Maintain Motivation: Celebrate Your Successes

Recognize Your Achievements

Last week was my oldest child’s 11th birthday, a true milestone for both of us. Taking a rare moment out of mothering and work, I had time to realize that it’s a real privilege to watch someone evolve from birth to puberty. Previously a helpless baby, he’s now reached the the cusp of independence and is becoming an adult.

What a journey my son’s been on for those 11 years and how much he’s learned ~ from the basics like how to breathe, eat, walk and talk, to more complex skills like reading, riding a bike, speaking Spanish and making friends all over the world. He’s also achieved excellent academic results in public schools in New Zealand, Costa Rica and now Australia.

Stop, Take Stock and Congratulate Yourself

Becoming a mother has been an amazing journey for me too, but sadly I’ve often been too busy cooking, cleaning, laundering, organizing, disciplining and helping my child to really appreciate how much we’ve both grown and changed over the years. Time has truly flown by. It’s incredible to think that  11 years have passed since I first held that newborn in my arms, and sad to think that so much of my time as a mother is taken up with the mundane chores of daily life.

So today I’ve realised the need to stop, take stock and congratulate myself on our progress and achievements to date. When it comes to parenting, I may not be Dr. Phil but I’m doing the best I can and that in itself is a huge achievement.

Basketball Cake: the Pinnacle of My Culinary Creativity

Celebrate Everything You’ve Succeeded At

It’s amazing to think back on everything you’ve been up to for the last 11 years, to consider have you changed and what you’ve learnt. Take a moment to recall your proudest moments and enjoy thinking about them. Now’s the time to eat cake, look at some old photos, remember where we came from and celebrate who we are now. To paraphrase Scarlett O’ Hara, tomorrow is just another day.

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Good luck with all your plans!