Hey friend! Thanks for being here. My name is Emma, the Ringmaster of our little circus (or am I a monkey trainer?) I am 30 years old, two kids under my belt with another one on the mind but not in the works... yet. Ever notice once your a parent, how you have no pictures by yourself…? I am a prime example.
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I have a degree in Sociology, with a focus on substance abuse prevention. I also have a Masters in Special Education (k-12) and absolutely loved my job as a teacher for the last 5 years. Really up until COVID hit. We can chat about that later, in another post.
I’ve been married going on 6 years to my humble, rock of a husband and guiding father to my children. We’ve been together since I was 20 and he was 19... so 10 years give or take (see my blog post titled “My Three Boys and Then Some” to read about my family).
I am a follower of Jesus, and recently rekindled my relationship with God after having our first child. When I realized I wasn’t living my life for me anymore but for a family, I felt I had to start being an example by leading and making choices that aligned with my faith. I am the imperfect parent and I by no means am the perfect wife, follower of God, friend, sister, daughter, human. I’m working on it.
On a sunny day, you can find me outside with my Monkey Babes wherever we may be. The ocean makes me happy, and the sunshine fills my cup up. Cooking or being creative with my boys, and adventuring with my family make for the best day.
Over-planning is my forte (I’m working on it), and things going array can be my downfall. I also am working on learning to give myself some grace and “self care” if you will. Hence, the blog. Can you tell I love to write?
I adore puppies and kittens and will be the first to bring another one home. It has happened now... 1...2...4 times?
In the past 5 years I have lived in (drum roll please)... Southern Oregon with my husband. Southern Oregon with my grandparents while my husband trained in Arizona to be a firefighter. Coolidge Arizona (don’t try to find it on a map, while I loved it there it’s the armpit of Arizona). Portland with our new born baby, my husband, our cat, and my parents. Bought our first home in Southern Oregon with my husband, baby, cat, and dog. One baby and a house sold later, we are on the Oregon Coast in a large studio space right by the ocean with my two Monkey Babes, a dog named Bird, a cat named Gator, and my husband on the weekends. Phew! Did you get all that? Took me a minute too.
Let me emphasize that this was not what either of us (my husband and I) pictured for our life at 30, with two kids and two animals. No longer teaching full time, I am staying at home while helping once in a while with substituting in a local school district. Our lives are not what we anticipated, but are they ever?
I suppose that is what keeps life interesting and you work towards new goals and dreams once you reach your previous one. I was always told growing up “If you want to make God laugh, make a plan for yourself”... to whoever said that I give you credit, and I applaud you, because you are SO right. I am Exhibit A, 110% of the time.
My A type personality rarely lets me, not plan. However, I am slowly (I said slowly people let’s not wish for a miracle) learning that my plan may work or it may go array, and I just have to roll with the punches, or rugs swiftly being pulled out from underneath me to get through the day... hour... minute? With kids, rarely anything goes exactly as planned, and this challenge or teaching moment I face on a day to day basis can either be a growth experience, or my downfall.
I try to live my life with the “growth mindset,” but ya never know what you’re going to get. What I do have control over is how my kids are being raised, what I eat, how I speak, how my marriage is growing, and my relationship with the Big Man upstairs. So, once again, you will have my honest truth of the day to day life (maybe past days) throughout this blog.
I hope to help, bring some laughs, calm to the storm, or just the thought that you aren’t alone in this. We got your back. I’m not blogging for the business of getting famous, and I sure won’t be posting my kids' faces all over for the world to see, because they aren’t what I am promoting. I am promoting real life mom’s, dad’s, parents to read and recognize we aren’t alone, and this circus of parenting is full of many hats.
My Monkey Babes, as well as my husband coax me into the hat of ring master, tightrope walker, monkey trainer, tiger wrangler, clown, concession supplier, and sometimes I get to be the pretty lady at the front greeting people as they walk in. Each hat comes with a challenge, and a perk. None of it goes unsaid that you are a rockstar molding tiny humans into big humans that will make a difference in our world that so badly needs those differences.
Reach out however y'all like and let me know what you think so far. I am open to suggestions on what to write about, what you want to hear about, and as long as it is PG you’ll see it here.
Thanks for being here, thanks for reading, and thanks for sticking around!
- Emma
