Learning to Be Right Where I Am

In a time long ago before Covid…

There we were – it was Spencer, the kids, and me. We sat down for dinner at a new restaurant we had discovered and in between ordering drinks and dinner I began listing the events, the phone calls, and the activities that I had that weekend. I was listing where and when we were each going to need to trade off being with the kids to make it all work.

Spencer sips his drink and says, “I didn’t know I was in the middle of a board meeting.” to which I snapped, “well I have to plan my life you know! If I don’t plan things I’m never going to have time to hang out….”

The blank stare on his face confirmed the hypocrisy and hilarity of my statement.

Here I was planning for this future to hang out and be with my family LITERALLY in the moment of hanging out and being with my family.

Now in this time of Covid the paradox of getting to be with my family all the time and having to be with my family all the time is giving me.. lots of… well, I’ll just call it opportunity to practice being exactly where I am. If unchecked, I work and worry that Kenna is watching too much TV, or, I play with her and worry that I haven’t returned an email in time.

Now I am a full-time mom and a full-time CEO at the exact same time 24-hours/day. I am thankful for that moment at the restaurant (ahhh remember restaurants?) when I caught myself because it shows me it is possible – right there in a moment to chill out, look up, and enjoy what’s happening around me – right now.

To all the women out there playing the role of mother, daughter, aunt, professional, distance-learning teacher, wife, partner, grandmother, wonder woman, and super hero → we see you. Thank you for showing up. Enjoy yourself.