The Classic Mom Meltdown + How To Rebound

Facebook and social media is for sure my highlight reel. The smiles, the wins, the friends and travels. But today I want to give credit to the #MomMeltdown. I was reflecting on this Spring and Summer and how it has felt like warp speed.

Let me set the stage for you and give you more of behind the scenes. The full on real reel. And please note that I am fully aware that these are definitely not 3rd world problems and in the grand scheme of things they are small. But in that moment they didn’t feel small. 

Enter, the Mom Meltdown. 

Episode 27 - The “End of School Year” Breaking Point.

This morning it hit me…the “after dance week, 8 days of school left, we get our van tomorrow and I'm trying to launch a website, and there are two field trips this week” panic attack! The pressure that I put on myself sometimes is more than I realize and it is was heavy today.

I felt it boiling up since yesterday and knew it was coming soon last night when I freaked out on Maxx for wanting a piece of gum before bed. I was done. Completely empty from a full schedule last week. 2 weeks of travel the week prior, we had some emotional ups and downs over the last few weeks due to new schedules (all positive changes, but dynamic changes), we have a HUGE family moment coming up tomorrow, plus the website wasn’t where I wanted it to be and all I could do was visualize the kids walking out of school in 8 days and I was not ready one bit. 

Full on PANIC.

So I broke…had the mini (ok, full) meltdown this morning. I was tired, hadn’t put myself first for a week and was spent. I needed a reboot. But I noticed it and I honored it. And took a step back to observe and make a conscious choice to shift.

We all get there. And if you have never felt like this before you are probably lying and we can’t be friends. :) Because none of us have our stuff together 100% of the time. It happens to all of us. Our plates do get too full and we break because we put everyone else first and put our time, our space and our needs last. 

But today I flipped it. I let the tears come, had my moment (ok, multiple moments…) but then I started to come back to me.

To get back to the middle, I have to retreat a bit. Step back and really “see” what is going on and why. Take a deep breath, have good bath and go into Gratitude for the amazingness that is right in front of me in so many ways. Then everything else doesn’t seem like such a big deal. It can wait. But I can not wait and that is my focus today. ME. 

The point is I hear you and I can see you!!! We all have it, the schedules, the running, the 14 trips up and down the stairs at bedtime and it doesn’t seem like it is ever going to slow down. 

But make sure to slow down for YOU. And you are not alone. Lean on those who love you, help you and know you, let them support you. Because I’m sure they have been there before too.

"You are worth it, worthy, beautiful and balanced. But YOU DO YOU first and if you lose that, notice and come back to you. Because you can. When YOU are whole, everyone and everything seems to fall into place. Working on getting back to me today."

TIPS TO PREVENT OR REBOOT AFTER A FULL ON MELTDOWN

Breath or Meditate

Start with 5 breaths or 5 minutes of closing your eyes and meditating, DO IT!!!! Coming back to your breath will shift your focus and perception all around. Then walk back in the room (or unlock yourself from hiding in the pantry:)

Get into Nature 

Get outside, around trees, go to a park. Sit down and listen. Soak in the sounds, hear the birds, feel the breeze on your skin. Don’t do anything but just be for 5-10 minutes. 

Be Physical 

Take a walk, do 20 jumping jacks or a few down dogs. Just get your blood moving and I bet your perspective will change. 

Make Some Noise

Cry, yell, scream or sing or sigh. Have a fit, stomp your feet and make it loud but get it out of your body. 

Cry

And then cry harder. 

Make a Short List 

Get that shit done! It is not as big when you break it down. Write down the three things that need to be done now, do them and know you have accomplished it. Then smile!

Legs up The Wall

Lay on the floor next to a wall. Scoot your butt right up to the edge of the wall and place your legs straight up in the air touching the wall. Weird maybe, but it feels amazing an gets your blood going in a new direction. Close your eyes and just be for a few minutes.

Go into Gratitude

This should really be #1 on the list because it patches everything up pretty quickly. This is really solves pretty much everything and can change your perspective, mood and outlook pretty quickly. 

So the next time you are about to melt either do it and get it done or take 5, shift your energy and go into gratitude! Not saying that this will fix everything but take time to notice! And next time, don’t put yourself at the bottom of your “to do” list!

XOXO

Kelli