The Juggle Struggle

A Mama of One Became a Mama of Two…

Month: August 2018

This is 33…

August 19, 2018 The Juggle StruggleLeave a comment

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FINDING THE PEACE... Backwards. Upside Down. Topsy Turvy. Chaos; Quiet; Confusion; Simplicity. I’m not really sure where we stand in this moment, or where we will be in the next. The hustle & bustle has moved from out to in, while the streets around us stand nearly still. Where I once found a moment of calm is now filled with constant chatter, constant movement. And both my ever-racing mind and very pregnant body feel completely split down the middle. Daily life, normal routines and all expectations have shifted far beyond normal. We greet each other differently, we shop differently, we take stock, and make decisions, and view everything and everyone around us… differently. This buzz has bled deep into the fabric of our social existence, seemingly overnight. And yet we know, or at least have faith, that this eerie quiet is saving lives. So we’ll do it. I’ll stay home. I’ll stay home with my kids. I’ll try to muster some semblance of normalcy so they don’t think the world around them is completely crumbling. I’ll try to stay present and positive so we can make great memories during this otherwise terrible time. I’ll try to see the silver lining in the shimmers of rain and grey clouds. I’ll accept the chaos & change because this is what family and mom life is, right? And somewhere in there, I’m going to have a baby. Before this fall around us began, I was in a different space. We all were. I was in a familiar space of nesting, preparing, introspecting, re-framing and re-charging. In between school drop-off and school pick-up, and between the hoots and hollers of my already rambunctious kids, I was keeping the peace of my body and my birth space. The home birth I had been planning was finally feeling real, I was turning inward in a way that felt necessary for the next several weeks to unfold with ease, and the anticipation of a new baby was becoming more exciting by the day. I was ready. I was happy to be “almost there.” And then came the shift. As the saying goes, ‘you plan, and God laughs.’ But there is nothing like a global moment of turmoil to pull internal emotions into every single direction… now throw pregnancy into the mix. (Continued in comments)👇🏻

Darling Daughter, Darling Son, It pains me to say that we are living in some wicked times. We are living in times of turmoil and confusion. We are living in times of social wars and injustices. We are living in times that are proving dangerous for you, and me, and the family that your father and I are striving to raise. But I pray this will not be the truth of your future. I pray we can reach for the light, and I pray that, together, we can choose a different path. The truth is, we are living in a time of war against men and women. One that is breeding mistrust of the masculine, and rejection of the feminine. One that seems to be confused in the root of its very own argument. So, my dear children, I am writing this to you, and for you, so you may always know why I - your mother, your protector, the one who gave you life - feel the way I do, and why I feel the need to stand up for it. Please read on, and always remember that you two are the ultimate reasons for my every choice, belief, and passion. It is not often that I speak out on charged issues beyond the privacy of my own home. This is not out of apathy, or lack of information, but simply because I value my relationships more than my need for political debate. But right now, in our current cultural climate, and amidst the rising heat surrounding this particular topic, I cannot stay silent. I care too much. I care too much about our family, my children, and you, my sweet daughter, for your future as a woman in this country. I owe it to you to speak out. This is far too important... • Follow COMMENTS below for full letter. Or follow LINK IN BIO • . #abortion #prolife #prochoice #healthywomen #healthymothers #womenshealth #respectlife #respectwomen #respectbabies #motherhood #parenthood #love #life #family #pregnancy #childbirth #birth #strength #empowerment #freedom #momblog #momsofinstagram

MOM TRUTH: people often look at my beautiful, active and ever-so-loving 3.5 year old son and say “that is the most fun age, isn’t it?” • I politely smile and nod, you know, so as to avoid the judging. But this is what I’m really thinking... • sure, he may be little(ish) and curious and see the world through those magical and innocent toddler lenses. He may say the darndest things and have completely unexpected moments of sweetness that make me so happy and proud to be his mama. But try having the whines, the whys, the incessant talking, the constant moving, the never ending games of “but, but, but” or “no, no, no”, the 3am call for blanket cover, the super selective hearing that’s more like none at all, the wants and needs and “I can’t live withouts” 24/7, and then tell me it’s a wonderful age. Nope. Nope, nope, nope. 3-1/2 is not my favorite age. • I love him to death, but he may just be the death of me. 😘 . . . #thejugglestruggle #thestruggleisreal #motherhood #parenthood #momlife #momof2 #thisis3 #raisinghumans #raisingbabies #toddlerlife #thistooshallpass #sojudgeme #love #life #family #momtruth #realmotherhood #thisismotherhood #momblogger #honestmotherhood

A full week of rain and ONE full day stuck inside with two crazy kids got me like 😵🤯🤬😝🙀...Today was the last straw. . . . Song: Best Years of My Life Artist: Pistol Annies @pistolannies . The Juggle Struggle: The Sound of Motherhood (a Spotify playlist) . . . #thejugglestruggle #thejuggleisreal #motherhood #parenthood #momlife #toddlerlife #raisingbabies #larain #rainday #raisingtoddlers #love #life #happiness #family #momof2 #rainydays #cabinfever #music #lyrics #bestyearsofmylife #pistolannies #thesoundofmotherhood #musictherapy #thelettergrams #feltlikesharing #letterboard

I always have high hopes for the New Year - and I look forward to a period of reflection on the year past, and a stir of excitement looking toward the year ahead. But man, these babies got me like 😴😴😴 and right now, tomorrow looks like just another day. The sun will rise, and these kids will rise with it. So tonight, I’ll drink my champagne, wish on the stars for a happy and healthy 2019, put on those sweats, turn on the ‘flix, and have a dance party in my dreams. Cheers to all of you mamas - have a wonderful New Year! And however big, small, crazy or lazy your celebration may be, may you ring in 2019 with all that you got! Happy New Year!!! 🎊🍾😘🥂🎊 . . . #thejugglestruggle #happynewyear #motherhood #parenthood #momlife #goodbye2018 #hello2019 #newyearsameme #lookingforward #freshstart #butthetruthis #hellotomorrow #momblogger #raisingbabies #newyearwithkids #motherhoodunplugged #momsofinstagram #midnightkiss

Most days these two drive me bananas. But it’s because they are strong-willed, strong bodied, resilient, stubborn, smart, curious, risk-taking, boundary pushing, lively and loving humans, and I am blessed to call them my babies. And for that I am always and forever grateful. . . . #thejugglestruggle #motherhood #parenthood #raisingbabies #thanksgiving #happythanksgiving #raisinghumans #love #life #family #happiness #grateful #thankful #blessings

AND WE’RE BACK WITH A NEW BLOG! (Link in Bio)... When we meet couples who have been married for far longer than we have, who have raised kids to adulthood, and have seen more layers to marriage than we probably know exist, and they look at us and say “the secret to our marriage is that we never fell out of love with each other at the same time,” we laugh, and cry, and take that to heart. We know that is coming from a place of true, honest, loving humility. We see the strength in their partnership, and the work they’ve put in to what they have. And we know we are going to be just fine. 5 years married, 2 kids under 4… we’re not even through the tunnel yet. I love you, 5 years. And I love each year still to come. Song: Look At Us Artist: Vince Gill The Juggle Struggle: The Sound of Motherhood (a Spotify playlist) . . . #thejugglestruggle #motherhood #parenthood #marriage #relationships #identity #love #life #family

Doesn’t happen often, but sometime we just need to sleep it off. And that’s ok. ❤️ . . . #thejugglestruggle #motherhood #parenthood #marriage #marriedlife #relationships #love #life #family #happiness #togetherness #happinessis #raisingbabies #raisinghumans #parentalmentalhealth #familylife #honestmotherhood #motherhoodunplugged #butthetruthis #momblogger

We look like babies. And this was only 5 years ago! What the 🤬 has parenthood done to us?! Happy 5th Anniversary to my love. Lord knows this journey ain’t easy, and kids surely don’t make it easier. But every adventure, every up, and even every down, with you, is worth it. ❤️ 👰 🤵❤️ . . . #thejugglestruggle #motherhood #fatherhood #parenthood #marriage #anniversary #fiveyearsofmarriage #weddingday #happinessis #growingtogether #raisingbabies #love #life #family #happiness #partnership #relationships #parenthoodmoments #honestparenthood #momblogger

Teaching our babes to stand by their flag in good times and bad, and to be proud Americans through and through. (1st Lesson: Vote. 2nd Lesson: Never Let the flag touch the ground.) 🇺🇸✌🏻 . Song: Ragged Old Flag Artist: Johnny Cash . The Juggle Struggle: The Sound of Motherhood (A Spotify Playlist) . . . #thejugglestruggle #motherhood #parenthood #raisingbabies #raisinghumans #electionday #vote #love #life #family #happiness #familyvalues #motherhood #motherhoodmoments #momlife #familylife #americanflag #johnnycash #songs #lyrics #thesoundofmotherhood #spotify #feltlikesharing #thelettergrams #letterboardquotes

It’s been one of those weeks... . . . #thejugglestruggle #thejuggleisreal #thestruggleisreal #motherhood #parenthood #momlife #toddlerlife #raisingbabies #raisinghumans #maternalmentalhealth #bekindtoyourself #theresalwaystomorrow #motherhoodmoments #motherhoodunplugged #momsofinstagram #momblogger #truth #honesty #love #life #family #happiness #butthetruthis #momtruth

Happy Halloween to all you Mamas, Papas and Babes!! 👻 What do for Halloween with your littles?! It’s been a month of pumpkin patches, pumpkin carving, and *trying* to stay away from candy. But as I’ve been getting excited for our family costume, my son has decided he’s scared of Halloween and just wants to be himself. Well, that WAS the case until he saw his hat and glasses and realized we’d be #twinning. 🎃 But now that the day is here, I have no ideas what’s in store! Once the sun goes down and the creatures are out, I’m sure we’ll be running right back home!! (It’s all good - those sugar highs are even scarier than the costumes out there. So I’m happy to be cozy in bed instead. 💀 How do you trick or treat? How do you do candy? And how do you keep it light and happy among the goblins and ghouls?! 🖤 Happy Halloween! Stay safe, stay sane, stay happy!! 😘 #thejugglestruggle #happyhalloween #familyhalloween #motherhood #parenthood #momlife #raisingbabies #dressingup #familycostume #whereswaldo #familylife #love #life #family #happiness #halloween2018 #momsofinstagram #momblogger

Some days I miss the me before kids and see those broken reflections in the mirror, but most days I live to see a full reflection in the eyes of my babes. Song: No More Darkness, No More Light Artist: Amos Lee The Juggle Struggle: The Sound of Motherhood (a Spotify playlist) . . . #thejugglestruggle #motherhood #parenthood #momlife #identity #selflove #raisingbabies #raisinghumans #motherhoodmoments #motherhoodunplugged #music #songs #lyrics #amoslee #love #life #family #happiness #thesoundofmotherhood #thelettergrams #feltlikesharing

But parent now, friends later, right? 😩 . . . #thejugglestruggle #thestruggleisreal #thejuggleisreal #motherhood #parenthood #momlife #momof2 #sahm #sahmlife #raisingbabies #raisinghumans #toddlerlife #momsofinstagram #butthetruthis #motherhoodmoments #momblogger

I never knew I could feel so deeply until I became a mother. Pain, love, sadness, joy - and not just mine, but everyone’s around me. The practice of staying present in MY story and not getting overpowered by the stories of others is real in this journey of Motherhood. Love to all you mamas and all that you feel. ❤️ . . . #thejugglestruggle #thejuggleisreal #thestruggleisreal #motherhood #parenthood #momlife #motherhoodmoments #love #life #happiness #joy #grief #family #grateful #lifelessons #raisingbabies #raisinghumans #momstrong #amothersjourney #momsofinstagram #happinessis

Lord knows I’ll try, babes. Song: Baby Artist: She & Him @sheandhim The Juggle Struggle: The Sound of Motherhood (a Spotify playlist) . . . #thejugglestruggle #thejuggleisreal #thestruggleisreal #momlife #babylife #raisingbabies #raisinghumans #momof2 #love #life #family #happiness #happinessis #babycuddles #thesoundofmotherhood #mamatunes #music #lyrics #sheandhim #letterboard #thelettergrams #feltlikesharing #momsofinstagram #momblogger

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