Mariah Odegaard/The Story in the Moment

The Story in the Moment

Why you react the way you do and how to shift it before it takes over

There’s a moment, right before everything shifts.

Your child pushes back.
Doesn’t listen.
Something small turns into something bigger.

And in that moment, something happens inside you, too.

A thought.
A feeling.
A story.

"They never listen.”
“This always turns into a fight.”
“I can’t do this right now.”

It happens quickly.

So quickly you don’t even notice it.

But that story shapes everything that comes next.

This Is Why It Still Feels Hard

Even when you know what to do.

Even when you’ve tried to stay calm.

Even when you want to respond differently.

It’s not just about the moment.

It’s about the story you’re telling yourself inside it.

The Story in the Moment

A simple, powerful way to notice and shift what’s happening internally, so you can respond with more calm, clarity, and intention.

This is seeing what’s already happening, so it doesn’t take over the moment.

What This Changes

You start to notice the thought 
before it becomes your reaction

You see the pattern 
instead of getting pulled into it

You create space 
where there used to be escalation

That changes how you respond

in real time.

What This Looks Like

The moment starts and instead of immediately reacting, you catch something small:

“Oh… that’s the story.”

And in that pause, you have a choice.

That’s where things begin to shift.

This is for You If:

• you know what to do, but still react in the moment


• you feel your tone change before you can stop it


• the same situations keep repeating


• you want to respond differently, but it’s hard in real life

This is not:

• a parenting strategy


• scripts to follow


• something to memorize

This is:

• awareness


• space


• a different way to move through the moment

How This Fits with Your Parenting

This work supports everything else.

When the story shifts.

How you respond shifts too.

This is what allows you to:

  • read the clues


  • respond with care


  • return to calm

In the moment that matters.

Why This Matters

You can organize your home, create beautiful rhythms, and still feel unsteady, if your inner story isn’t supporting you.

Empowered Choices isn’t about forcing change.


It’s about re-rooting in truth.

So your decisions…

your boundaries…

your parenting…

your peace.


Can all come from a place of grounded knowing.

  • $98

The Story in the Moment

Why you react the way you do and how to shift it before it takes over Since forcing yourself to be calm isn't going to work. You need to see what’s happening inside before the moment takes over. You Start here...

The moment isn’t the problem. The story inside it is.