What I’ve learned as a mother, with each child, has been an emancipating journey. Born again as l learn my newborn and life through their little beady eyes, centers me and gives me so much gratitude and love for life! 

Today I’m going to share some things that have helped me grow and appreciate my place in motherhood. No matter what, l know I will always be from this block, but l can’t forget that vessel l was before my body shared human life with others.

Humility:

I can think it all, but l can’t do it all! 

I carried life, gave birth, but l am not thee Creator! Relying on God for my strength, my wisdom and my love to give, all comes from Him! 

Even when my children are right (yup, those little brains can comprehend a lot y’all)

l have to take accountability and apologize, to them.

Teaching them mistakes are given at any age, and age doesn’t automatically mean correct, helps them learn from my flaws, accept me as a growing human like them, and as a mother they can look up to. 

Patience:

A moment of silence....

because we all lose it and could use some more of it.

When l first became a mother at 20, “slowing down” wasn’t an issue for me because l wasn’t old enough for “club hopping” and drinking anyway. But what l did have to learn, was accepting someone else’s schedule and having to basically focus on them. 

Think of it as physical or even occupational rehab. You can have goals and expectancies set for your patient, read the best text you feel will support your patient’s progress and well-being, but in the end, it take lots of your time, and a lot of effort to find exactly what level to successfully work with

that person to achieve their goals. 

The first child is always a trial-and-error experience and even when you get new tricks under your belt, if another child comes along. You have to modify and sometimes restart. 

With my second child, he taught me grit! My son is tender and loving, but boy he’s always up for a challenge. He always see another way of doing something, and if you tell him “no” he sees it as an opportunity, per say, to still work around that and accomplish his goal. 

Discipline:

Seems perfect to fall right after patience huh?

In our home, we believe in discipline and punishment. Off the bat, what may have worked for one child, will not always work for the other. Discipline helps them let understand boundaries, tolerance, and respect (for others and themselves). 

The same goes for me as a mother, l have to have discipline as well!

 l have to keep my word and mean what l say!

l have a tolerance level that has to be understood, but flexible if need be. Respecting my use of time, feelings, and mindful space of theirs (and others) allows me to teach them they are contributors to this world.  

Balance:

Emotions are real, they may be expressed, but just like everything else, they have their place. Expecting them to be perfect will strain their confidence and leave you restless. There will be good days and bad days and sometimes that means a whole bunch of emotions all over the place. Taking time for myself and teaching my children early the importance of “alone time” helps me to keep grounded and helps them learn to be independent and find peace in their own company. I allow them to feel and express their emotions, but l teach them if it will harm them, others or if it lingers too long, that’s when it’s not good. You can be mad, but respectful, and so on. 

I could go on forever, but tip-toeing on what I’ve learned thus far as a mother and what l know l can expect with my third child, puts my mommy brain at ease. Even though this is my third time around, l still get a little worrisome at times of always being and giving my best to my children. 

Compared to what you expected and know now, what have you learned since you’ve become a parent? 

-xo Natasha 

Things I have learned as the years have passed!

Wisdom and impact: two things I cherish with age.

So many afraid to get older and worry about what will happen as time progresses, but lose sight of what they are disregarding in the present. 

The way you make people feel is so important. The energy you emit, the vibe you bring and the words you share, all affect your place in others lives. You are the people you associate with, but also what others say about you, tells a lot, about you.

Are you approachable? Helpful? Kind? Encouraging? Strengthening? Are you selfless and giving?
 Are you making a difference? 

Your own answers can reveal how much of an impact you’re

making for your own well being and around you. 

I've also had a personal interest in making others laugh and have a good time. Seeing joy on someones face, even for a short moment, livens up my mood and gives me joy. 

Luke 6:31 

  “Also, just as you want men to do to you, do the same way to them.” (NWT)

Now wisdom, ahhh the root of all non-existing gray hair (pun intended). What good would I be to the people I meet, my children I'm raising, the husband that I love, if I don't have and use wisdom. The older I become, I know I'm a better version of myself than I previously was and there is nothing my younger self can do about that. 

I don't look back in my past with regret, but with affirmation that I've harvested, that my youth can only have wished upon. 

Wisdom has allowed me to feel comfortable in my skin and accept parts of me I either neglected or fixed that weren't broken. 

If there were two things I'm still learning from life, that I want my children to know, is with growing comes age, as with age comes wisdom. The role we play in our own life, affects the screenplay of everyone else's life. We can't always be a lead, but we can always play a part in doing and sharing good. 

Proverbs 3: 13-14 

“Happy is the man who finds wisdom And the man who acquires discernment;

To gain it is better than gaining silver, And having it as profit is better than having gold.” (NWT)

What have you learned as the years go by, or you wish you could tell your younger self? 

-xo Natasha 

How to Travel Healthy and On a Budget

So the family and I eat mostly vegan, while a little vegetarian on the side (especially for me with Baby G3 on the way) and a dash of meat for the mister (organic poultry or wild/caught seafood). 

We make the exception for travel and don't want to stress the kids with strict eating habits, but want them to enjoy more fruits and vegetables, plant based sources as much as possible, but still be able to enjoy food and different tastes.

So how'd we do it you ask? You know, with no fast food stops and pickings from the gas station every time we filled up?

I'll share a few tips that has helped us and can inspire you!

Trader Joe's! (Or your favorite grocery store).

For one, we know what we like and don't like to eat and to save money we bought a few items to last us for the meantime and until we knew we could purchase more by our AirBnB or the night before we got onto the road.

For example, our kids love dried fruit, so I got dried mango, which subs for candy because it is naturally very sweet and I don't have to worry about any added junk because it's
just plain ol' dried fruit.

You can also buy regular sizes, pack what you need in ziplock bags, and then 

pack the rest away in your luggage.

  

Salty, sweet, soft and/or crunchy.

I know when I'm in the mood to snack while traveling, this is usually my layout.

Salty in the form of nuts, tortilla or plantain chips, popcorn etc.

Sweet in the form of dried fruit, regular fruit (I prefer dried because it doesn't spoil and can be resealed in a closed container so you don't have to eat it all at once), dark chocolate, fruit died and cane sugar sweetened candies (if you're vegetarian or vegan there are tons of brands out there), and the same goes for cookies. 

 Soft can fall under the sweets category easily and crunchy for salty and/or sweet as well.

As long as I have those four things covered, my family and I are happy and fed. 

Google, Yelp, Instagram and family locals.

Be resourceful, research  and ask! If you know where you'll be staying, how long you'll be traveling from point A to B and you know you have to be weary of what you eat (whether it be, healthy (in this context I mean whole foods, not deep fried etc), low sugar/fat, vegetarian, vegan and the list goes on) look up in advance where you and your family can eat.

As excited as I was for our family summer trip, I started looking up restaurants on Google for location references, Yelp for reviews, and tags on Instagram for visual presentation and more reviews.

From there I was able to see what I did and didn't like and then added them to our little itinerary.

Gluten free waffles w/ fresh strawberries and bananas and tofu scramble from Reverie Caffe

If we knew we'd be driving a bit, fast food wasn't an option and we wanted hot and healthy food, we'd stop (where we already had to stop to sight see or get gas) and find the nearest Whole Foods. I grabbed fresh juice for the kids that was cheaper than buying several bottles at a gas station, some hot food to get us by, a salad for the mister and I to share and one or two extra snacks (to replace what we already had or to liven up our taste buds).

Remember vacations are supposed to be fun and not worrisome, so if you have health or diet restrictions or health goals, and a budget like the rest of us, you can still eat to your liking and enjoy yourself.

-xo Natasha