The struggle is real … and NORMAL!

Three and a half years ago my husband and I made a
decision that I never really knew would end up being the toughest, most
challenging, and the most rewarding choice for our family … all at the same
time.

I always had a dream to have my own business, work
from home and stay at home to care for our daughter (now 2 daughters).

It sounded so easy in my head. I could work while the
girls had naps or at night when they went to bed. In my mind, it sounded pretty
reasonable.

But now it’s been 3 and a half years. Yes, I have
started my own business (this definitely took a long time to get going … but I
started and I’m still working away on it). Yes, I worked while my girls napped.
But what I didn’t realize was how truly challenging it could be at times. Being
a wife, a mom, a daughter, a driver (from one play date or activity to
another), and a household manager. Did my girls always nap, or for long periods
of time? NO. Did they go to bed at a reasonable time every night? NO. Was I
more tired than I thought I would be? Definitely YES.

One thing I absolutely know for sure … it has been
worth every minute!

Days go by way too fast some days! And as your kids
(and you) get older, the faster the days, weeks, and years seem to go.

From the time you wake up in the morning to the time
you go to bed, you are likely always thinking about what needs to be done,
where you need to go, and what you need to buy. To be honest, my mind often has
101 things swirling around in it for most of my day.

How did I learn to stay motivated, while all the while
I felt like I was running on fumes or drinking a few more cups of tea than
usual?

For the love of my family of course, but also determination,
grit, and the will to work towards my dream!

My dream, you ask? Yes, running my business from home.
But to also have the AMAZING opportunity to be at home to spend more time with
my family and with my girls to watch them grow and learn every single day!

Whether you’re working from home or going to work in
an office every day, the struggle to maintain a balance between taking care of
yourself and your family is the same.

Your children’s minds are little sponges! So can you imagine
how much they take in when you’re walking around stressed about the day,
rushing in and around the house trying to get your to-do list done?

Yes, my days can be hectic. I can be tired, I can (and
I do) have to-do lists that need to get done, and all I want to do is sit and
have a few minutes to myself (which use to be few and far between). But when
you put everything into perspective the little things just don’t matter as much
anymore.

Who cares if the laundry piles up a little? The dishes
sit in the sink until tomorrow? Or the toys in the playroom are EVERYWHERE for
a couple of days?

Life with kids is AMAZING!

My little humans make me laugh constantly, from their
expressions to their giggles to their huge imaginations! Yes, their
personalities and cries and diaper changes can make you feel like pulling your
hair out some days. But let me tell you … the good moments ALWAYS outweigh the
bad moments!

Life as a mom is scary at times. It’s daunting. It’s
stressful. It’s beautiful. It’s refreshing. It’s exceptional!

So, from one mom to another, I want you to know that
it’s okay to take time for yourself! You need that little bit of time every day
to unwind and just breathe.

Here are a few things I’ve learned over the last 3
years as a stay-at-home mom:

• My
  daily priority list is smaller and less important
• I
  need to take some “me time” every once in a while to just breathe
• I’ve
  become SO thankful for and proud of the life I have and the family I (and my
  husband) have created
• I
  can still have big dreams for ME (and my family of course). But I’ve learned to
  still be ME. It’s okay to have dreams and work towards doing one small thing
  every day that will take you to your dreams!
• Laugh
  as much as you can!
• Smile
  daily!

And if you haven’t heard this today … You are doing an
AMAZING job! J

If you want a little help to prioritize your day, set
a plan to take care of yourself, and continue to dream sign-up to our mailing
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