“The
Reflective Mom-titioner”
I
recently had the opportunity to take a long-overdue mini-vacation with my
husband. We stayed at a nice, well-known
four-star hotel. I was pleased to find
that the bathroom had a vanity mirror – one of those big, handheld 5X
magnification mirrors. I don’t own one
myself so having the opportunity to use it was a treat for me, as it would make
the process of make-up application easier.
My
happiness was quickly transformed to horror when I saw all of the blemishes and
imperfections the mirror had in store for me!
But rather than turn away from them, I took the time to make
corrections, clean and enhance what was there.
By the time I was done and flipped the mirror back over I was pleased at
the finished product.
As
moms we are constantly on the go, managing, transporting, scheduling,
nurturing, DOING. We seldom stop to take
time to reflect and take a good introspection of our actions, beliefs,
thoughts, etc. Doing so could be a bit
concerning, as your initial evidence may reveal parts of you that you either
didn’t know were there, or didn’t realize were as severe as they are.
But
don’t shy away from the process. I
invite you to jump in feet first and bask in the practice of
self-reflection. Only when we take a
closer look at ourselves will we see those things that need to be adjusted and
improved. Self-reflection that yields
self-improvement will bring about more harmony within your soul and among those
who surround you – your family, friends and colleagues (if applicable).
Distinguished
educators are characterized by their ability to be “reflective practitioners” –
ones who contemplate the practice and pedagogy of teaching. I invite you to be “reflective mom-titioners”
– those who take the time to stop and consider how and why we go about the
practice of “mothering.” I assure you
that when you do, you will see an image of yourself that is stronger, wiser and
more beautiful that you ever thought you were.
