I’m heading into my tenth year of motherhood, and I’m grateful for the journey. I went from hopeless on Christmas Day in 2015 to hopeful by New Year’s Eve after discovering I was pregnant to pure happiness once the sonogram showed my two little nuggets of joy. A year later in 2017, I was five months post-partum and just beginning to feel a bit more settled into motherhood. What a difference a year can make.
The consequences of pregnancy is that mothering is this standing still and actively in motion activity. It’s long days, longer evenings, but before you know it, a year has gone by. Mothers are constantly managing the push and pull of what’s working, what’s not working, and what to wait out to see if it will or will not work. Each year, I look for ways to improve and as it turns out, there is a framework for that. This framework, stop-start-continue, can be applied to mothering and beyond.
The consequences of pregnancy is that I no longer have babies. My duo is growing up right before my eyes. I can see it, hear it, smell it, and more importantly I can feel it. As a metaphor, they’re branches that are growing longer and further away from the trunk of our family tree. I hear the budding of their independent thoughts, desires and feelings. They need nourishment for not only their day-to-day needs but also for their individualism. Consequently, this stop-start-continue exercise is perfect as I believe it honors the stage my duo is at and will help me to continue bringing out the best in them.
Stop
I plan to stop letting technology get in the way of time with my kids. While technology is an inevitable reality for my Generation Alpha duo, I want it to be a bridge in our relationship. My intention is that we will have ‘technology free’ times throughout the week. This ‘free time’ will be used to foster communication and connection. Additionally, my goal is to model the behavior and relationship that I want them to have with technology.
Start
This year I want to branch out as well. As the individualism of my duo begins to bloom, it’s time for me to refine what makes me the best beyond being a mom. It’s time their view of me expands beyond my singular role as their mother.
Continue
I will continue to be safe and happy place for my family. I intend to continue strengthening our bond as my kids continue to branch out further. I will continue to nourish our family tree so that the leaves that grow and bloom from their branches are bright green, bud beautiful fruit and flowers and attract the best to them.
Time is not standing still for us. It is the consequence of pregnancy. One second, it’s feedings and diapers. Next, it’s the school pick-up lane and helping with homework. Then it’s the next big moment and the next ones after that. It all goes slow and fast at the same time. So, grab yourself a pen and paper or your Notes app and record how you can foster the best and be your best; what’s working, not working, and what can continue in 2026.
Share what you plan to stop-start-continue this year.
