Hey Doctor Mom,

You’re probably a little sucked dry from the aspects of your life then look at my pictures and think, "How in the hell does she do it?"

"How does she take her 6 and 4 year olds on a 3 hour, 7 mile canoe trip?"

First, let me start by saying...this was a first!

Many times in the past, we did activities because I thought that's what we were supposed to be doing but, honestly, my heart really wasn't in it.

I look back on the pictures now and I see the fake smile and know that deep down inside I really wasn't engaged with my family on those activities when I was burned out to the core. I mean, I love love love my kids but doing those activities just felt like another thing on the to-do list that I needed to get done.

So what made the change? The following advice is what I did:

I encourage you to take a personal time for yourself. Figure out what's important in your life and what's not. Start making small steps forward in that direction. Sounds really simple but in reality I'm still working on it!

It took me years to get to the place where I was this past weekend when I loaded up the boys, got a borrowed canoe and set out down river. I don't think I even could have done that a year ago. It has been a process.

So, I want to encourage you that this can happen in your own life and your motherhood really can be wonderful. Your life can be great. You don't have to stay where you're at right now.

I got your back,

Errin (your future coach)