Mother's Intuition

I've had nearly a week where I really felt like I was "in the flow". You know the feeling you get in those blissful moments when you are riding in the current of life rather than bouncing through rapids or swimming upstream? I'll be the first to admit that I have not always been really good about noticing those moments when the stars are aligning and pieces fall into place. But in the last couple years I have been making a real effort to pay attention, acknowledge and give thanks for these times. This has been an especially long stretch in the flow, so I'm here to say that I am so grateful. I've been trying to enjoy it, make art and soak it in. Then today some *minor* struggles started showing up again... It started with some of the usual toddler independence struggles and then some work meeting awkwardness and... well, just your standard, run-of-the-mill ups and downs. But having just come off a week of pretty smooth sailing, I felt better equipped to handle it all. And I remembered to use some of the tools and wisdom I've gathered along the way. One of my most favorite "tools" for motherhood's many challenging moments is this jar of mother's wisdom. My sweet friend Rin Carroll Jackson gathered words of wisdom from probably a dozen or so of her mama friends and gave them to me when I was pregnant. It was seriously the best baby shower gift ever. I put all of these little pieces of guidance into a big jar. It's on the dresser in our son's bedroom. I regularly reach in a pull out one of these beautiful slips of paper and put it in a little birdie clip that also sits on his dresser. It's there as a little reminder when I need it or pass by... Though I don't know the women who wrote me these little purls of wisdom, I am grateful to them all. They range in topic from tips like "Don't give your kid juice in a bottle." to guidance like, "Find some friends who have kids a little bit older than your own and get together with them regularly." I always seem to pull the card I need at the time. And I feel lifted up by this community of mamas. Isn't that one of the best gifts ever? I feel like handmade gifts like this are absolute treasures. The thought, love and care that went into it make my heart swell. Have you ever received a gift like this? I'd love to hear about it! Please share in the comments below. As always, thanks for stopping by! PS: Stay tuned! Next week I'm hopping into a big celebration of all things paper (Oh paper, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways!) with over 80 other paper fans. Check back on March 10 for some serious paper love.