The Truth About Being a Present Mom: Motherhood, Triggers, & Healing

I went into summer believing that slowing down would make me a more peaceful, present, mom. Instead, the slower pace revealed the parts of me I can't see as clearly when I'm busy. In this deeply honest return to Becoming Year, I'm reflecting on the summer I loved, struggled through, occasionally wished away, and already miss. I'm talking about motherhood burnout, the pressure to enjoy every moment, why my children's big emotions can trigger me so deeply, and how my own childhood taught me to anticipate everyone else's needs and keep the peace. I also explore the difference between being physically present and genuinely feeling connected, why healthy routines can create safety without becoming proof of our worth, and what one ordinary moment in Stone Harbor taught me about the presence I'm actually craving. This isn't a tidy list of lessons from someone who has figured it all out. It's an honest conversation about loving your life while still feeling overwhelmed by it, recognizing where healing is still needed, and returning to fall as a quieter person of action. Because maybe we don't need to squeeze more joy out of our lives. Maybe we need to stop fighting the parts that aren't joyful long enough to notice that joy is already happening right beside them.