On the way to his last day of kindergarten he uttered that powerful phrase he said to me on his first day of school, “Mom, I’m not scared anymore.” (The same phrase that helped me through my last natural birth.)
He had been anticipating this day for a week now. The graduation ceremony to honor the 6 graduates from his Montessori class included dancing, singing songs, reciting poetry and presenting a timeline of his life to a room full of kids and parents taking pictures.
For a kid who does not like having the attention on him (at all) – especially in large groups – this event could be seen as complete torture! Yet, his mindful teachers knew he needed to practice – to help calm his nerves. And that practice paid off because on the actual day of the ceremony, when it was his turn to present, he looked at me and took a deep breath (like we had practiced) and stood up, walked across the classroom and started to read. He did it! And not only were we, as his parents, beaming with happiness and delight, but he brought tears to his teacher’s eyes.
They knew how hard he had worked. They saw how much he has grown.
His courage touched us all.
Even baby brother was clapping with joy! 
When I asked him later how it felt doing something that was scary, he exclaimed, “Great!” Just another simple reminder that life is full of unknown and scary things that we have to face, but when we can breathe through it, find the support to help us along the way and tap into our inner courage, it is so worth it on the other side!
As a mother, I am continually blown away by the daily lessons I learn from these boys.
Life is full of fears. Some are small and some are enormous. Some we face without much thought or preparation, some keep us stuck, stagnant and unable to move forward and some propel us to a place beyond our wildest dreams.
Ever since ending my last e-course I’ve felt a deep need to unplug. To get quiet. To limit my computer time. To untether from capturing, posting and sharing my daily events.
And I’ve been following this inner guidance by clearing space, going slower and embracing the relaxed rhythm that comes from summer.
I am loving my focused time with the kids right now. We’ve made a summer list and we’ve already had a good balance of playful activities out in the world and downtime at home.
Slowing down feels really nice.
It’s good for my soul and good for my kids. Unplugging and slowing down feels a little scary for me. I’ve been building an online business over the last few years. I teach e-courses and build community on-line! Fears like Will people forget about me? Will I be able to do this online thing that I LOVE if I step away for a while? Will I lose my creative ideas if I don’t act on them RIGHT NOW? Will I lose myself in the world of “mom” if I don’t have something else to cling to?
But then I remember, I’m not scared anymore. And I trust my intuition that knows this is what I need right now.
I see the courage in my boys.
I connect to my own inner strength.
I take a deep breath.
I clear my plate.
I get quiet.
I listen to that place within.
I let go of more.
I move forward slowly.
And I find the courage to listen to my heart – even when it feels scary.
I encourage you to slow down, too! Take time to get on the floor with your kids. PLAY together. Laugh, be silly, be present. And enjoy the deep connection that comes from simply being together.
Let the summer begin!
In between the bike rides, swimming, and getting messy, I will stop by Facebook from time-to-time. Let’s stay connected! Visit my A Free Spirit Life page and join my private Mothering with heART page to connect with other mothers from around the world.
