I am abundantly blessed by the women in my life. If you’re just now tuning in, I’ve been doing a “Women who do the thing” series. Click on that for the background as to why, but the gist of it is that I wanted a forum to encourage the women in my life group who are all hard working mama’s. I’m posting this session on my wedding blog because I shot it in all film. Contax 645, Portra 800, Richard Photo Lab. Also featured on The Fount Collective.
So meet Katie! Katie and I met because our little ones have both had open heart surgery. A mutual friend asked me to message her to encourage her, so I stumbled over my words and sent a message. After her little guy was healed and well recovered from his surgery, our little heart baby’s met.
I’ve so loved getting to know her and though her job is unconventional as she works part time at a day care and part time helping with her husband’s photography business, I absolutely loved her vulnerability. Read on, friends!
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1. What does your best day and worst day look like?
The best day is me not rushing. I’m out of the house calmly, I get to exercise, a day where I’m not running around all day. Where things just flow, I get stuff done, Fischer takes a nap and I have “me” time. My worst day is a day I am lacking motivation to do anything. I’m not really present, dinner rolls around and I realize I haven’t accomplished much.
2. What is your favorite go-to meal?
Spaghetti with meat sauce, or breakfast for dinner.
3. What is a creative way to love your kids? Your husband?
For Gavin, it’s having dance parties. We will turn the music up, and grab some make shift instruments. He loves to be fun and carefree. He loves to play pretend and loves when I join in. Fischer loves to be near me, so anywhere I am. I put down my phone and pay attention. With Josh, we used to do date nights once a week, but for us quality time is so important. We love going on trips for a few days together.
4. How do you cultivate intentional time with the ones you love while handling busy season?
Busy season is late spring, early summer. We always try to have dinner together and spend time after school. I also lower my expectations of what our lives should look like in this season.
5. What do your quiet times look like?
I’m participating in a bible study at church that is forcing me to read a lot of the Bible. I love going to Starbucks and getting my reading done, sometimes I’m just in the car and listening to music. I would like to be better about doing day-to-day. Sometimes it’s while I’m cleaning, hanging laundry is therapeutic for me.
6. What is something you’ve had to given up in order to perform well in this season?
My house always looking put together. Not that my house is always clean but it’s always put away. Giving up that perfectionism to be the perfect homemaker. Giving up some of my alone time.
7. What are some non-negotiable boundaries for you with your work?
Time with my family. I’m realizing I want to pursue my own dreams, but right now my kids need me, so being available for them. I stop when Gavin gets home, get him a snack, hear about his day. I’m ok if my kids play by themselves a bit but spending time with them is important to me.
8. What is one of your proudest moments?
I always had this vision of what being a mom would look like. And after my first year with Gavin it definitely changed. Then going through stuff with Fischer showed me I had strength I didn’t realize I had. It also helped me worked through things with that first year with Gavin. Then I turned it around and ran a half marathon; it proved I could do things I didn’t before believe I was strong enough to do. I didn’t always handle the transition beautifully, but I made it. It showed me how strong I was.
9. Best parenting advice?
Mom guilt is the worst. Don’t go down that road. Don’t compare yourself, you have to have a lot of grace. Give yourself some slack, you’re not always going to make the right choice. I always want to ask new moms how they’re doing, how they’re REALLY doing? I want those moms to know they can come to me because I’ve walked through it. Things got more raw once I was a mom and I kept it inside for a year. Don’t be afraid to reach out.
