[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” min_height=”2208px” custom_margin=”-55px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”|0px|0px|||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ text_line_height=”2.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”|124px||124px||”]<\/p>\n
And just like that, Spring Break was over.<\/span><\/p>\n Blais and I dropped off Dante at his apartment, Evan at his dorm (luckily they go to the same college), and we got on the freeway for an eight-and-a-half hour ride home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAre you going to be able to drive by yourself?\u201d Blais asked me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I told him I had driven hundreds of thousands of miles and another 500 wouldn\u2019t be a problem. He wanted to make sure I had something to entertain me in case he falls asleep.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI have so much to think about, Blais,\u201d I responded. \u201cAnd when I get tired of thinking, I\u2019ll just take a mind break. I\u2019ll pay attention to my breathing, I\u2019ll notice the clouds and the sky\u00a0and the passing trees. But I won\u2019t think about any of it. I love doing that, so no worries.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He smiled with relief, kissed me on the cheek and moved to the back seat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For a while, I thought about the week with my boys. It was perfect. Each minute of it. Even when it was pouring rain and we had to change plans. When we are together, my world feels like it\u2019s in perfect harmony. It\u2019s all sunshine inside my heart.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Then I thought about what I should write to you.<\/span><\/p>\n Right away, a subject line came to me: Three Things I Wish I Knew at 15 (and 18, and 20… and 30, and 40, LOL) – three things the boys and I talked about.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|on” admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ text_line_height=”2.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”|3px||3px||”]<\/p>\n And just like that, Spring Break was over.<\/span><\/p>\n Blais and I dropped off Dante at his apartment, Evan at his dorm (luckily they go to the same college), and we got on the freeway for an eight-and-a-half hour ride home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAre you going to be able to drive by yourself?\u201d Blais asked me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I told him I had driven hundreds of thousands of miles and another 500 wouldn\u2019t be a problem. He wanted to make sure I had something to entertain me in case he falls asleep.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI have so much to think about, Blais,\u201d I responded. \u201cAnd when I get tired of thinking, I\u2019ll just take a mind break. I\u2019ll pay attention to my breathing, I\u2019ll notice the clouds and the sky\u00a0and the passing trees. But I won\u2019t think about any of it. I love doing that, so no worries.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He smiled with relief, kissed me on the cheek and moved to the back seat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For a while, I thought about the week with my boys. It was perfect. Each minute of it. Even when it was pouring rain and we had to change plans. When we are together, my world feels like it\u2019s in perfect harmony. It\u2019s all sunshine inside my heart.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Then I thought about what I should write to you.<\/span><\/p>\n Right away, a subject line came to me: Three Things I Wish I Knew at 15 (and 18, and 20… and 30, and 40, LOL) – three things the boys and I talked about.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/tatianacameron.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/FINAL_Blog-Banner-TC.com-1-1-1024×390.png” title_text=”FINAL_Blog Banner TC.com (1)” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” width=”72%” module_alignment=”center”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ text_line_height=”2.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”|124px||124px||” hover_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n (1)\u00a0There will always be deadlines and crunch time<\/strong>\u00a0– in school, in college, and in life. We can\u2019t control the crunch, but we can control how we feel while we are in it.<\/span><\/p>\n (All three of my boys just got out of finals week\u00a0so this was a hot topic.)<\/span><\/p>\n No matter how much we plan and prepare for tests, finals, the launch of a product, the opening of a show or a business, the birth of a child, family gathering, etc., we will never be able to control stuff that may come up at the last minute and cause stress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s during that time that we put in extra hours of work, eat something fast, drink the second, third, or fifth cup of coffee (if you are a grown-up, of course), and throw our bodies off balance. This only adds more stress to our bodies\u00a0and creates additional worry and anxiety.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Pausing often to check with ourselves on how we are handling it\u00a0is<\/em>\u00a0what we can control. Taking deep breaths, reminding ourselves that we are doing our best, and then letting go of worry, perfection, and even the attachment to the outcome. Remembering that all is fine. Breathe.<\/span><\/p>\n (2)\u00a0Replace the phrase \u2018work is looming over me\u2019\u00a0<\/strong>with something less\u2026 looming LOL. Our brains pick up on the messages and words that we use. When something is looming over us, we don\u2019t have much control over it, and of course it will make us feel anxious. The project or a deadline can be carefully laid out in front of us, planned, and then executed step-by-step, right? Just a tiny shift in being mindful about the language we use\u00a0can make a huge difference.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another one is \u201cI\u2019ll never get this done in time.\u201d The more you say it, the more anxious you become. Instead, think something more constructive, like \u201cthe challenge is on,\u201d or just focus on the next step and then the next\u00a0 and notice your progress. Mindfulness is everything.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n (3)<\/strong>\u00a0Sleep<\/strong>\u00a0– whether you are a kid, a teenager, or a grown-up, you need sleep. Especially during crunch time – your mind will clear out and you will be more productive. We all need to allow our bodies\u00a0and minds the proper rest – in order to get replenished and properly restored. There is a lot of great research on why sleep is so important for our health!<\/span><\/p>\n To balance stressful times, we need to add healthy nutritional meals, physical activity, quiet time, and emotional clearing. That\u2019s what spring breaks are for really – for kids to go home, eat some good meals, play in the backyard, and rest feeling safe and secure in their parents\u2019 nest – or even mama\u2019s lap – no shame around that! \ud83d\ude42 And when we get older, or no longer have that \u2018nest,\u2019 we still need to find a support system that provides that).<\/span><\/p>\n I don\u2019t expect my boys to practice these at all times – but just talking about it, and being aware of things like this, helps them – and me – to be more mindful about how we manage stress and anxiety, protect our health and create a life of wellbeing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I hope this was helpful to you too!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|on” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ text_line_height=”2.5em”]<\/p>\n (1)\u00a0There will always be deadlines and crunch time<\/strong>\u00a0– in school, in college, and in life. We can\u2019t control the crunch, but we can control how we feel while we are in it.<\/span><\/p>\n (All three of my boys just got out of finals week\u00a0so this was a hot topic.)<\/span><\/p>\n No matter how much we plan and prepare for tests, finals, the launch of a product, the opening of a show or a business, the birth of a child, family gathering, etc., we will never be able to control stuff that may come up at the last minute and cause stress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s during that time that we put in extra hours of work, eat something fast, drink the second, third, or fifth cup of coffee (if you are a grown-up, of course), and throw our bodies off balance. This only adds more stress to our bodies\u00a0and creates additional worry and anxiety.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Pausing often to check with ourselves on how we are handling it\u00a0is<\/em>\u00a0what we can control. Taking deep breaths, reminding ourselves that we are doing our best, and then letting go of worry, perfection, and even the attachment to the outcome. Remembering that all is fine. Breathe.<\/span><\/p>\n (2)\u00a0Replace the phrase \u2018work is looming over me\u2019\u00a0<\/strong>with something less\u2026 looming LOL. Our brains pick up on the messages and words that we use. When something is looming over us, we don\u2019t have much control over it, and of course it will make us feel anxious. The project or a deadline can be carefully laid out in front of us, planned, and then executed step-by-step, right? Just a tiny shift in being mindful about the language we use\u00a0can make a huge difference.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another one is \u201cI\u2019ll never get this done in time.\u201d The more you say it, the more anxious you become. Instead, think something more constructive, like \u201cthe challenge is on,\u201d or just focus on the next step and then the next\u00a0 and notice your progress. Mindfulness is everything.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n (3)<\/strong>\u00a0Sleep<\/strong>\u00a0– whether you are a kid, a teenager, or a grown-up, you need sleep. Especially during crunch time – your mind will clear out and you will be more productive. We all need to allow our bodies\u00a0and minds the proper rest – in order to get replenished and properly restored. There is a lot of great research on why sleep is so important for our health!<\/span><\/p>\n To balance stressful times, we need to add healthy nutritional meals, physical activity, quiet time, and emotional clearing. That\u2019s what spring breaks are for really – for kids to go home, eat some good meals, play in the backyard, and rest feeling safe and secure in their parents\u2019 nest – or even mama\u2019s lap – no shame around that! \ud83d\ude42 And when we get older, or no longer have that \u2018nest,\u2019 we still need to find a support system that provides that).<\/span><\/p>\n I don\u2019t expect my boys to practice these at all times – but just talking about it, and being aware of things like this, helps them – and me – to be more mindful about how we manage stress and anxiety, protect our health and create a life of wellbeing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I hope this was helpful to you too!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|auto|-40px|auto||” custom_padding=”||20px|||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ text_font=”Nunito|600|on||||||” text_text_color=”#BE1E2D” text_font_size=”45px” header_font=”Nunito||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#BE1E2D” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” custom_padding=”2px|124px|6px|124px||”]<\/p>\n Music\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-53px|||||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”1640px” custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-1px|||” custom_padding=”|124px|52px|124px||” hover_enabled=”0″ text_line_height=”2.5em”]<\/p>\n By the time I was done \u2018thinking\u2019 I noticed I was headed into a beautiful sunset. I cued up the\u00a0SONG\u00a0<\/strong>that came up to me several times during our little spring break trip:\u00a0\u201cSunrise, Sunset\u201d<\/a><\/span>\u00a0from Fiddler on the Roof (my late husband Matthew loved that show!)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I won\u2019t lie, I got a little teary-eyed, my chest tightened\u2026 and I allowed the ache of already missing my boys to flow through me. As the song ended, and the night set in, a bright new moon followed Blais and me home.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|on” _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”49px” custom_padding=”||0px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ text_line_height=”2.5em”]<\/p>\n\n
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