Communication and Feedback: Level Up Your Mom Game
Introduction
As a stay at home mom, it’s quite fun, but it can also be a total hot mess! Sometimes, a laundry pile that reaches your ears or repeated snack requests just means you don’t have time for you. But here’s the scoop: And those everyday chats with your spouse, kids, and friends are the best ways to grow. Yep, the best part is that communication and feedback will help you, as a mom as well as to yourself!
Motherhood : Magic of Open Communication
Sometimes we keep our feelings locked up. You may be overloaded, exhausted or just don’t want to seem like you’ve run out of steam. But here’s the thing: you need to let it out! Once you start open, clear conversation with your husband, kids, or bestie, you’ll see how much more you love yourself.
By speaking up you will begin to notice what is going on with you. If you can see what’s bugging you or what’s making you happy, you’ll understand how to grow a little bit better. Real with yourself and real with the people around you.
Be the Best Version of Yourself Using Everyday Feedback
The problem is that you’re already getting feedback from your family. It’s just kept wrapped up in everyday moments. It could be your partner telling you, ‘You seem a bit stressed lately.’ Or your kids rolling their eyes while they drag you off to put them to bed. Don’t shrug off those comments, instead think about that, and use communication and feedback to grow.
Go ahead and ask directly for feedback. Something you could say is, ‘Hey how’s our morning routine going so far?’ That’s how you learn where you can make small changes to make things run better at home and how you show up as a mom and partner.
How to Take Constructive Criticism Without Losing Your Mind
It’s true that nobody is looking forward to being criticized, even when done with the best of intentions. But guess what? When you learn to separate the feedback from your emotions, you grow. The next time your partner suggests a different way to do with the kids or your friend says you’re not taking care of yourself, have a deep breath.
Don’t get defensive, just realize that feedback isn’t about you personally, it’s help to make things better. It’s not meant to reflect on your worth — it’s meant to be a roadmap for improvement.
Listen Up: Empathy: A Way to Improve Your Communication Skills
So we often talk about communication, but here’s the catch, listening is half the battle. What you are really hearing when you listen to your kids, your partner, or your friends isn’t just words. You’re being able to pick up on emotions, needs, and unspoken cues that can help you grow.
This is where communication and feedback come into play. When your little one is melting down or your husband is about to vent, stop and really listen. This will help you strengthen the relationships, but also help you improve your emotional intelligence; a very important part of personal growth.
Family Feedback Loops: How to Grow Together
Your family is your team. Just like any great team, communication is important. You stay on the same page (and grow together) by creating a feedback loop. It’s just a fancy way of saying, ‘Let’s look at what’s working and what’s not.’
Have a family meeting once a week and have everyone get a chance to share what’s on their mind. There’s a good chance your kids will say something like, “I love when we have movie night” or “I miss when we used to go on walks after dinner.” These little pieces of feedback can teach you how to tweak your routine for everyone’s sake while revealing where you can grow as a mom.
Why Group self-Care Activities With Other Moms are a Game Changer
Being a stay-at-home mom can be pretty isolating sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be. Group self-care activities are a total game changer. Whether you’re in a yoga class, a book club, or just heading out for coffee with other moms, these moments of connection can heal you in ways you didn’t know you needed.
Not only do you get a little me time, but these activities also provide you an opportunity to tell and share tips, swap stories, and get real communication and feedback from moms who get it. Getting around other moms in a relaxed setting is a space to vent, offer advice, and pick up new ideas for self-care or family life management. There’s a chance you’ll hear something as simple as, “I started taking a 10-minute walk each morning, and it’s changed the game for me.” This gives you a chance for a little nugget to inspire your own routine, maybe a bit more balanced. And then there’s a bit of group self-care to remind you to put yourself first (self-care really is the only way to keep your sanity), so here’s to that!
Self-Talk: The Most Important Conversation You’ll Ever Have
We’re talking about the one that lives in your head. Your self-talk can make or break your confidence, but it does a huge part in your personal growth. Are you motivating yourself to do better, or do you consider yourself your own worst critic?
Reminding yourself that you’re doing your best is useful when you are spiraling after a hard day. When things go pear-shaped, rather than thinking, “I’m the worst,” say to yourself, “It was just a tough day, and I will get through this.” It can make you bounce back quicker and move forward again more quickly.
Your Kids Can Teach You About Growth
But you might not realize this, but your kids are teaching you every single day. Feedback isn’t always a word—they give you cues through their actions and through communication and feedback. If your child tells you, “Mommy, play with me,” they are telling you their priorities. They may be acting out, or that’s a signal that they want more attention.
Make use of these cues as good feedback. Are you spending quite enough time with them? What areas can you be more present through? You learn from your kids’ needs, not just as a mom but as a person.
Tough Talks: How to Turn Conflict into Growth Opportunities
No one likes conflict, but not addressing it won’t do anyone any good. These moments are actually opportunities to learn and improve, whether it’s an argument with your spouse or something tough you’re having with your kids.
Next time you’re about to get into it with someone, don’t think, “Ugh, I need this to be over with,” but instead ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” When you resolve conflict with people through open communication, it will increase your confidence and reveal new ways you can feel more connected to yourself and to your relationships.
Strengthen Your Marriage and Yourself Using Feedback
Marriage is a partnership, and communication is a part of that. It’s a good habit to check in with your spouse, not just about the day-to-day stuff, but how are you doing as a team? So ask questions like, ‘How have we been dealing with stress lately?’ or ‘What am I doing wrong?’
These conversations not only boost the romance but also provide you valuable communication and feedback on the important areas you can exercise with regards to your qualities as an individual. Sure, it’s true that when you’re growing together, you’re growing stronger.
Putting Feedback into Action: Your Personal Growth Game Plan
Receiving feedback is good, but actually doing something with it is completely different. Pick out one area of your life that you want to improve first. It could be simply being a little more patient with your children or taking a little more time for yourself. It doesn’t matter what it is, but set small, attainable goals and check in with yourself often.
Don’t forget to celebrate your wins along the way, too! Remember: victory at bedtime or getting some “me” time happened either. Just keep moving forward. Personal growth is never-ending; it is not always a destination.
Wrapping It Up: You’ve Got This, Mama!
By regularly building communication and feedback into your life as a mom and as a person, you’ll discover so many ways you can grow not only as a mom but as a whole. So next time you’re having a chat with your family or reflecting on your day, remember: each conversation is yet another opportunity to learn and improve. You got this, mama!
What’s one surprising lesson your kids have taught you about yourself lately? Share your stories!