It’s officially October and the weather has finally changed here in Tennessee. The change in the air whispers another season of new rhythms. I wrote about the start of summer and then again about the start of school and again about the start of another new job. As much as we humans like rhythm, the seasons are always changing and we have to pivot more than we like or else we fall.

The Season of Fall

Pumpkin patches, football, soccer, cross country, hayrides, fire pit nights, leaf piles, camping, hiking, decorations, costumes, Thanksgiving dinners, and the list goes on. I’ve seen so many reels or meme’s about the mother’s checklist for fall activities, but yet our kids mainly want to take a walk. The oxymoron of motherhood. We are a fallen group of women.

Freshly Fallen

We have a giant oak tree in our front yard. The amount of leaves that drop on this one tree is outstanding. We have raked twice now, mainly due to the girls actually wanting to rake thinking it is fun. We started a pile of leaves along the road and wait for the leaf vacuum truck to come by and suck them all up. I look at all those leaves and think of how many times I have fallen recently. I’m blaming perimenopause, but the brain fog has been real lately. I have missed three “major” events including a dentist appointment, a parent teacher conference, and completely mixing up weekend plans for Thanksgiving. This is not my norm by any means, and I have been bothered so much by my mistakes lately. Fallen again.

Free Falling

As a parent we are given the golden opportunity to teach our children whatever we want. We can teach them how to act in public, how to use manners, how to listen, share, clean up, and take care of themselves, but I have found that the greatest difficulty is teaching them how to fall. I personally struggle with being right and thinking that my way is usually the best way. Messing up is not easy for me and the inner turmoil is significant. This inner turmoil is my greatest critic and can truly haunt me. Humbling myself in front of my kids and husband and admitting I am wrong is the best free way to teach our kids how to fall.

Falling in style

As you watch the leaves blanket the ground this fall, may you always remember that falling and failing at our call to be mothers is very normal and ok. How we respond to the fall is how we root ourselves and become stronger year after year. If you have an inner critic like me, give it a name and shoo her away. Cheers to another season of fall and all the joys it brings.

XO,

Kimberly