Family Fridays: The Storm Before the Calm

Instead of the calm before the storm the reverse has been the pattern in my experience.

There is a build up of energy or stress in the home before something gives and order is restored. Well, a certain amount of order anyway.

Looking back I notice that this has been the case over and over as my family passes through many ages and stages. There is a period of emotional or energetic build-up and just as it gets to the point where I think that I can’t handle it anymore, something shifts and a new reality comes into being.

Why does it have to get to a point where you feel like an answer will never come? What is that all about? It is all about the way people learn. A question is presented and then your mind goes to work to solve it. If there is more at stake then your mind will spend more time focusing on a solution. Without the struggle you wouldn’t have the motivation to find answers that help you gain skills and knowledge to expand your life.

Early on with children you might experience challenges like kids not sleeping through the night, strong emotional times, and balancing taking care of your children and taking care of yourself. Once you acknowledge this part of life you will realize that there is a period where the situation is at it’s height, then some type of answer or resolution is found and finally a moment to breathe as the situation dissipates.

If you are able to be creative during these times you can really be part of sculpting the learning that is taking place for your family. You can use these opportunities to become clear about what you value and what you want to bring into your family’s experience.

If you would like to talk about living inside out please call 613-292-0652, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or share your comments below. Here is an activity that you can try to help you enjoy the storm.

Family Coaching ACTIVITY:
1. You can start this activity by making a cloud. This can be drawn on a piece of paper or designed in some other way. The cloud represents something that you need to place your focus on (Example: It seems that everyone in the house is grumpy in the morning).
2. Draw or cut out droplets of rain showing what your issue looks like in your home. (Example: One child wakes up complaining about what to eat, one child stomps around, one parent keeps sighing in frustration, etc.)
3. Discuss how the family would like things to be.
4. Draw or cut out little sunshines. Throughout the week write down different ideas to bring the sunshine in.

Placing focus on how you would like your life to be can bring about so many benefits to your family. Enjoy the feeling of coming up with solutions to bring harmony into your home.