It’s moving day!
There is a reason why they say moving is one of the top three most stressful things in life.
Even if you are a seasoned packer, when you move with kids, everything is just a little more complicated.
This week, I have needed to practice my self-compassion. I see how the self-compassion I have worked on developing over my years of parenting (because this parenting gig can be tough some days) is helping me now.
Self-compassion is not something that I was really taught as a kid, but it’s something I hope my kids will learn from me.
A number of years ago, I was introduced to Dr. Kristen Neff, who studies and teaches self-compassion. She defines self-compassion as giving ourselves the same kindness and care we’d give to a good friend.
In a world where competition and comparison abound, self-compassion is often sidelined for working harder to do better and faster than others.
In doing this, we are taught to ignore ourselves in an attempt to do more and be recognized.
This week, I grilled steak for dinner. I wasn’t sure it was completely cooked, so I left the grill on in case I needed to put a steak back on to cook it a bit more. The next morning, I discovered I had left the grill on all night.
When we discovered the hot grill, my helper said to me, “UGH, I told myself that I needed to clean the grill and close it up, but in the craziness of the evening, I forgot.”
In that moment, I could have been furious with myself, but I chose to be grateful that nothing more than a wasted tank of gas was lost.
Instead, I chose to use the opportunity to talk to my kids about the power of listening to those little whispers inside our heads. Because when we can slow down enough to listen, there is powerful information.
The universe whispered to my helper to clean up the grill (in an attempt to help me), and because of all the external distractions, she ignored that whisper, as many of us would in the chaos of daily life, especially with a move.
Listening to those tiny whispers and having self-compassion are two of the most important practices on this expat parenting journey. They are practices in the little moments, so that when big moments like an intentional move with four kids come along, we have more experience with self-compassion and listening to the whispers.
See you next week on the other side of this move!
Sending love,
Mirsada
Pssssttttt…..if today you are feeling the weight of parenting on your shoulders because we all have days like this, know that you are amazing. Finding ways to grow and change and show up differently is AMAZING! Your kid is so lucky to have you! YOU are awesome!
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