Just Keep Swimming

Today I'm going to chat about how I keep from going crazy... well on most days. I'm involved in an amazing mommy group. These ladies are so awesome, open, loving and supportive! While attending our weekly bachelorette viewing party which is filled with girl talk, well let's be honest mom talk, snacks and a few cocktails. We started chatting about the paths we chose of either being stay at home moms, full/part time working moms or a Momtrepreneur. We all have our reasoning’s, but we can all agree on one thing. When becoming a mom part of our identity gets lost. You love this little angel or some day’s monster so much that your life becomes their life. Your body no longer belongs to you, you revolve around a schedule and some days your toddler runs the house. This is why it’s so important to find a career, hobby or passion that keeps that identity, you know that person you were before you took on the wild ride of parenthood. 

For me that passion was design. I've always been creative and had a love for art ever since I can remember. When I found a career where I could use my creativity and be an artist I was thrilled! Being a graphic designer was my newfound passion.  When I had my daughter my sole focus was around her and only her. She was my whole world, but something was missing. When I started taking on small design projects that spark and drive lit inside of me again. I would get a rush when I landed a client or finished a project. I started to gain that sense of self again. I knew I needed to follow that drive, but I still wanted to watch my daughter grow up. I was at a cross road. Do I follow my career or stay home with my daughter? I started doing my research and made the bold choice to take on both tasks! I stepped into the uneasy waters of freelancing with the hope I could swim. It’s a scary and uneasy choice to become a freelancer. You don’t have that steady paycheck and every month is different. This career path gave me the freedom to be my own boss and control my work schedule. I can become as busy or successful as I want to be. It's not easy, it's hard work everyday. I can’t say I’ve made it yet,  but I wake up with hope and excitement each day to better my business. I've had plenty of days where I want to call it quits, but I remember that feeling of accomplishment, pride and fulfillment both from being a mom and a designer. I may be in yoga pants, with food in my hair, chasing after a toddler while emailing my clients, but whoever said, "You can't have your cake and eat it too", is full of it! It's 12am as I finish this blog post and my daughter & husband are snuggled up next to me. This is my happy place where I feel the most accomplished and at peace. I challenge you mommies/daddy's, husbands/wives or bachelor/bachelorette to follow your dreams and keep that sense of self no matter what life throws at you. In honor of my daughter’s new favorite movie that we’ve watched 5 times already this week. I’ll leave you with some words of wisdom “Just Keep Swimming”-Dory.