The 10-Second Morning Habit That Changed How I Show Up as a Mum

You’ve probably heard it before — the “perfect” 4-step, 5-step, even 10-step morning routine to set you up for success.
That’s great… if you’ve got an hour of peace, a house full of silence, and someone else making the breakfast.

But us mums raising autistic kiddos?
We barely have time to blink — let alone meditate, slap on a face mask, or make a glowing green drink while listening to ocean waves.

So let me spill the tea.

This one tiny change has made a huge difference to my days. And I’m not about to share something I haven’t tried myself. I tested it. Repeatedly. On different days, in different moods, and with different amounts of sleep.

And here’s the thing — it actually worked.

I’m going to be honest — when I’m stressed, tired, overwhelmed, hungry, or just hanging by a thread… I curse.
I’m not proud of it, but it was my go-to way of letting out steam when nothing else seemed to fit the moment.

I tried to keep it away from the kids, but sometimes it slipped. I’m human. I mess up.

Then I tried this tiny tweak in my morning. And when I say morning, I don’t mean after yoga, breakfast, or coffee — I mean the very moment I opened my eyes.

The exact words I say

As soon as I wake up, I think — and often say out loud —

“My intention for today is…”

That’s it. Just a simple statement.

Think of it like the game Spoto. You know, the one where you have to spot a yellow car every time you’re driving?
The moment you decide to play, your brain suddenly starts noticing yellow cars everywhere.

Setting an intention is the same. You’re telling your brain what to focus on.

For me, it was:
“My intention for today is that I will not curse.”

I did it over multiple days, in all kinds of situations — tired days, stressful days, peaceful days. And to my absolute shock… it worked.
The swear words vanished.

Why it felt so freeing

This wasn’t about perfection or policing my every thought.
It was about giving my brain a clear direction. And once it knew what to look for, it stopped reaching for the habit I didn’t want.

Now, I wish I could tell you this works on everything. Imagine if I could wake up and say, “My intention is that my child will sleep through the night” — every mum in our community would be trying it. If you make that one work, please tell me first!

But here’s the truth: this works best on your behaviours. The things you can control.
It’s not about changing your child — it’s about showing up as the version of you that you want to be.

Your intentions could include

• Limiting yourself to 3 cups of coffee instead of 5.
• Moving your body every day.
• Making a conscious effort to play with your child without distraction.
• Speaking more gently, even in tough moments.

The power is in choosing something that matters to you and makes a difference in how you show up.

Setting your intention in the morning:

1. Calms the mental noise and gives you focus – You’ve already chosen your direction before the chaos starts.
2. Helps you respond instead of react – You create a pause before you act, giving yourself space to choose.
3. Shifts you from survival mode to purpose-driven – You’re steering the ship instead of drifting through the day.

If you feel like you can’t curb a habit, manage a reaction, or stop feeling like life is just “happening” to you — try this.
It’s quick. It’s free. And it might just change the way you move through your day.

And if your child actually sleeps through the night because of it… please, please share your magic with me.

If this sounds too good to be true, but you’re not sure of how to take the first steps, DM or email me “INTENTION”  and I’ll send you over a quick guide to help you set your first intention.

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Podcast Episode #41: School Advocacy for Neurodivergent Learners with Ariella Lew 

In this week’s episode I’m chatting with the fabulous Ariella Lew.

Ariella is a highly qualified paediatric nurse and the Founder and Director of Kids on Track Consultancy, a private practice based in Melbourne.

Ariella consults both locally and overseas, providing expert advice and management strategies for families requiring support with their child’s behavior, and development. Ariella works with clients aged 0-18.

Ariella is a parenting expert and has experience advising on all aspects of parenting including toilet training, discipline methods and family dynamic struggles. Ariella has specialisations in disability, neurodiversity and chronic illness and works with schools and allied health professionals to ensure behaviour plans and goals are personalised and appropriate.

Ariella has significant experience working with families to help them gain access to the ndis and leads a team of passionate support coordinators and advocates who work with families to get the most out of their NDIS plan.

In our conversation we shared:
▶️ What are the first steps a parent should take if they feel their child’s needs aren’t being met at school?
▶️ How can a parent advocate confidently without being labeled as “difficult” by the school?
▶️ What are a child’s legal rights when it comes to reasonable adjustments and inclusion in a mainstream and special needs school settings?
▶️ What should a parent do if the school is not following through on agreed supports or accommodations?
▶️ What are some signs that a school might not be the right fit for a neurodivergent child — and what options exist if that’s the case?

To listen to the podcast episode, click here.

💻 If you’re needing some extra support whilst navigating the journey of autism, please book in your free call today.
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