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Backwards N High Heels

Balancing work and play while wearing many hats (I mean heels).

That is How Motherhood Works

October 6, 2018

This Is How Motherhood Works - Backwards N High Heels Blog

Sometimes I snap pictures of Lo just to capture the moment. It is pure instinct with no real in-depth meaning, but then I go back and I look through the camera roll on my phone, and I stop and I am in awe at the beauty before me. Those messy curls, those morning eyes, the tiny features of her nose and cheeks. She still looks little to me. She still feels small. Yet, when I scroll through my phone’s photos to last fall or the fall before that, I realize how quickly time moves and how much my little one has grown.

It is not for the faint of heart this motherhood thing. It shakes you, tires you, and rattles your core. The good indeed outweighs every bad. How could it not? Just look at her. I melt to a puddle every time I see her.

And one moment I could be scolding her for taking a pen to my painted white walls, telling her at her age she should know better and watching the little light and her head fall in shame. Yet, a minute later I find myself cuddled up to her on the couch rocking her, calming her, and feeling all the guilt of being so hard on her, run quietly through my veins.

That is how motherhood works.

There are days I indeed beg my husband for a much-needed break. A time to check-out of worrying about everything and managing our day-to-day. Just some hours alone to be one with me. Yet, when he willfully complies and even sometimes absolutely agrees and takes our daughter for some daddy/daughter time, I find myself alone, missing them, checking on her through texts to him, and cutting my time short just to be reunited with the lovely chaos of life with a three-year-old.

That is how motherhood works.

I celebrate her every milestone with pride and relief. She is at a point that she is becoming self-sufficient. She will tell me when she is hungry or thirsty, with no more guessing. She uses the potty on her own,  she will run in the bathroom and start her own bath, and if I am not quick enough, she will run with her bath towel wrapped around to her bedroom and put on her training pants and pj’s without my help. It has given me freedom. It has, should I dare say, made motherhood easier. Yet as baby number two’s due date nears, I find myself looking at her and yearning for her dependence. The days she really needed me and when I was constantly hands on.

That is how motherhood works.

And the nights, oh the nights. The nights when she can’t sleep unless she is tucked into our queen size bed, and like a magnet, laying up against me. Oh, I complain the next morning. My back hurts, my neck is stiff, I tossed and turned and nudged and moved her until the alarm forced me to my feet. Yet, when we try really hard to create a routine and talk up sleeping in her own bed and praise her the next morning for a full night across the hall, I feel a pang of longing for my messy haired baby to want me in the middle of the night and find her way to my arms.

That is how motherhood works.

It is the ultimate emotional pull. Take every emotion one may experience, throw them into a well-worn brown paper bag, shake it really hard, and open it up so the emotions come rolling one by one out into the world. That is motherhood.

I look at her now and the pictures of her then, and it hits me… time. Sweet, time. It is why motherhood works so very hard. Because we as mothers know that the saying is so true, that “the days are long but the years are short,” and as we check off another, we let a strand go.

It is the guilt, the sting, yet so much wonderfulness. It is a push when you want to pull. A no, then a sudden yes. It is boundaries and spontaneity. It is that bag of emotions spilling out that you rush around scooping up to place back in.

That is how motherhood works.

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Parents Say The Darndest Things

June 12, 2017

Our dear friends just recently had their first child. We were invited down to their home to spend some time with their week and a half-year-old little guy and to introduce him to our very ornery, can’t stop – won’t stop, two-year-old, Lo.

I was a nervous Nancy watching my daughter bounce from step to ground, fearful she was just a mere tumble away into the peaceful newborn’s bouncy seat, where he so quietly slept. As I watched this beautiful boy stretch and yawn and wrinkle his oh so tiny nose, I looked over at my rowdy, rambunctious daughter, “No, Logan, we do not lick the concrete,” I calmly announced as my daughter was on all fours on my friend’s patio, lapping up the hard surface. In that moment, I turned back to the newborn so peaceful and dependent and then back at my puppy, I mean daughter and thought well gee this is my motherhood.

Lately, I feel like I run around chasing my daughter saying “No!” Our dialogue with our child has totally shifted and now I just find myself and my husband speak and think nothing of our dialogue until a moment later when it hits me, “Did we just say that?”

So I started this list – Parents Say the Darndest Things – with our recent conversation at our friend’s house when I asked my daughter to stop licking the concrete, in mind.

Darndest Thing #1 – The same night as the concrete and moments later Lo ripped a leaf  off our friend’s hedge bush that lined their patio and placed the leaf in her mouth, “Lo, stop eating their landscape.”

Darndest Thing #2 – After a quiet moment, my husband walked into our daughter’s bedroom and found her on the floor playing in a small travel bag I have packed which contains band-aids, thermometers, and an extra toothbrush. My dear husband yelled, “No, that was in your butt, get it out of your mouth.” Hmmm… I thought from our bedroom across the hall. Turns out Lo had placed the reserved anal thermometer in her mouth. Then Nathan asked me, “Right? This goes in her butt?” Holding the red and white thermometer in his hand in our doorway. “Yes, dear, that typically goes in her butt.”

Darndest Thing #3 – One morning while playing with chalk on the front sidewalk that leads to our house, “Logan, chalk is for sidewalks, not for faces.” She had bright blue dusty chalk painted on the tip of her nose and was holding the red and outlining her face as I caught her.

Darndest Thing #4 – I dressed Logan, I gave her a bottle, her blanket and set her on the couch with a TV show so I could water my annuals in our front yard. Nathan yelled, “Ashli, did you change, Lo?”

“Yeah, why?” I call back.

I turned around to see my daughter with her top on but completely naked from the waist down standing in the front door looking out at me. “Logan, no, we do not walk around pantless.”

“Yeah,” said Nathan scurrying her along. “And,  we don’t stand at the front door when we do,” I heard Nathan say as they walked away. 😐

You know how they say kids say the darndest things, well clearly us parents do too. Just another day, another dollar (no – wait) and another moment in the life of parenthood. And, I cheers to you on that!
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How Has Your Mother Shaped You?

May 13, 2017

It was a rough week for me personally. I was chatting with co-workers about work-life balance and how at the moment it is nonexistent for me. I am at a pivotal point in my life where I am asking myself every day what my priorities are and how those priorities stack out.

Being a Mom is a huge priority, but even more so a present Mom and in most cases, I feel like Lo is not getting the best of me. One of my co-workers shared a story and it really moved me. To tears actually, I tried to hold them back and turn my head so she would not see, but they came rushing down my already damp face.

She had a friend who was sharing with her that when she was talking to her now older teenager/young adult children, she told them how looking back on their childhood all she remembers doing was yelling at them and that made her so sad. But the amazing thing was her child oddly looked at her and said, “Mom, we never remember you yelling at us.”

The perception we have as a parent is just our take on how we are raising our children. We in most cases feel like we are never enough. The true test is how our children feel, which leads me to share This link. It kind of wraps up everything I am trying to say.

Our mothers shape us in so many ways. And, while as Moms, some days we feel exhausted and like failures, not giving our best or our all, our children often remind us that the motherhood magic spirals bright and strong around them, long after the toys lay quietly on the living room floor, and their childhood room remains neatly untouched and they are off in the world and a phone call away.

I thank these fellow children of Moms who shared their answer to the following question to help lift their Mom and all Moms. Happy Mother’s Day.

How has your mother shaped you?

Mother's Day - Celebrating Moms“Through the years my mom has made many sacrifices to give me every opportunity that has led me to where I am today. She has always led by example. Her unconditional love and willingness to give have shown me how to be selfless. My mom has never set a goal she has not reached, she is determined and strong, something I have always admired about her. She is the glue that holds my family together and I know how lucky I am to have been raised by such an amazing woman.”  – Jordin R.

Mother's Day - Celebrating Moms“It’s hard to narrow it down to just a few things when I think about my Mom and what a strong influence she’s had on me. She is a well-respected psychologist who ran her own successful private practice for years, all while raising three girls on her own. Growing up, she taught my sisters and me that it is entirely possible to pursue a career but to show your family you love them. She somehow found time to make us delicious dinners and homemade birthday cakes (I love to throw dinner parties and make food for people I love because of her wonderful cooking). She worked so hard to give us so many opportunities – we went on countless camping trips and hikes, and all took dance classes, did things like tennis and art lessons. I think the latter was also instrumental – we not only grew up curious about how we could be creative and expressive on our own, but we watched our Mom pursue her talents in and around her crazy schedule. She makes absolutely beautiful quilts, makes the best homemade bread in the world and is one of the craftiest people I know. Over the past few years, she’s become a master beekeeper, something that is her greatest passion following retirement. Now that I’m older and have experienced some of the things that come with that, like starting over after a divorce, my Mom is my strongest supporter and lets me know I can do anything on my own, that it’s never too late to have the life you always wanted and deserve. That’s been an incredibly powerful thing to share with her. The long talks we’ve had over the past few years since I moved to DC to begin my life as a single person have been so special—she understands what I’ve been through and she can see what I’m becoming, if I keep believing in everything that makes me happy and realize how capable I am. This has really deepened our relationship and brought us closer in a way I didn’t realize was possible. I’m so thankful for her and love her so much.”  – Becca B.

Mother's Day - Celebrating Moms“It wasn’t until the last few years that I have truly realized just how much my mother has shaped me into who I am today. As a child who never went to daycare, or even had babysitters, my bond with my mother has always been strong. She has shown true selflessness and courage and always encouraged me to be who I want to be. I always go above and beyond to make someone feel special – something that is undeniably a trait I got from her. All of the best things about me – are because of her.”  – Tracey C.

Mother's Day - Celebrating Moms“My mother has shaped me in just about every way imaginable. Here are the two ways that come to mind immediately. 1) Unconditional love. 2) A love for teaching children.

Ever since I entered this word (breech, by the way, and I apologize to her for that, often) I have known that my Mom was going to love me no matter what! Of course, I tried my best to be that perfect child, but mistakes and bad choices were made along the way. I think especially during my high school years, I did some things that didn’t necessarily make my Mom proud. My taste in certain boyfriends and my total disregard for academic achievement come to mind. Of course, my Mother let me know she did not agree with certain choices I had made, but never in a condescending or nasty way. And never did she utter the words, “I told you so,” when she could have so many times. She loved me at times when I didn’t exactly love myself.

I grew up thinking of my Mom as my Mom, but also as a teacher. When I was younger this meant getting to open her Valentine’s Day cards, having her around all summer long, and going to help her decorate her classroom every August. As I became older though, I really started to appreciate the gift that she had for reaching all students and making every one of them want to come into her classroom where they would be entertained, loved, and would actually learn a little in the meantime. She would work late every night planning entertaining lessons and activities that she felt her students deserved. She truly loved every minute she spent with her students. She always emphasized the importance of laughing with, talking to, and most importantly, listening to each student each day. She always said teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs out there, and I am so grateful that I believed her enough to discover this for myself.”  – Kristi A.

Mother's Day - Celebrating Moms“I love my, mom. She is the hardest working woman I know. She has always been there for me, helping me and making sure the decisions I make are always the right ones. I learned this right before taking the big step to move out. Every time I brought it up to her, she always would say, “Are you sure you can handle that?” She helped me develop into the man I am today because of this. She is also so caring towards her kids and others. Anytime I come home and something is emotionally troubling to me she always knows what to say. I appreciate that she makes sure to comfort me and help me through everything before I turn to leave. She has always been there to protect me. Thank you. I love you, forever and always.”  – Turner M. (PS- That is my baby brother and he is the one in the black shirt behind my Mom).

Moms, you are powerful and resilient. You are lovely and beautiful. You make the lives of your children and their worlds go round. We are lucky to celebrate you.

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We Swore We Would Never Become Our Mothers

May 8, 2017

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I was 16 years old. It was a Tuesday night and I had just got done cheering at my high school’s soccer game. I was tan. My waist was much smaller back then. Heck, I did not have “hips.” My hair was in place with a perfect cheerleader bow high on my head. My lip gloss was on point. I smelled great – Ralph for Women by Ralph Lauren was my go to those days. My nails were painted, I smiled big and giggled with friends along the track. My biggest worry under those stadium lights was whether or not I could convince my mom, who sat with the other moms on a bleacher nearby, to let me go out with friends after the game on a school night. Such a heavy worry for a 16-year-old. And, because that was my biggest worry in life, there was not a gray hair on my head or a wrinkle on my smooth face. Yep, I was my best self then. And by self, I am being purely vain.VIEW STORY »

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Easter Recap

April 17, 2017


Happy post-Easter! Hopefully everyone had a beautiful holiday celebrating the most Holy holiday. We had a great and busy weekend full of celebrations. My mother-in-laws birthday fell on Saturday so we enjoyed dinner, a sunset four-wheeler ride and nighttime glow-in-the-dark egg hunt.

Our little family began Easter Sunday on my husband’s family’s farm, which for the past four years has been the site of our church’s sunrise service. I did not take any pictures because I felt it would be frowned upon during the service and afterwards, well I was just too excited to get us back home to Lo that I hurried us off the farm. We knew we wanted to attend the service but were a little unsure of Lo’s attention span. Of course Easter morning Lo decided to try something out – sleep in, so we had to wake her, add a coat over her pajamas and head out the door with a blanket and bottle in hand. Thank goodness Nathan’s sister, brother-in-law and three kids came in for the holiday and offered to watch Lo while we headed onto the farm for the 40-minute service.

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Top 10 Reasons Living With A Toddler Is Like Living With A Drunk Person

February 21, 2017

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Yes, you read the headline right. Parents, I figured it out. As I stared at my wide-eyed, what the heck just happened to me two-year old, who laid on the bathroom floor in disarray looking up at me, it hit me… living with a toddler is like living with a drunk person.

You see, I asked my daughter to join my in the bathroom as I was home alone with her and needed to iron my clothes. Our ironing board is attached to the back of the bathroom door, so technically I lock myself in when I need to iron. Of course, she could not do damage with me by her side unlike if I was locked in a room with her free to roam the house. It was two minutes. That is it! And, in two minutes she caused enough damage for an hour worth of repair work.

“Look at me Mommy!” And as I turned, my two year old, Lo, had moved her potty over to the wall, stood on top of its lid and was hanging from our towel rack. When she lifted her little feet backwards into the air the towel rack ripped in a hurry from the wall, pulling some of the dry wall, and she crashing to the ground.

Yep! Just like living with a drunk person.

#1 – They spill their drinks all over the floor
I have physically witnessed my daughter laugh as she squeezed the life out of a juice box and watched the sugary substance spill all over the floor. Leaky bottle in the bed? No worries! We like sleeping in wet bed sheets. If there is a drink in our home without a screw top lid, well then we are just that – screwed.

#2 – They are always getting hurt
Clumsy! My toddler will walk straight into a wall or door. This morning when we opened the front door to leave, she tumbled outside onto our porch. Flat out tumbled. It is like her feet are their very own tripping hazard.  She had so many bruises on her face that my husband posted this to SnapChat last month.
Toddler_Motherhood-Blog_BackwardsNHighHeels
#3 – They cry… a lot!

Their emotions are all over the place. Lo has cried recently because I would not allow her to open glitter eye shadow she found in my old makeup bag (heck, I cried that I wore that stuff), because her bottle of milk seemed too cold, because the toy bucket in the shower had cold water in it from the night before, and because I told her she could not eat butter out of the butter container with a spoon.

#4 – They ask why way too much
Everything is why? Everything! Our dinner conversation the other night went something like this.

Me: Eat your food.
Lo: Why?
Me: Because it is dinner time.
Lo: Why?
Me: Because you have to eat before you go to bed.
Lo: Why?
Me: Do you want to be hungry before bed?
Lo: Why?
Me: Because.
Lo: Why?
Me: Because I said so.
Lo: Because Why?
Me: Why?
Lo: Why?

Fork dropped.

#5 – You cannot have nice things
Hence my story above. We now have a hole in our bathroom wall and ripped drywall. All thanks to a “Look at me Mommy,” hang! Don’t even get me started on my carpets!

#6 – They do not care what scene they make in public
It does not matter that the restaurant is full and your client is seated with his wife across the room. They could care less if the lady at the end of the grocery store aisle goes to your church. Really care less as they knock over the display and you are left deciding if you should clean it up or run for cover. Heck, the mere fact that there are eyes upon them means nothing, their emotions show through regardless of who is around. There is no need to impress and zero care about causing a scene.

#7 – The flip their dinner plates
Don’t like that? Ah! Just throw it off the table. We love cleaning up beneath and around you. 

#8 – My phone has drunk dials
I do not know why I have not yet learned from my mistakes. Lo has called a business contractor on my husband’s phone at 9 pm at night and Facetimed one of my old colleges. Awesome!

#9 – They want pizza, Oreos or chicken nuggets for breakfast all the time
My daughter wakes up asking for gummies! Partly my fault since we do give her a vitamin gummie so she then thinks she can have a bag. She will cry for pizza for breakfast and ice cream just before dinner. It is like she could eat all the time.

#10 – They can fall asleep anywhere
In the car, on the floor, across your lap, any where other than their crib or bed. My favorite was after a long day and a missed nap, she walked in the house, boots and snow coat still on, scuffled over to her toy couch and face dived into the cushion and just laid there.

Motherhood and all its craziness, I mean greatness! More motherhood reads here:

  • When You Give A Two Year Old A Mini Shopping Cart
  • The Best Parenting Advice I Can Give
  • Sunday Morning and Poison Control

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The Best Parenting Advice I Can Give

February 13, 2017


Some days I have no idea what I am doing. Scratch that. Most days I have no idea what I am doing.

There is no motherhood guidebook. Sure there are great resources out there. Books, mobile apps, Pinterest links to blogs like this one, your own mother, etc – but there is no ultimate guide that we are all working from. No uniformed source, that we can reference to.

I remember the first few days when I started my job with the company I am with now. Eight years ago, my job was digitally focused. I created email campaigns, website pages and was on the brinks of something big which would one day be termed “social media.” Part of my tasks was to update the company’s website on a regular basis with the various outlet’s hours of operations. I remember asking my director, “Well, where is the guidebook? ” He looked at me quite strange. I had all these places to go to look for the many outlet hours and very few resources matched. “How am I suppose to know which of these options is correct?” I again spoke up and asked.

I could tell I puzzled the man as he blinked hard and said, “Well, you will just have to call around and ask.”

It is the same with motherhood. No real – book or resource to end all books and resources. No real “Bible” of parenting or motherhood. We are all mad collectors of information. We ask and sometimes we receive without even asking, tips and tidbits on ways to coop and handle our kids. Sleep training and potty training, building self-confidence, discipline methods, best foods for their diets and how to the lose the pacifier and the bottle. We are absorbent creatures. But how do we know if our way is the right way? Or if there is even a right way at all?

A few of my girlfriends are expecting babies and turn to social media for recommendations. They will post things such as – “Looking for a childcare recommendation. Looking for the best brand of baby monitors. What are your baby registry must haves?  Do I really need a wipe warmer?” I use to thrive so much more in assisting and offering my opinion. I mean they are asking! But, I have learned that everyone has an opinion. Everyone! To the point that I have made a recommendation based on my experience and then had someone comment below me basically telling the friend, “Do not listen to Ashli. Instead do this…” Well not in those exact words. It was more like a big “NO” and a pointer finger emoji pointing to my comment and then the exact opposite advice. It hurt my feelings quite frankly. First, because someone had the nerve to call me out in front of everyone and secondly, that my personal opinion was discredited as “wrong” and hers “right.” How could it be wrong when it worked so well for me?

I often like to participate in chat loops on Instagram. Last week, a group of mommas included me in one and the one mother posed the following question, “What is one thing you said you would never do before becoming a mom and now you do?”

I actually referred back to This Post on the Blog and shared how I said I would never give a binkie, or allow them to watch too much TV or co-sleep and now my two year old sleeps in between us at night, while watching Sprout, with a binkie in her mouth. Mom fail?! No, definitely not. Motherhood has taught me many, many valuable lessons. One being – never say never, but ultimately that you have to do what is right for you and your child without the influence of others. I added, “Each parent and each child are on their own unique journey.”

What is right for one family, one child or one parent may not necessarily work for another and that is okay. We are all dealt different circumstances that alter our wants and needs in this life. Everything little thing can add up in a big impactful way. If you ask me my opinion or my advice, know I will gladly share because I want to help you, but also know it is coming from a place that has worked for me, and may not you, and guess what – that is okay.

We all learn as we go. Some days motherhood is pretty great and others days lousy. Some days I feel like supermom and other days question my sanity. We can talk about those things too. The good and the bad. It is not all roses being parents, and having a bad day does not define who we are or how well we are at raising our kids.

Social media has a brilliant way of making us look like super stars, with perfect lives, doing it all the right way. We don’t post pictures of our grimy kids, who have not showered in two days and have dried maple syrup on their sleeves. We would be mortified if someone posted a video of us losing our minds when our kid(s) have literally pushed us to our breaking point and we would be devastated to share the not so nice words we say to our spouse over something so minuscule because we are tired, no, take that back – exhausted and completely stressed. But, that is really our real lives, and that is okay. I am here to say. I got you. I understand you. I have been there. I am there.

There is no guide to being a great parent.  There is no one-stop, end-all-be-all, that will tell you exactly how to handle motherhood. There are a ton of great resources and there is a great deal of mixed advice. The best advice I can give to you – There is no wrong or right. There is only your wrong and your right.

And, as a parent, you will learn what is best for you and your own children. Learn it, love it, accept it and own it.

Here are some of my other favorite motherhood and parenting posts:

  • I Don’t Care If My Child Is Happy
  • Mix That Play-Doh
  • Dear God… I See The Good

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The Honest Company

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I Failed At Parenting

January 10, 2017

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It wasn’t until she laid there lips slightly puckered upward, those big round eyes closed with her naturally long lashes whispering against her face and her tiny baby hands clutched into fists that I watched and wondered her dreams. She was so peaceful. The home was so quiet. Her beauty so breathtaking that the clock had passed two minutes before I realized I had just sat there starring at her with a smile on my face.

A true genuine smile that slowly faded and a pang in my gut and an incredible sense of guilt overcame my body. I felt heartbroken in that instant. Heartbroken for my beauty as she rested her head on a big comfy pillow with her legs across mine.

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Logisms – Part 1

November 13, 2016

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When I found out I was pregnant with Lo I was so certain that the little baby growing in my belly was a boy. So, certain in fact that when the ultrasound technician wrote the sex of our baby on a piece of paper and folded it for our surprise reveal, and those pink balloons popped out of a cardboard box, I was in shock. Excited but in shocked. I rushed into the house, found the folded piece of paper and opened the ultrasound and note which read, “Looks like a girl.”

I was even more confused. “Looks like girl.” Who writes that? Well, she did and now I had no way to contact her and ask what that meant. I studied ultrasounds in Google images and read reading them online so much, I may very well be certified at this point. Just kidding.
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I Don’t Care If My Child Is Happy

October 25, 2016

I was a young twenty something year-old, fresh out of college and immersed in securing a position that I could define as a “career” versus a “job.” “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”  I recall the HR manager asked me. It was easy to answer then. “To be secure with a job in a career path I love.” Followed by, “To be a great asset to the company, so much so that I am working my way up to director status.” That was my goal. It happened.

I remember that same twenty something-year-old girl, who chased the dreams of love and marriage. Defining myself and my aspirations by the next phase of life. Remaining hopefully that soon I would be sporting a diamond on my left finger and setting a date for “I do!” Finally, it happened.

I look back now and can recall the moment that the ideological shift of worshiping my own professional success took a backseat to building a family foundation. Not long after I was pregnant and months later my daughter with big beautiful eyes stared back at me. My dream of hearing “You’re promoted” turned to “Come here, Momma.” It happened.

Up until then, I was chasing life situations. Goals that I could check off a list. Been there, done that, to-do’s being accomplished in this thing called life.

Then something happened. I quit chasing things. Instead my mind raced to my feelings and emotions and I defined myself and every success in my life by how I felt that day.

I am thirty years old. Wow. I am going to just go ahead and congratulate myself here and now for announcing that so boldly. I am thirty years old and I have fought the majority of my life to be happy. Let that sink in a second. I know I am.

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Happiness has become somewhat of a dream we are all chasing, especially as Americans. We have become obsessed with being happy. You hear it all the time now, more so than ever before. “How does that make you feel?” we ask our children. “Are you happy?” Your Boss asks you during your review. As we check off life achievements we place happiness on the pedestal. A high reaching pedestal, I might add, to jump after.

I crossed that road this year. A co-worker asked me in a pretty raw, vulnerable meeting, “What motivates you?” I looked up and without missing a beat I answered, “Happiness!” I could literally read her thoughts through her non-verbal response. But, then she vocalized it and said, “Well then we aren’t aligned.”

That conversation haunted me for days, weeks and months after. Not because of her response, but because of my answer. The happiness answer.

It is not that it is not true. It is very much true. I want to be happy and happiness does motivate me. Who doesn’t want to be happy?  But, why am I chasing it? When it cannot be chased.

The reality is that we as adults are chasing this very thing and as parents, we are the worse. If not for ourselves, for our children. We are so focused on making them happy humans. Think about it!  I will use myself as an example to really let this sink in.

I was obsessed with taking Lo to a real Pumpkin Patch this Fall. It consumed me. I had to do it! In fact, it ruined a good Sunday with my husband because plans to attend one fell through. Lo napped at an odd time, right in the middle of the day and our hopes, well my hopes of Pumpkin Patching it, well they faded. In my mind our day together was shot. I felt more and more like a failure as I scrolled Facebook as she peacefully napped, seeing other moms and dads out at a local farm partaking in their fall event. I placed my success as a parent on accomplishing this task. I wanted to give her that experience and I wanted to see her happy, make her happy.

We finally did it. Yeah for us! But, we never stepped foot into the pumpkin patch itself. My daughter instead was happy, content even, with the sliding boards that scattered the farm.  She giggled over the bouncy balls that were thrown about a lawn surrounded by a hay bale fence and she stomped around in glee in a Silo filled with corn kernels. In fact, the farm had an over abundance of options, and more entertainment than could ever keep my two-year old laughing and playing for hours, maybe even days on end. Although, after an hour she climbed into the stroller and was ready for a nap, grabbing her blanket and binkie and quietly watching the hundreds of kids play around her, as I pushed her through the field.

The point is she had no clue we drove two hours to this farm festival. She had no clue that this was the one thing her own mother drove herself crazy for weeks to accomplish. She could not tell you if you asked her right now what we did and where we went. Yes, she was happy at the time, but she also was content during the commute home as she watched Frozen from the DVD player and she was laughing as we stopped at Panera Bread to get her Mac N’ Cheese for dinner.

To dig even deeper, I am sure if we never even went, and spent that weekend at home on the swing or playing hide n’ seek for the 800th time, my daughter would have sported the same smile and giggle.

We become so paralyzed by the notion to make our kids happy. Whether you are like me and must take your child places, or you feel the need to buy them the latest toy craze or you cannot leave the super market without buying a toy, we fail to realize we are buying them the happiness we are chasing. We see it all the time, kids want to engage with us. They want to have small, meaningful connections.  We as parents create yet again, this idea that we must make our children happy and we chase this happiness dream for them. And, as I stated above happiness cannot be chased.

Happiness is not a goal. It is an emotion that is the result of decisions made or living within a good moment.

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I do not care if my daughter is happy.

It is not my job to make her happy. Instead, it is my job to make good decisions for her, until the day she can make them for herself. It is my job to worry about her being a productive human being that is respectful and decent in this world, that knows right from wrong, that respects authority, that appreciates morals and that can appreciate the life she has been given. It is my job to build her a strong foundation so that she can stand tall and shine. Maybe the most important thing I can do is to love her and care for her and to make her feel beautiful and important. To make her feel valued. It is my job to build her core and her self-confidence, much like my very own.

I realize my daughter is the focus of everything I do now. She is the source of every decision I make and the only reason my dreams that became my realities, sometimes feel like my nightmares. Chasing after a finish line that I believed once I ripped through the ribbon, happiness would burst from the other side. Although, each and every time, I looked back, I realized happiness doesn’t just sit there like a trophy waiting to be grabbed.

When we place all of our dreams and goals on happiness we fail. Why? Because no matter how wonderful or perfect one’s world may be, just as happiness may exist in it, so does sadness, failure and exhaustion. They easily can creep in and destroy ones happiness. Maybe it lasts for 5 minutes, an hour, a few days or weeks, the point is happiness will come and go through our lives. You cannot chase it and catch it.

Instead, contentment is what we should strive for.  I can feel defeated from a bad day, but still hold my head high because I am content. I can feel like a failure of a mom because I don’t want to work 55+ hour weeks with a daughter at home, but feel content as I lay my head on my pillow to sleep knowing my daughter has a hard working, independent mom she can one day look up to.

And, for our children this too should be what we strive for. Who cares if they are happy? You are going make them turn off a video game for dinner, take away the iPad out of punishment, make them finish their peas, set them in timeout, tell them, “no,” tell them “we cannot afford that,” and send them to their room. Guess what? They will not be happy. They will be hurt, sad, mad, frustrated, and probably yell, “I hate you,” and slam a door in your face, maybe even a couple times before they turn into adults and move out. But through the emotions, when happiness cannot be found, when you have worked hard to create a decent human being that is loved, they too will lay their head on their pillow and feel contentment and not even know it. And, that, well that is why I could care less about happiness and that is what I define as success worth chasing.

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1 Comment CATEGORIES // Family TAGGED: Backwards N High Heels, Backwards N High Heels Lifestyle Blog, Being A Mom, Happiness, I don't care of my child is happy, Mom Advice, Motherhood, Parenting

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