully on my kids and family.
January and February were not what I had envisioned for the start of the new year. I wanted to start 2023 off strong by writing more blog posts, coming up with better organization for everyday life (meal ideas, decluttering, etc.), and being intentional in setting time aside for just me. Well, none of it happened, haha.
Both of the kids have wanted to be attached to me 24/7. Literally, I think the longest stretch of time I’ve had without a child attached to me so far this year has been less than 2 hours. I haven’t gotten to tackle the majority of my “start the new year off strong” list, never mind having a moment to simply breathe.
I chose the word “slow” as my word of the year for 2023. It was put on my heart and it’s certainly what I need in my life. A huge part of why I decided to shift back in content is to be able to fully enjoy and soak in these babyhood and young childhood moments. These years go by so fast and I don’t want to miss any of it. While my year didn’t get off to the start I had expected, it ended up being exactly in line with my main goal for the year… to slow down.
I’m still in the process of learning to slow down and I’m realizing it’s not as natural for me as I had hoped it would be. But I’m present with my children, I’m not stressed with work (blog + content), and I’m learning. Today, I wanted to share a few ways that I’m learning to embrace slow motherhood.
HOW I’M EMBRACING SLOW MOTHERHOOD
MINDSET SHIFT – The mindset shift has been the most important change for me in learning to slow down. I have never really identified as either “type A” or “type B” when it comes to my personality. I have always had attributes of both but after becoming a mom and when I still focused on content full-time, I found myself becoming very “type A”. With really wanting to scale back and soak in every moment with my children, I’m learning to become more relaxed.
I definitely have A LONG ways to go. The mindset shift isn’t just an easy switch I can turn on or off. I have to be intentional with reminding myself every day (sometimes multiple times a day) of why slow motherhood has been put on my heart to pursue.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE – I believe structure is good and healthy for the kids and me. We have a general everyday routine but this year, I’m allowing more flexibility in our day. I want to go with the flow of what the day brings while still having a light routine to keep us on track. I’ll make a note of certain tasks I want to get accomplished during the day. I usually have 1-2 must-do tasks, like loading the dishwasher or vacuuming, and then all other tasks are flexible and can get done as I have the opportunity to do them.
If I ever have any highly important or time-sensitive things that need to get done, I try to save them for Thursdays and Fridays, since those are my husband’s days off. It’s much easier for me this way. It takes the pressure off of me but still gives me the structure I need to make things happen.
If you’re a mom, especially a mom in the thick of it with young ones, you totally know that some days go smoothly and others just don’t. Every day is like a surprise, haha. 🤪 A flexible schedule is proving to be a must in slow motherhood for me.
INCLUDING MY CHILDREN – One of the most special things for me as a mother is including my children in everyday tasks. Taya has the biggest helping heart there is and Jace (11 months) is wanting to do what Taya does, so he’s learning to help, too. My kids just want to be with me. They don’t see dishes, laundry, and cleaning up as “chores”, they see these tasks as opportunities to be with me.
It’s my children’s job to play. If they want to join in and help me, I do my best to let them get involved in some way. Sometimes I start a task without inviting them to join in but I’m learning to ask if they want to be included from the start.
Being fully transparent, sometimes I’d rather clean alone and have a minute to breathe. I would be able to finish laundry or dishes on my own much faster. But I’m teaching myself to see these everyday tasks as teaching moments for my children. Magic happens in the mundane.
PIN FOR LATER!
My heart is full and my journey of embracing “slow” has just begun. 🤎 I’m looking forward to learning more deeply and sharing my experience along the way.
Connect with me on Instagram @summertelban to get a sneak peek into my everyday life as a mom of two.
