The Mom Flow: Fulfilling Friendships + I’m A Trendy MomThe Mom Flow:

Welcome to The Mom Flow’s Friday Five where I (hi! Erin here!) pour my heart out on what this mom-life really is like. Next week will be my last The Mom Flow newsletter until 2024. I can’t wait to slow right down cozying up with my family for my favourite two weeks of the year in hibernation!

I’m A Trendy Mom

For those of us who are into trends … I’m gonna call this for 2024: silver jewelry is making a comeback! I saw someone at an event wearing big chunky modern silver jewelry and it looked so fresh and chic. It’s bringing me back to high school when it was all about silver … any elder millennials feel me on this? I think it might be a good time to get some chunky silver earrings to test the waters? I have these in gold and am going to see if the silver pops and takes things up a notch. Might even be ahead of a mainstream trend this time, which I never am (or really, I don’t try to be bc who can keep up!). I do like low effort, low cost trends so this one ticks my boxes.

Sleighing The Season

I’ve been taking a bit of a slower approach to the holiday season this year which has been really nice. We are creating new traditions with Lola like this loaf and gifting it to the special people in our lives we will see before the holidays, which has actually been such a beautiful reminder about what the holiday magic really is. Baking up these loaves with love alongside Lola, teaching her the nurturing aspect of doing that, wrapping it up beautifully, taking our time doing the advent calendars, browsing for a new ornament… those seemingly small things that can be so delightful for both of us and put the focus back on that simple joy. AND, we did our very first movie night at home, just her and I. Got cozy with a bowl of popcorn, for her first Home Alone viewing – she was enthralled the whole time! That will be one of my fave memories. I think because of her age, it’s a little easier to not ‘do it all’ for the season and when she gets older, it might be a little different. I’m enjoying this stage for what it is. P.S: yes, I’m doing Elf on a Shelf but keeping it verrrrry simple. Joy (named after Joy Behar, yes, I’m serious) just moves around from place to place. Like I said, I’m sure when she gets older I’ll need to step it up.

Creating Fulfilling Friendships

Creating friendships in my life that are fulfilling has literally been a lifelong project and finding friends who connect with different parts of you is, to me, just really essential to living a happy life. An important part of friendship is showing up for friends when it’s maybe not easy for you, but when you know they need you. The other part of this is trying to know which friendships you’re pouring that into, because making an effort to be that person for someone isn’t easy when you’re doing the mom/life/work etc. juggle. As I’ve touched on before, like anyone, I’ve had disappointing friend experiences that include breakups… expectations that I’ve had on friendships that don’t pull through. At this stage in my life, I’ve gotten to know myself enough to know which friendships fill my cup and it’s a game changer for my happiness! I always say that you know I really love and trust you if I ask you for a favour. Do you feel like you have a good circle of friends who really make you feel understood, loved and comforted? If not, how can you prioritize that a little bit?

There’s more, including what binge-worthy show you should be watching right now! Keep reading this week’s edition of The Mom Flow by Erin Sousa; subscribe for free to receive new posts and support her work, here!