The other day, my son looked at me and said, “Mommy, when I turn 13, I’m going to stop calling you mommy. I’ll just call you mom.”
My heart sank.
“Absolutely not!” I blurted out.
Because let’s be real, when he calls me “mommy,” I can still pretend he’s my little boy.
But “mom”? That sounds like a whole teenager. That sounds like him growing up faster than I’m ready for.
The funny thing is, I did the exact same thing to my own mom at that age. I dropped the “mommy” for just “mom.”
And years later, I sometimes call her “mommy” again. But hearing it from my son gave me a whole new perspective.
It was a reminder that he’s not a little boy anymore. He’s stepping into a new season. And as hard as it is for me to let go, it’s also beautiful to watch him grow.
And honestly, September has a way of bringing those reminders front and center.
Why Transitions Feel Bittersweet
September is a month of transitions.
Kids go back to school.
Schedules shift.
Afternoons fill with homework, sports, and activities.
The sun sets earlier and routines that worked in the summer don’t fit anymore.
It’s a lot.
And just like my son stepping into a new stage, we as moms are invited to step into new rhythms too.
But here’s the thing … transitions are bittersweet.
There’s joy in watching our kids grow, but there’s also an ache in realizing time is moving so quickly.
So how do we navigate these changes with more grace?
Here are three lessons that can help.
Lesson 1: Embrace the Transition
Think about a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. That transformation isn’t pretty, smooth, or easy.
It’s messy and uncomfortable. But it’s also necessary.
Without the transition, the butterfly would never emerge.
Our kids go through transitions just like that. They outgrow the baby years, then the little kid stage, and suddenly we’re staring at a preteen or teenager.
It’s not always easy for us as moms. But instead of resisting these changes, we can choose to embrace them.
“Honor the season your kids are in, even if you secretly want to hold on to the last one a little longer.”
Lesson 2: Find the Gift in the Growth
In business, growth is a sign of success. Companies celebrate when they outgrow their old systems because it means they’re expanding.
Yes, it can be inconvenient to adjust, but it’s also proof of progress.
The same is true in motherhood. Watching our kids grow can feel like a loss, but it’s also a gift.
It means we get to have deeper conversations.
It means they’re learning independence.
It means we’re seeing glimpses of the people they’re becoming.
Instead of only mourning what’s passing, we can look for the joy in what’s arriving.
“Growth is both the ache of letting go and the gift of seeing what’s next.”
Lesson 3: Adjust the Rhythm
Here’s where science can teach us something.
Our bodies are wired with natural rhythms—circadian rhythms that shift as the seasons change. When days get shorter and light changes, our bodies adjust. We don’t get a brand-new body every fall. We just adapt.
And that’s exactly how we should think about our routines.
When kids grow and schedules shift, we don’t need to scrap everything and start over. We just tweak the rhythm.
Maybe bedtime needs to be a little earlier.
Maybe homework time needs a new flow.
Maybe older kids can take on more responsibility.
“It’s not about starting from scratch. It’s about adjusting the flow so it fits this season.”
A Challenge for You This Week
I want to challenge you to take a few minutes to reflect:
- Where are you feeling transition in your life right now?
- Can you embrace it instead of resisting it?
- Can you find the gift hidden in the growth?
- Can you adjust your rhythm instead of starting over?
Write it down, talk it over with a friend, or just sit with it. Sometimes naming the shift is what brings the most peace.
Because here’s the truth: our kids will grow, our routines will change, and transitions will keep coming. But that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
Bittersweet? Yes.
Beautiful? Absolutely.
Ready for Extra Support?
If you’d love some extra tools to help you navigate these changes, check out the Get Stuff Done Toolkit. It’s packed with simple systems to help you organize your week, cut down on chaos, and create routines that flex with your real life.
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