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a homeschooling mom of four who used to blog about food, has a book about sourdough, and who is now walking through the grief of losing my dad.
Hi, I'm Kels!

The Best Sourdough Glazed Donuts

I started this post as a highlight of a “St. Patrick’s Day Healthy Round-Up” pinterest board. But as I got looking through Pinterest, my thoughts went elsewhere . . .

Here is a little secret about me . . . I am not the crazy holiday mom. That doesn’t mean if you love holidays and make them amazing you are crazy, it means that holidays would make ME crazy if I were to attempt some of the pinterest-y things I have seen other moms doing. My kids don’t think I am boring, but they don’t know any better.

 

 

It’s easy to get swept into the game of comparing ourselves to other moms online. The crafty moms, the cute lunch-making moms, the amazing hairstyle-doing moms, the fun outing moms, the interior decorator alter-ego moms, etc. etc. etc.

I realized several years ago that I wasn’t going to become a sewing mom. I wanted to, badly, at one point. I saw the “easy” tutorials for repurposing clothing on different blogs and started hoarding my old t-shirts and camisoles for such projects. Years later I still hadn’t attempted one darling little girl’s dress from an old t-shirt! Nor had I made a drawer-full of head bands/wraps from said shirts or started an Etsy shop to sell my wares!

This is when I had a heart-to-heart with myself and realized that it’s OKAY to not be “that” mom, whatever it may be. I still pore over some of the creations of these wonderfully talented mothers and am in awe. But I am not jealous.

 

Here is what I am good at:

  • spending quality time with my children — playing, reading books, playing games, etc. I like to BE with them as often as I can.
  • making food with/for my children — I love food (in case you didn’t pick that up by now). I love to have my kids with me in the kitchen (most of the time) helping me bake or make dinner. This is something I know I can do well, and can teach them. They won’t learn how to make crafts or how to sew from me, but they will learn how to cook/bake.
  • teaching them — I wouldn’t have admitted this a few years ago, but I think I teach them well. Sure, we all have a lot to learn, and my kids aren’t perfect. But I try to teach them about things they are interested in, and how to be good people who love others and put God and family first.
  • exploring the world with my children — we live in a beautiful place in the middle of nowhere and I try to get outside and let my kids roam as often as possible.
  • talking to my children — I didn’t ever think about this one until my mother in law mentioned it a couple of years ago. She appreciated and could tell that my husband and I REALLY converse with our children. We don’t talk over them or brush off their questions, we discuss and really TALK with them about a lot of subjects.
  • letting them be little — I am a MAJOR advocate for children being allowed to be children. I don’t want to push them to grow up, and if they won’t fight for their childhood, then I will! I let them be little, and allow them to get dirty and messy and figure life out as it comes to them. One of my greatest joys as a mom has been watching my children learn new things by exploring on their own.
  • holding my children — we do a lot of snuggling/down time at our house and I have gotten pretty good at it.
  • keeping life simple — I try not to over-complicate, over-schedule, or over-stimulate my children and I see that as something that I do well. Their life is simple and happy.
  • being the best mom for THEM — I am not a perfect mom (non-existent), but I am the perfect mom for THEM. They are mine, and we are learning each day together.

 

 

As holidays come and go, we do our little seemingly insignificant traditions without a lot of fanfare. And sometimes I see my Instagram spammed with rainbow food and elaborate leprechaun houses and think, “I should have done that.”

But then I remember that I am doing what I am good at, and my kids don’t suffer because of it. They need what I have to offer, and that is all that matters.

Comments +

  1. Rhonda says:

    I LOVE this post. And I love that you are in touch with who you are and how you mother. That’s what God wants for you to do. And it’s why you have the kids you have. They are meant for your mothering. Love this! Love ya!

  2. Ruth Ann Lingwall says:

    I love this post! Great reminder that there is a trade off in time and energy for whatever activities we choose to engage in. Putting our efforts into our talents and time with our kids, whatever works best for them and us, is the most rewarding. Thank you!

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about me

Hey, I'm Kels!

a homeschooling mom of four who used to blog about food, has a book about sourdough, and who is now walking through the grief of losing my dad.

I have lots of recipes and resources, but now it's just about me being real, walking through the messy and beautiful parts of life.

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