You mean you LIKE to work?

"All I ever wanted to be is a mom." I hear this all the time. Well guess what, that is not ALL that I have ever wanted to be. Yes, even as a child I dreamed of getting a college degree. I don't ever remember thinking that I wouldn't go to college some day. I could see myself being successful in the business world but I saw myself doing that while being a mom - the best mom! In fact, when people would ask me "What do you want to go to school for?" I always responded with "I don't know for sure, but something that will allow me to work from home and be with my kids." I am still working on that "work from home" part - but it is still my dream!

Growing up in a community that focuses so much on women staying at home with their children, I think that I had always tried to train myself to want to stay home 24/7 with my children while also taking care of my home and husband. But honestly, I like to work. I enjoy having a goal to work towards and feeling that sense of accomplishment outside of my home as well as inside of it. Perhaps as a child I had that sense about my self, I don't know. But at the same time, I don't want to miss a minute of my kid's life that I don't have to. My daughter, Cadence (20 months) is my everything! When she's happy, I'm happy. When she's sad, I'm sad. When she's grumpy I'm grumpy do everything in my power to make her feel better. I feel like working from home, on my own schedule would give me the best of both worlds.

But guess what? I have no idea how to get there! I often feel frustrated. I'm frustrated that I can't keep my house clean and Cadence and my husband (Patrick) happy all the time. I'm upset with myself that I have to go to work for eight hours and send Cadence to a sitter every day. I'm annoyed that when I come home from said eight hours that I have no energy to cook a decent meal let alone clean it up afterwards. I'm frustrated that I can't be that "perfect mom"! When I feel this way I am hard on myself because I can't figure out a plan to be successful from my home like I really truly want to do one day.

That is why I decided to start this blog. I know that I am not alone. I know that it is healthy to talk about these frustrations, but that as humans we are constantly growing - that is the point of this life. So, here is my journey. I invite you to follow me as I learn about myself. As I learn about this thing we call life. As I strive to meet my goals in my personal, family, spiritual, and professional life. I invite you to get to know me for me. I hope that you will comment and  that we can grow together.

But there is one rule - we have to do so with a smile on your face. I find that when I smile through hard times, it often makes it easier. Yes, crying is OK, being serious is OK, but eventually we have to lift ourselves up and move forward and learn to be those perfected beings that God wants us to be!