Hi Reader,
Rooted Reflection: The Art of Noticing
Have you ever wondered how you can wake up one day feeling grounded and steady… and the next day everything feels sharp, overwhelming, and off-kilter?
Or how your child can handle something beautifully on Monday, then completely unravel over the very same thing on Tuesday?
It’s easy to feel like we’re at the mercy of our emotions — or that our child’s behaviour is unpredictable and impossible to understand.
I call this parenting on default.
It’s moving through the day reacting to whatever lands in front of you.
Firefighting.
Surviving.
Responding with whatever capacity you have left in that moment.
And it leaves you feeling powerless, anxious, and unsure where to go next.
Most parents who come to me want the “What do I do when…?” scripts. But we gently steer our conversation towards my first and deepest belief:
Intentional parenting begins with noticing.
A few years ago, I was stuck in completely reactive parenting.
Exhausted. Dreading the day before it even began.
Meltdowns, battles, tears… and that was only breakfast.
Eventually, I got to the point where I knew I needed to take my power back, and start figuring my way out of the pattern we were in. Without a doubt, the most significant changes happened when I finally slowed down enough to notice:
- Notice when I woke up already flooded or dysregulated
- Notice what my child's rough play told me about his needs
- Notice which rhythms made our day smoother, and which made it chaotic
- Notice when I was at my best. And when my son was at his best.
This is the foundation of all the work I do with parents:
From reactive to intentional.
From firefighting to understanding.
From default to aware.
And it all begins with one small question:
“What have I noticed today?”
Because when you notice the patterns, you can shift the patterns. And you can regain the power to shape your day.
So this week, my invitation is to grab your journal and try it:
✨ One minute
✨ One question: “What have I noticed today?”
You might be amazed at what you discover. And if you want to talk it through, my door is always open.
Love
Fiona
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