121: A Motherhood Memory Book and The Rest of 2020

FULL TRANSCRIPT: 

Episode 121 of the Your Empty Nest Coach Podcast

00:00:00

Christine:  Hi, it’s Coach Christine.  This is my podcast, it’s the Your Empty Nest Coach Podcast and this is episode number 121.  If you are new here, know that I tend to use terms I’ve introduced in prior episodes.  Should you feel a bit lost, use my show notes for best places to begin.  In this episode, I share a thought about creating a motherhood memory book and I explain what the episodes for the remainder of 2020 will look like.  I work with mothers of high school students and beyond, who are in the trenches with sad and possibly, overwhelming thoughts about what their life will look like when their baby heads to college and begins to leave the nest.  My clients’ big question is what will I do with my time?  Is this you?  I’ve been there, and I get it.  Empowering you to write the next jaw-dropping, amazing chapter in your life is my passion.  I am energized by leading you in the process of exploration and am thrilled when you unlock the power that lies within you.  This podcast is my gift to you.

00:01:04

Hello, my future empty nest friend and Conscious Effective Olympian, or CEO of your life!  You are doing a great job.  Keep going.  You may not be receiving daily thank you notes or flower bouquets, but the work, whatever that is for you, in your life, is worth it.  Go, you!  Show notes for this episode have links to anything I discuss that is linkable, and of course, you’ll find all sorts of fun stuff, and ways to work with me on my website: YourEmptyNestCoach.com.  If you enjoy this episode, I invite you to subscribe to this podcast, and to consider joining the GPS Support Flock. What is that? I’m so glad you asked; take a listen.

00:01:44

Thanks!  Thank you!  It’s time to thank our sponsor.  This episode is sponsored by my membership community, The GPS Support Flock; Your Flight to Success in the Empty Nest.  If you are ready to find the GPS of your life, sign up to receive an immediate and free download of my PDF, "How to Find Yourself in the Empty Nest," our GPS Life Principles document.  You will also have the opportunity to learn about our community.  See the link in this episode's show notes or fly on over to my website, YourEmptyNestCoach.com.  Click the GPS Support Flock button.  See you soon!

00:02:30

I had this thought about scrapbooks or memory books, which is pretty funny because I’ve never been a big scrapbooker in the traditional sense.  I was a tad overboard when my daughter was young, but even that was in a different way.  I knew I wasn’t sending her to preschool, so I felt I needed to document more, and then it continued in early elementary school, and then, yeah, I got lazy.  Anyway, I was thinking about how we have scrapbooks for times in our lives. For me, it feels like it’s mostly moments.  As mothers, we tend to make a baby album for our first child.  I know it’s common that by the third child that concept disappears, and I totally get it.  But we’ll also have scrapbooks maybe for a year, for birthdays, or vacations.

00:03:13

Yes, while that all represents part of our life, what if we were to create a Motherhood Memory Book that allows us to capture large lessons learned, or celebrate accomplishments that aren’t just our child’s sporting event, scholarship honor, first steps?  Those sorts of things.  What if we created our own Motherhood Memory Book?  Our memories, our lessons learned.  So what if?  

To start, try to find 3 - 5 moments in your journey as a mother that changed your thinking, that opened your eyes, or taught you something.

00:04:03

Let me tell you the first three things that came to mind for me.  The day that my daughter graduated high school, and for me, it wasn’t about her graduation (sorry, honey), as much as it was for all that I accomplished, despite so many people nay-saying our journey along the way.  It wasn’t the moment she was in her cap and gown.  It was the moment we left her homeschool evaluator’s home, got in the car, and sitting in the driveway, I knew we had made it to this milestone.  That my belief and trust in what was right for our daughter proved to be true, even if the moment hits you when you are parked in a car, in a driveway.  

00:04:36

The second thing I thought of, and I’m not even sure what photo I would put this, but there definitely was a moment when my daughter was quite young, that the epiphany of my parents being just as clueless as I felt in that moment, hit me.  It is so easy when you look back at life, or as you go through life when you’re a teenager, to think my parents this or my parents that, but when you realize we are all making it up as we go, navigating life out of the experiences we have had to date, and seeing your parents in a new way, it’s impactful.

00:05:06

The third thing I came up with was, I’d have to say my husband’s cancer diagnosis.  Weird right?  But we gained knowledge about ourselves as a small family, and about others through his diagnosis and treatments.  It gave me an appreciation for life in a way that I otherwise may be oblivious to.  Life is short, we have no guarantees and each day is a gift.  Having to look at it when you have a young child, also puts an imprint on your life that isn’t easily forgotten.

00:05:33

So, what I’m thinking is this whole Motherhood Memory Book idea would be a gift to yourself, to commemorate you, to celebrate you.  Maybe you started a business.  Yes, I’d put that in there.  Maybe you navigated so many years at home as the primary caregiver, and you were taking care of your parents.  Maybe you managed to go back to college while you were doing all this.  What are things, when you look back, you’re really proud of, that you, you have done?  What would you want the next generation to know about you?  I think that becomes really powerful.

00:06:09

Imagine this as a beautiful celebratory gift to yourself, whether it’s a scrapbook or an online photo book that you create.  Call it your graduation book.  Graduating into the next chapter of your life.  I’ve started an online store; I’ll put a link in the show notes if I still have it going.  I’m testing it out right now.  But maybe there, we could create graduating class pins or mugs for us.  You know, we’re graduating into the next stage of our life.  Which feels better, graduating out or graduating into something?  I guess that depends on you, huh?  If you like this idea and do something with it, let me know.  If you are thinking, “well, that sounds like a lot of work Christine,” then yeah, I wouldn’t bother.  But it could be a fun small group project, couldn’t it?  Well, if you want in on something like that, let me know.  Imagine having it to capture your highlight reel and then being able to share it with generations to come.

00:07:09

Before I wrap this episode up, I want to share with you that for the remainder of 2020, I’ll be taking a bit of a break.  I’ll post super quick episodes each Friday.  They’ve all been recorded.  I’ll be focusing on spending time with the family over the holidays.  I plan to return in 2021 with my typical episodes.  Over these weeks, I am, however, in the GPS Support Flock, so if you need support, I invite you to join me there.  Enjoy my quick episodes over the next few weeks.  Enjoy your family.  Be present.  Watch your thought-deliveries, and continue to be amazing! 

[Music]

00:07:40

The questions I have for you in this episode are, one, what do you think about the Motherhood Memory Book idea?  Two, are you following me on Instagram yet?  Yes, I’m going to keep asking you that periodically.  As always, I provide content to make you think, my empty nest friend.  My hope is that I am able to provide you with thoughts that positively impact your life.  If you enjoy this podcast don’t forget to share it with others, it is the best way to allow it to reach a wider audience, and subscribe, too.  It’s free.  Thanks!  And, never, ever, ever forget that you are amazing!

[Bloopers]

00:08:53

Still listening?  Wow, you are about to have a six week break from my bloopers, my extra promo audios and my still listening sections.  Is that a good thing?  Have fun!

[Music]

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