Family Values

I believe you are never too old or too young to learn from someone else. Ever heard the saying, "Out of the mouth of babes"? (you know what I’m talking about lol) I've been blessed to have a great and inspiring friend, teacher and mentor over the years. As I began my workout journey, he would yell this chant with his children:

My Friend: “What do we do?!” 

His Children: “We work!” 

This is amazing! It’s crazy that you can see something so simple and become inspired. Whether we want them to or not, our children are watching and they WILL model your behavior!

I’ve also noticed that people have come up with their own family motto/mantras and I think that is so cool! It is important that families do this because to teach your children a sense of unity. I, however, don’t have one...yet! I plan to work on that.

Take a look here if you would like to create your own also leave some comments below and let me know what your family motto is.

http://family.lovetoknow.com/family-mottos

Co-Parenting

Close to a year ago I saw a video floating around on Facebook on the topic of "Coparenting". Personally, I do not co-parent. It has been a dream of mine but I also understand that not everyone can co-parent. 

I have always been taught that a child is better off with 4 parents rather than two that don’t get along. That is a motto that I’ve held close. My children’s father and I CANNOT be together and we know that but how awesome would it be to share a certain level of cordiality for the sake of our girls. 

I want to hear from you! Have you tried co-parenting? What are the benefits? Drawbacks? Let me know how co-parenting works for you. All healthy tips welcomed!

Check out the video below:

School's Out

Can you believe it? School is out for the summer and I must say it is truly bittersweet. I work in the education system so on one hand I’m screaming YAY! but I DO work during the summer. Bummer, right? I don't get much of a break but it is nice to not work such long hours. 

So, what do you have planned this summer for your kiddos? Right now, I have nothing major set in stone BUT I do plan to hit the beach as often as possible. That is a big luxury of living so close to the ocean! Nothing compares to listening to the sound of the waves, building sand castles and letting the sun hit your skin (minus the sunburn, of course).

Side note: I received the best gift EVER from one of my students on the last day. It was a super cute cup and card. She told me, “Ms. Natalie, I know how much you love your water and are always losing your cup.” Lol and she is exactly right. I stopped bringing my Yeti cup earlier in the year because I would always leave it. It's always the thought that counts! 

Proudest Mom Moment

Biggest Success/Proudest Mom Moment

As a mom, have you ever stood back in adoration and gave yourself a pat on the back? Sometimes it is necessary to congratulate our successes as parents. We're human, so we make mistakes but they only make the successes that much sweeter! 

My proudest moment as a mom would have to be hearing my oldest tell me how much she loves her hair. O M G!! The waterworks wanted to come but I was a G and held it together. This world teaches our little black girls to hate themselves! The media preaches to them that their hair is not beautiful unless its straight or their curls are long and bouncy but NO ma’am! 

Little black girl you rock! 

The way her face lit up when she saw herself was amazing! I wouldn't trade that moment for anything in the world. In the purest of tones she said, “Mom I look so beautiful.” I told her “Baby, you are.”

Now with my baby…I don’t know if this would be considered a proud moment for me or her- either way, it was awesome. I had trouble with her walking and talking for a long time. She experienced memory lapses at a very young age and it scared me half to death. I finally took her to the doctor and we started therapy around 18 months. By her second birthday she was walking without falling, her health was improving and I couldn’t do anything but praise God for restoring her.

I know there will be many more moments like these and I plan to share them along the way. Remember to brag on your babies for they are your greatest creation, accomplishment and responsibility! 

And don't forget, Moms ROCK too! 

Parenting Failures

As parents, at some point, we have felt like an ultimate failure. Parenthood does NOT come with  a guide. No matter the books you read, research you've done or classes taken, you are never truly prepared for what life throws at you. 

With my oldest, I was not ready to be a mom but I knew that I had to do it. As a high school student, I realized it was the unpopular choice but I did not want to think back on “what if.” Could I live with the guilt of not giving birth or giving her away? A lot of people wanted my daughter. They felt that they would give me a new lease on life BUT that wasn’t the right option for me.

My biggest failure was allowing violence and hostility around her. I was in an abusive relationship with her father and for so long, I stayed. She became familiar with the yelling, screaming and the often breaking of items in the house. One day I'll share the story of how I got out but I can't help but wonder how that experience affected her. Would she be more outgoing having not been exposed to this at an early age?

With my second child, I did my best to get it right and in my efforts, I may have over indulged with her. I spent almost two years at home and she was attached at my hip. Now don’t get me wrong I LOVED being a stay at home mom. It was the best decision of my life BUT I realized that I needed to teach her some independence in order to have a well mannered and balanced child. 

No parent is perfect. What IS perfect is the depth of love we have for our children. We never stop trying to get it right. Hold your babies tight! Know that you will make mistakes but your love will never fade and love conquers all! 

Batter Up!!!

What-a-Weekend! I had the pleasure of spending time with great friends and family. On the drive back home, I chatted with a good friend and mentor. We caught up on life and I expressed how tired I had become. He jokingly made mention that I have been traveling a lot, which IS true, but he said something so profound. “Is the lack of sleep worth it?” All I could muster was a smile - It truly is. 

This weekend was spent centering myself, spending quality time with my girls and enjoying some Columbia Firefies baseball. #LetsGlow 

Now, here are a few take-a-ways from the weekend. First, why didn’t anyone tell me Tim Tebow was soooooooo fine? Whew! Next, I'm learning to 'smell the roses' again. Finally, despite the rain, delayed start times and little hiccups along the way, it was great! I got to enjoy the wind blowing through my hair, listening to the rain drop, eating boiled peanuts and drinking craft beer! Sheer perfection. 

Life always takes us on a ride just make sure the  destination is worth it! 

Fidget Spinners

I'm sure every parent in America has heard about these new toys called "Fidget Spinners". The other day, Kay (8), texted me while I was away and told me that she "needs" a Fidget Spinner. I was immediately alarmed! I have been  told that these toys were used to treat ADHD and anxiety. As any panicked mom would, I responded back with hundreds of questions about why she wanted one and who told her she needed one. Her response? Simple. "I miss you when you have to work out of town." I know the separation can be hard for kids especially when there is only one parent. So, I decided to look into getting her one. I cannot seem to get my hands on one for less than $20 and I'm not willing to pay that. I need you guys HELP! lol Give me some feedback! Have you used one? Does it work? Can I find a less expensive option? 

Mother's Day Weekend - Recharge

Lately my job has had me super busy! Between traveling, long hours, and paper work galore, I've been so focused on doing a great job to prepare for the next level, that I've neglected myself.

When asked what I wanted for Mother's Day, I told my mom the best gift I could receive would be a getaway. I had the perfect scenario. I would go to the beach and listen to the ocean to reconnect with myself but the rain changed those plans for me. As we all know, everything happens for a reason and I got an even BETTER gift! I woke up, cooked breakfast (I almost burned the grits, lol) and got back in bed! It has been so long since I've gotten back in bed! It was heaven on earth and I didn't know what to do with myself. I binge watched my favorite home improvement shows and napped through out the day.

Later in the evening I thought about pulling out my laptop to work but I remembered I'm on vacation. RELAX. Work will be there Monday when I return.

Remember, in the workforce you're replaceable. They WILL hire someone else.

At home, you're irreplaceable. No one could ever take your place.

Take time to recharge for YOU! You deserve it.

XOXO,
Natalie