Category: My Sweet Family

Being a “girl maker,” or mom of girls, is one of my favorite parts of my life.  No doubt, I would love boys too, but so far I’ve been dealt the girl card, and I’m pretty happy about it!  

There are SO many things I have learned from raising my babes so far, and it’s clear to me everyday that I have so much more to learn.  I’m ok with that, though!  There are some important things I want my girls to glean. Being kind and compassionate, including to yourself, is a big one!  

I loved this GIRL MAKER tee from Revol Roots because it connected to my heart.  It is made of the most comfortable material and I love how simple it is!  I wear it all the time!

I’m going to get real here.  I’ve had to learn a few things the hard way, and as a result, my parenting style has changed quite a bit these last couple years.  I used to parent a lot out of fear.  Mainly fear that I wouldn’t teach them something they needed to know, or that they would grow up lacking some major component of life I hadn’t given them. I put so much unnecessary stress into my life everyday, even though my intentions were pure.  My stress, of course, was not helping my children to be carefree, happy, and confident like I wanted them to be.  Haha like I had been stressing to teach them to be! Thankfully, I hit my knees in prayer and was guided to some books that helped me come to a pretty clear realization…The only way for me to truly teach them, is for me to be what I want them to be.  It was daunting and overwhelming at first.  I was in a place where I knew I had a lot to work on, in many ways.  Being kind to myself was not even something I was comfortable with.  Looking back on it now, it’s hard to wrap my head around the daily thoughts and conversations I allowed to roll around in my brain, and even vocalize to myself.  No wonder I was feeling inadequate as a wife, mother, homemaker, daughter, sister, friend, etc.  Sadly, I was telling myself I was inadequate in almost every way with the hope that it would somehow motivate me to do better.  Hence the fear of not raising my girls “right.”

It has taken daily prayer, and intentional action every single day for the last couple years, but I’m finally in a place where I am kind to myself.  I’m not perfect by any means, and I catch myself slipping all the time.  All it takes, though, is one look in my daughter’s eyes to bring me back. (Or my sweet husband not letting us leave until I appologize to myslef for the self-depreciating comment I made 🙂 )  The best and most effective way to teach, in my opinion, is by example.  I feel like one of the greatest gifts I, as a mother, can give my daughters is to embody the things I am trying to teach them.  At first it seemed selfish to me to put so much effort in my improvement, but it has made such a difference!

Our home has become so much more relaxed and encouraging, the more confident I become in my imperfection.  I want my girls to know how beautiful and special they are, be confident, and the rest will come! I love being a GIRL MAKER!

Have a wonderful week! XO

Photos by Stayc Smart