The Emotion Nobody Names at Back to School (and Every Other Kiddo Transition)

Every mom I talk to this week has a different feeling about back to school, and it can even shift day to day for the same woman. Underneath the relief and the nostalgia is something most of us have never actually named, and once you do, the guilt around the mixed feelings in transitions with our kids starts to loosen. In this episode I walk through what's really going on underneath both feelings, why neither one is wrong, and how to find your own focus for the season ahead instead of getting stuck choosing a side. Key Takeaways: What ambivalence actually means, and why wanting two things at once isn't confusion, it's a real and legitimate emotional experience Why guilt shows up as a secondary emotion when we don't know how to relate to ambivalence skillfully Why back to school (and every kiddo transition) stirs this up so intensely A reflective practice for deciding what you want your focus to be on within yourself this fall, alongside the growth in store for your kiddos This episode is for the mom who's tired of picking a side between relief and nostalgia and just wants to feel both, without the guilt and with a little more guidance. Ready to go deeper? Explore the Vibrant Mom Collective at caramaiolo.com.