Sunday night my daughter said something that REALLY struck me. As a family, we were all joking with each other. We were laughing and having fun. Ok, let’s be honest. We were making fun of each other. 🤭
As I began to walk out of the room she said, “Mom, I like it SO much better now that you’re a coach.”
Say what?!?! THIS from my child who’d previously expressed so much annoyance with me, coaching, and me coaching.
I simply said, “Really? Why?”
“You’re more relaxed and SO much more fun. You’re able to see that everything doesn’t have to be serious. I LOVE to laugh with you! It’s just FUN.” 💗
Again, my mind was mystified as her words caught me completely caught off guard.
‘I wasn’t fun before? Was I really that serious?’
And then I remembered. Yes! I was VERY serious. I was that mother. The mother that had been completely focused on ensuring everyone was doing WHAT they were supposed to be doing WHEN they were supposed to be doing it. I was consumed with success, achievement, production, output, and results. I saw jobs to get done and people that could do them. My life was a constant to-do list and I was committed to completing things. I had a beautiful clean home, successful kids, a great accounting job, and a handsome, talented, bread-winning husband. My life appeared finely tailored, almost manicured to perfection. Everything lined up just as it should be. As I believed I wanted it to be.
And yet, something always seemed to be missing. No matter what I accomplished, no matter what I got done, no matter how perfect the outside appeared, the inside was incomplete.
Now, years later, I know what was missing. Connection. And the by-products of it: joy, laughter, levity, and fun.
Yes, pure joy and laughter from living life, not conquering life. Levity and fun from connecting with my family, not scheduling them.
Coaching changed my life. It taught me what I needed to know to let go of limiting beliefs and create new ones that guided me to discover and live a life I LOVE❤️.
A life in which I laugh with my children.🤣
A life in which I celebrate being made fun of by my children. 😜
A life in which I choose connection over perceived perfection. 👈🏻
A life in which I feel altogether complete and whole from the inside out. 💯
If you’re NOT LAUGHING with your teen, I WANT YOU TO. There is so much JOY in having a teenager in your home. So much to giggle about (bruh, memes, epic fails), so much to enjoy (hugs, smiles, tuck-ins, snuggles), and so much to celebrate (first job, first date, first kiss). If you’re where I used to be, oblivious to all you’re missing out on because you’re stuck in the to-do’s and successes of life, it’s time you make a change. It’s time you allow yourself the transcendent experience of TRULY connecting with your teen.
They’re growing older. Days are running short. You can no longer afford to have personal, genuine connection be an afterthought you allow for once everything on your to-do list is done. It’s true, my friend. TODAY IS THE DAY you choose to start having fun being the mom of a teenager!
