Drop the cement suitcase – Tools to get unstuck this spring
As the daffodils emerge and the trees blossom, spring brings a fresh start and a clean slate. Why, then, do many parents tell me they feel stuck? They feel trapped in routines, overwhelmed by daily demands, and weighed down by unhelpful thoughts, impossible expectations, and unresolved emotions. To get out of this rut, it helps to understand why we feel stuck and how to unpack the cement suitcase filled with limiting beliefs, resentments, and emotional baggage many of us carry.
Why do we feel stuck?
We get stuck when we don’t process our emotions, we ruminate about the past or future, and our nervous system gets caught in overdrive. Imagine piling your negative thoughts, worry, external pressures, and uncomfortable emotions into a suitcase and then trying to carry it around with you. You wouldn’t get very far. For parents, the pressures of work, family, relationships, and finances can all contribute to feeling weighed down and out of options.
This article was published in the May 2025 issue of Today’s Family magazine. Click here to read the full article.
Rebecca Fellenbaum is a certified life coach, intuitive guide, writer, and entrepreneur. She helps women who have “made it” on the outside feel great about themselves on the inside so they can find joy in their lives, kids, and families. Get her free guide: Slowing Down: 9 Steps to Live With Intention to start meaning it when you say you’re doing fine.
