Morning: Grounding instead of spiraling 7:00 - Wake up and breathe, just when you think "f this shit" because trust me the stubborn mood and attitude will come out. Before touching your phone, put a hand on your heart and tell yourself: "I am not a bad mom. I am a mom in a hard season." Take 5 slow breaths, in through your nose, out through your mouth, focusing on the feeling of your chest rising and falling. This kind of simple grounding is often recommended for people in intense grief or trauma because it helps your body come out of panic mode. 1 2 3 breathe 7:15 Simple body care Drink a glass of water and eat something small (toast, fruit, yogurt) even if you have no appetite; nourishing your body is the shit. And supports your ability to cope with loss oddly. Do a 5-10 minute stretch or gentle walk in place. Think of it as "I'm taking care of the mom my kids deserve," not "I'm trying to be perfect." however you want to think it out. 7:30 "Court-proof" checklist (15 minutes) Okay people this is most important and hardest be cause sometimes not everyone has e thing they need in life... like a CAR. Plan ahead if you can ALWAYS ALWAYS. Im important. Look at your calendar and notes for anything related to court orders, programs, treatment, classes, or case-plan tasks. Remembering every little fuckkng thing is most important. AND YES I KNOW I'M CUSSING OR "CURSING" THOSE WORDS MY DEAR ARE MY SENTENCE ENHANCERS FOLKS. THEY GIVE MEANING TO WHAT I'M SAYING MEANING IM SAYING IT WITH ALL MY HEART. Write a tiny list, or THREEor FOURpf them LISTS if you're me: 1-3 things you can do today that move your reunification forward (emails, paperwork, a phone call, class attendance). Following court orders and showing stability is one of the clearest ways to move back toward custody. To be continued.