Hi, friends 👋🏽. I’m Stacy Casson, Chief Play Officer at Things to Think About. As a mom of five who also held a full-time job, I used to hold a PhD in creating chaos. Now, I help other busy, overwhelmed parents have peaceful evenings and avoid dramatic mornings. I discovered that by applying organizational principles through play, I could reduce my mental load, stop nagging, and finally move from overwhelm to action. You set the tone for your kids, and I can help you set a calm one. Let’s get started.
Celebrate Your Wins
Pause for a moment:
What’s one thing you accomplished this week—big or small?
- Did you do something just because it sounded fun?
- Did you surprise yourself about your capabilities?
- Did you watch that movie you’ve been meaning to see?
Drop your win in the comments or share it with a friend!
My wins: I had a successful launch party, and people joined my parent community. Celebrating these small wins reminds you that you are more than capable of accomplishing bigger goals.
Every week, we explore a Tarot card because Tarot is rich in symbology and helps us tap into our intuition. Reflecting on the card and noting what comes to mind is a metaphorical form of brainstorming that can provide insights when problem-solving.
Card of the Week: The Empress
A beautiful Black Woman wearing a rich yellow-and-green bikini stands, luxuriating under a waterfall, with lotus blossoms surrounding her and the phases of the moon encircling her. She has a commanding presence and makes time for self-care. This picture is the physical embodiment of letting one’s hair down. No one is around her. She has this time to herself, and she loves it. I can’t share the card due to copyright issues. Still, I love this picture from the Underwater Sculpture Park in Grenada of women holding hands because it evokes the same feeling of empowerment and unapologetic confidence.
The Pattern It Reveals
Moms tend to put everyone else's needs before their own. Calgon ran a very successful ad campaign promising to take you away. A working woman voices her frustration with: “The traffic. The boss. The baby. The dog.” She pleads for Calgon to take her away and is whisked away to a luxury bath. I now understand why my mom wanted “my own little place, with my own things, by myself.” It’s very hard to disconnect and make time for yourself. One of the parents in my community commented that their day felt like a heart monitor with plenty of highs and lows. They wished for the comfort of rest.
The Question Worth Asking
When was the last time you luxuriated in rest?
One Small Experiment to Try This Week
At some point, you will need to wash your hands, right? Indulge in a hand soap you love that leaves your skin feeling soft. For those two minutes, be fully present. Deeply inhale the scent of the soap. Be fully present, noticing how it feels to wash your hands. Check in with yourself. “Self, how are you doing? What do you need?” Take a few deep breaths. Dry your hands gently, slowly, and with care. Splurge and take another minute to lotion your hands. Bonus points if you give yourself a mini massage. Take another deep breath or two and notice how it feels to take a break. For those two minutes, anything or anyone who needed you could wait. I’m almost certain the world did not stop spinning because you took a break.
Ready to Have More Free Time?
One reason why we are afraid to take a break is that we are carrying the mental load of the entire family. Do you remember that feeling of calm you had while washing your hands or imagining doing the experiment? I designed an eight-week program for parents who are tired of being the Chief Doing Officer and are ready to become a Trusted Advisor. Every week, we begin with a calming, grounding exercise that builds in that luxurious feeling of rest. If you are ready for that long-deserved break, sign up today, as spots are limited. We kick off June 3rd. Here is the link to learn more.
