Selective Mutism

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  • .⠀ I’VE GOT THAT FRIDAY FEELING…⠀ .⠀ 👆🏻J/K J/K J/K⠀ .⠀ TBH, I’m not even sure it’s Friday…
  • .⠀ ‘LIFE ISN’T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS, IT’S ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO DANCE IN THE RAIN.’ —Vivian Greene⠀ .⠀ Hands up if you feel overwhelmed these days. 🙋‍♀️⠀ .⠀ I feel like we did a good job keeping a positive attitude and finding ways to laugh at how surreal our new normal is over the last couple of weeks, but then reality began to set in and while we’re still laughing and staying positive, I’d be lying if I said I don’t feel like I’m drowning most of the time. Being a mom, teacher, and entrepreneur while also making sure we’re fed and our house doesn’t fall apart is a lot for one person to handle.⠀ .⠀ I spent most of last Friday fighting tears, and then one of the moms from school sent me a meme by @emilykigphd, and it put it all into perspective, particularly these 3 parts:⠀ .⠀ 🌟 ‘Working, parenting, and teaching are three different jobs that cannot be done at the same time.’⠀ .⠀ 🌟 ‘It’s not hard because you are doing it wrong. It’s hard because it’s too much.’⠀ .⠀ 🌟 ‘If you are stressed, lower your expectations where you can and virtually reach out for social connection. We are in this together to stay well. That means mentally well, too.’⠀ .⠀ One of the biggest challenges many of us have is that we’re still holding onto our old lives too tightly. We’re so focused on all of the things that have been taken away from us, and pushing back on all of the new responsibilities that have been added onto our shoulders. And that’s fine. Normal even. But the reality is that we’re in this for the long haul, so rather than allowing ourselves to get stuck in the suck, we need to give ourselves permission to say no to the stuff we can’t handle, and find joy in new things.⠀ .⠀ This too shall pass, but it probably won’t pass for a while, and it’s up to you to decide if you’re going to make the most of it, or spend everyday feeling sorry for yourself.⠀ .⠀ What’s it going to be?
  • .⠀ ‘TO THE WORLD YOU MAY BE ONE PERSON; BUT TO ONE PERSON YOU MAY BE THE WORLD.’ —Dr. Seuss⠀ .⠀ 9 years ago today, this adorable blue-eyed gal made me a mom. She was 6 days early and has been living life on her terms ever since. She is the strongest and bravest girl I know, and I am so very proud she’s mine. She challenges me in ways I never dreamed a child could, lol, but I wish I’d had half of her sass and assertiveness when I was her age. She knows exactly what she wants out of life, and she’s not afraid to do whatever she needs to do to get it. Her enthusiasm and love for life is contagious, and I love experiencing the world through her eyes. She is fiercely loyal to the people she loves, and has made me a better person in so many ways. ⠀ .⠀ Happy 9th, sweet girl. I’m sorry we won’t be able to celebrate with your friends the way we had planned, but I hope your birthday is just as special. I’m so lucky I get to be your mama, and I’m so damn proud of you. 💙
  • .⠀ ‘A NEGATIVE MIND WILL NEVER GIVE YOU A POSITIVE LIFE.’ —Unknown⠀ .⠀ 👆🏻this is your Saturday morning reminder to look for the positives today. ⠀ .⠀ It’s so easy to focus on all of the negative ways our lives have changed lately, but try to be mindful of where you spend your energy. Easier said than done, I know, but when you catch yourself going down a rabbit hole of negativity, remember that we’re all in this together, and think of ONE thing that brings you joy right now. Maybe it’s the memes your BFF sends to you throughout the day, the increased time with your family, or the fact that you haven’t had to change out of your PJs for days on end. Whatever it is, hold onto it when the weight of this feels too much.⠀ .⠀ Be good to yourselves this weekend! Xo
  • .⠀ ’IF YOU CAN’T BE KIND, BE QUIET.’ —Unknown⠀ .⠀ Oy. Social media has been an interesting space lately. For the most part, I find we’re all doing our best to keep each other’s spirits up by sharing funny memes and making light out of the way we’re trying to stay sane. I love the sense of community it’s creating, but every once in a while I notice a post or comment from someone that’s less than kind. ⠀ .⠀ If you post a funny meme, you aren’t taking this seriously.⠀ .⠀ If you complain about your kids climbing the walls, you obviously don’t love them enough.⠀ .⠀ If you post an old photo taken outside of your house, everyone assumes you’re defying the social distancing rules.⠀ .⠀ If you post a photo of your kids being homeschooled, you’re deliberately trying to make other moms look bad.⠀ .⠀ If you post a photo of your child playing video games, you’re allowing them way too much screen time.⠀ .⠀ And on and on it goes.⠀ .⠀ Let’s be clear here friends: this sucks. While our realities and struggles may be different, it’s all relative. It’s hard on all of us. We’re all cooped up. We’re all mourning the things we once took for granted. We’re all scared. And we have no idea how long this will continue.⠀ .⠀ This is a time to come together and build each other up, not tear each other down. ⠀ .⠀ Be kind. 💙
  • .⠀ ‘WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ROUTINE’. —Unknown⠀ .⠀ I decided to take a break last week and give myself and my family grace as I digested everything that’s going on right now. My 8-year-old and I have been home for over 2 weeks already since we made the decision to cancel our March break plans, and as we adjust to our new normal, I realized this past weekend that we really need some sort of routine.⠀ .⠀ So, we spent some time figuring out a realistic plan that allows my husband and I to work while my sweet girl learns and exercises her creative side, and while it’s not perfect, it felt good to wake up with a greater sense of control and purpose today.⠀ .⠀ Whether you’re scrambling to create a homeschooling schedule to keep your kids learning while they’re cooped up inside, or you’ve decided to give yourself grace and take it one day at a time, we’ve put together our best tips and ideas to make surviving a school closure as painless as possible. Click the link in my bio, and comment below with the things you’re doing to stay sane during this difficult time!
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