Lean In

Lean in.
To the present.
The now.
Listen to the breeze and children's chatter.
Study the reflections of dancing sunlight.
Feel the rhythm of your constant heartbeat, and tickle of grass underfoot.
Slow down.

Give yourself the gift of presence.
In presence is where the extraordinary can be found.
The extraordinary lies in tickle fights, belly laughs, and block towers.
It’s visible in the baby’s morning bedhead and heard in the constant stream of ideas spoken.
It is felt in the hugs and bedtime whispers.
It is found when we stop.
When we set down the work emails or the laundry that needs folding.
Silence your phone. Get off the chair and onto the floor.
Grab these fleeting moments without hesitation.
Presence is the greatest gift to one’s self.
Lean in.

Grab these fleeting moments without hesitation.
Babies don’t keep.
Toddlers don’t keep.
Children don’t keep.
Teen’s don’t keep.
Blink and they’re grown.
Ages and stages fly by at incomprehensible speeds.
Take the time.
Lean in.

———

At the beginning of 2021, I took an unplanned month off social media. I needed to limit my distractions so that I could lean in. Lean into motherhood. Lean into my work. Lean into my marriage. Without all the junk.

During this time I realized how important it is to schedule time to close my laptop and sit on the floor in a cuddle puddle with my boys. Open books, often reading the same board book over and over as it is shoved into my hand. Racing cars down ramps and pulling out gel pens and drawing silly pictures as I simply listen to the constant chatter of the inventions my six-year-old wants to build.

Leaning in doesn’t mean ignoring all other duties, as I find myself in the grey space of working mom and stay-at-home mom. Yes, I am home with my boys, but also own a business that is incredibly important to me. How do I make my career work while simultaneously being a good mother? Traditionally “blend” wasn’t a word used to describe careers and motherhood, but daily I am learning how to unite work and motherhood. It isn't always seamless as my focus jumps from virtual schooling, a nap schedule, client calls and projects, mothering, and all other adult responsibilities. But I am steadily trying to blur the lines. Prioritizing my work along with my boys. It takes practice, trial, and error, and prioritizing both.

Daily I am trying to set my intention to start the day, ways I can lean in. Often time that looks like setting a schedule. Time to work as well as dedicated time to be on the floor undistracted. From here I allow all other choices to follow in line.

I want to celebrate leaning into motherhood because, at the end of the day, success looks a lot like my boy’s hearts bursting. After all, I spent time with them, fully present. I want them to watch my actions and learn how to lean into life themselves.