At some point over the holidays I came across the concept of writing down an intention each morning before getting out of bed. Since just before the start of the new year, I’ve been putting this concept into practice. At some point in the morning, before my day has truly begun, I take a few minutes and write a few lines about what I intend for that day. Some days it’s an intention about how I want to feel, others it’s about how I want to interact with others, and some days, it’s about what I want to get done in a day.
If you google intention setting, you’ll get loads of hits; I think just about every self-help guru worth their weight has at some point touched on this topic of intention. And I think I know why now . . . it is a really powerful tool.
Writing intentions (for me anyway) is like making a little promise with yourself; one that you can keep working on as the day progresses.
Writing intentions has also helped me to focus; focus on what is really important.
And most importantly, writing intentions has helped me to let go; let go of what isn’t really that important at all.
I started this September with the lofty goal of creating real structure around the concept of “mommy school” for my kids. My plan was to cover different themes each month and to really explore these themes with my kids; to investigate topics that aren’t necessarily covered in school. While this seemed like a fantastic idea in theory (and on paper), my heart just never caught up to where my mind was on this idea. And so, I have let go of my pre-conceived notions about my mommy school. Instead, I start each day with the intention of having a meaningful interaction with each of my kids. Inevitably, there is an educational component to these interactions, but more importantly, we are having fun and really connecting with each other. Part and parcel with this is that for some time each day, my phone, iPad and computer are all turned off. The kids are loving the attention, I’m loving the time with them, and we’re all happier for it. And that . . . well, that’s the power of intention!
Speaking of intention, the Husband and I intended to give up gluten, sugar and alcohol this month. The most difficult part of this is our Friday night pizza tradition. This is a tradition the Husband grew up with, and one that we are passing on to our kids. Friday night often involve a bunch of family / friends / neighbours at our house with a very relaxed night of oder-in pizza and quite often cupcakes from a favourite downtown bakery. The lack of gluten, sugar and alcohol in our diet makes these Friday nights just a little bit challenging, especially since I love ending off the week with a “treat” dinner.
Last week, as the weather turned cold, I decided to make a comforting dinner for the two of us while the kids had chicken quesadillas. This green curry turned out amazingly well; it was exactly what I had been craving. And the best part was that it made enough for 2 meals – so we get to have the leftovers tonight!
Thai Green Curry with Brown Rice
Ingredients
10 boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces
4 shallots, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
Coconut oil
2 cans coconut milk
2 tbsp green curry paste (or more or less depending on how spicy you like things)
3 tbsp tapioca flour
Directions
- Heat a large skillet on medium heat and add a dollop of coconut oil to the pan. Add in the chicken thighs and cook until they are just cooked through.
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and drain out any juices that have accumulated in the pan.
- Return the pan to the stove and add in another dollop of coconut oil. Now add in the shallots and garlic and cook until they have softened. Add the chicken back into the pan along with the coconut milk. Stir occasionally until the coconut milk comes to a simmer.
- At this point, get out a whisk and add in the curry paste and the tapioca flour. Whisk the mixture until everything is well combined and the sauce has reached the desired consistency (I like this to be nice and thick).
Serve over brown rice, quinoa, or whatever else you’d like to serve it with!
nancyhotson 
I love the idea of setting an intention in the morning. In my case, it might have to be after I get out of bed since the dogs usually wake me needing to go outside.
Although my kids grew up before the disconnected cell phone (my first mobile phone had to be connected to the car and the car running), tablets, and laptops, I so understand about slowing down and giving my kids my full attention. I was a teacher when my kids were growing up, so I would have to set aside the work I would bring home and focus on them and their needs. It was tough, but my kids (age 31 and 29) are still close.
Cherish this time with your children because you will never get it back.
I wonder why you cooked something different for your children. Was it because the curry was too spicy? Could you have made it with two levels of heat: one with a touch of curry for the kids and one with enough curry for your palate? I always wonder why parents choose to make a separate food for their kids.
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Thanks for your heartfelt comment! I truly appreciate it! And I’m normally a stickler for the kids eating the same meals we eat … That particular night my little one was recovering from a stomach bug so was just having some plain chicken (extra I had cooked for the curry) and my son saw I had bought wraps and begged for a quesadilla … He helped me cook it, so I was fine with it 😊
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