December 29, 2019June 9, 2020 - Ashley

Fun Things To Do With Your Toddler In Maui!

Fun Things To Do With A Toddler In Maui (that you’ll enjoy too!)

Have you ever thought about taking a vacation to Maui with a toddler?

Every year in December we get away as a family to Maui, Hawaii.

It’s a magical place any time of year, but there’s something about escaping colder temperatures for balmy island weather that’s extra awesome. My husband AJ and I both absolutely LOVE being on the island and vacationed there together several times pre-kiddo (probably the last time we could actually define it as a ‘vacation’ in the utter relaxation sense of the word); This is a tradition + place we wanted to share with Taylor and, not surprisingly, she loves it too!

When you add a toddler into the mix, many of the activities you may choose to do on your Maui vacation sans kiddo aren’t going to be appropriate (snorkeling, some hiking, cliff jumping, paddle boarding, etc.), unless of course you have a set of Grandparents or a nanny with you to watch them! You can read more about how to make traveling with a toddler less stressful in THIS POST!

Fortunately, Maui has so many amazing things for toddlers & their parents to enjoy doing/eating/participating in together. You can’t really go wrong!

In this post, I’m going to share with you what we’ve done and enjoyed most the past couple of trips with Taylor between the ages of 1.5 and 3.5 years old, as well as a few travel tips to make things easier for you to relax + enjoy your trip!

TRAVELING TO THE ISLAND

Let’s start with making the trip out to Maui as stress-free as possible – get those chill island vibes flowing, mama! Knowing what to pack and not having to second guess whether you’ve got everything you need to entertain your little one on the flight over & back, and essentials for while you’re there is everything!

For a comprehensive, printable vacation packing checklist for both toddlers and their mamas to streamline the ‘getting ready to depart for paradise’ process less stressful, check out THIS POST!

I recommend saving 2-3 items for the return flight and/or picking up a special surprise souvenir activity your toddler can do on the flight home – novelty seems to hold their attention slightly longer : )

TOP TO DOS WITH A TODDLER IN MAUI

BEACHES

Kapalua Bay Beach

Our favorite area to stay on the island is Kapalua. It’s further north of downtown Lahaina (main shopping, restaurants, and most popular/busy beaches), quiet, and the beaches are super family-friendly. This year we spent all of our beach time at Kapalua Bay Beach, but we also love Napili Bay which is right next door.

Baby Beach:

This beach is in Lahaina. It’s called Baby Beach because the water is calm, warm and wave/undertow free. It’s the perfect beach to introduce your toddler to the ocean if they’ve never been before! I know that when we went to the beach when Taylor was 1.5, she was frightened by the loud crashing sound of the waves at first. In hindsight, I might have taken her over to Baby Beach First.

maui with a toddler, maui vacation with toddler, activities for toddler in maui

51 Puunoa Pl, Lahaina, HI 96761

Oh, before I forget, don’t forget to snag your copy of our toddler pool day bag checklist – all of the items are beach appropriate as well and definitely must-haves for a vacation to Maui with a toddler.

NON-BEACH ACTIVITIES FOR TODDLERS IN MAUI:

Maui Ocean Center Aquarium

This is the perfect activity to break up the days spent in the sun and/or on a rainy day when the pool or beach isn’t an option. It’s a small-sized aquarium but definitely entertaining for toddlers!

192 Maalaea Rd, Wailuku, HI 96793

Splash Pad + Playground At Whaler’s Village:

A little shopping for mama, and some fun splash pad and climbing time for your toddler in Maui. Whaler’s Village is located right next to Ka’anapali beach.Â Make sure to pop into Leilani’s for fresh fish tacos (and maybe a grilled cheese for your toddler!).

2435 Kaanapali Pkwy, Lahaina, HI 96761

Lahaina Sugar Cane Train:

From November 29th to December 31st the train is transformed into the Holiday Express, complete with milk + cookies and Santa! This is something we actually haven’t yet done, but I’ve spoken to several toddler mamas who say their littles absolutely LOVED it! More info & tickets for purchase HERE.

HOTEL ACTIVITIES

The last three places we’ve stayed in Maui (The Ritz Carlton, our friend Harlanâ’s beautiful beachfront condo in Kahana, and Montage), have all had pools and kitchens which have come in clutch.

Night In

Having a kitchen in your hotel/condo allows for you to save money on dining out (although, that’s my fav part of any trip!!) and have evenings in to enjoy together after a full day of fun in the sun. Grab ingredients for a simple chicken salad and maybe a bottle of wine for the adults, and buttered noodles + chicken nuggets (or is that just my kid’s fav meal?) and enjoy a relaxing night in. If you’re staying close by the ocean, keep your windows open and listen to the waves roll in.

This year we enjoyed watching Home Alone 3 one evening in, and enjoyed playing family charades with the cards I stashed in her activity bag.

Pool Time!

Going to the pool is always a favorite activity of Taylor’s – and I’m never mad about the option of poolside piÃ±a coladas either! Some hotels will have toys your toddler can play with, but if not most all the grocery markets or ABC stores have inexpensive pool/beach toys you can buy.

Remember to apply and reapply lots of sunscreen to yourself and your little one when you’re out at the pool or beach.

Paintbox @ Montage, Kapalua Bay

This year we stayed at Montage Kapalua Bay and they have absolutely amazing programs for children. Taylor was able to attend free classes where she learned how to make a lei, dance the hula and play the ukulele (we slept in through this one!). She also received a lanyard and earned ‘merit badge’ pins throughout the week for learning about and participating in Hawaii culture. This was a total highlight for her!

Feed Koi Fish

At 9:30 every morning, Montage has Koi fish feeding. It’s probably technically for guests only, but I bet you could pop over there and they’d give you a scoop! The Ritz Carlton also has Koi Fish and fish food available upon request. If you’re there in December the Ritz has really nice Christmas decor your little one would love to see too!

Count Rainbows!

How can I forget counting rainbows! If you stay in Kapalua, you’ll likely see lots of these. Keep track of how many you see either by allowing your toddler to snap pictures of them, or tallying them up somewhere. MY next move is to surprise Taylor with a small polaroid camera like this one so that she can document whatever she wants to and have the physical pictures to look at!

The coolest one we saw was from our balcony at the Montage –Â a double rainbow that appeared after a brief, light afternoon shower!

HULA DANCING

Luau

I hadn’t been to a Luau in 20 years, but Taylor continually said it was the thing she was looking forward to most, so we made it happen! It’s probably hard to go wrong with a Luau, but the one we attended this year was AWESOME. Feast at Lele, located at the end of Front street in downtown Lahaina, was above and beyond our expectations. From the welcome cocktails/mocktails, a table ON the beach, the multicultural island fare, the service, to the incredible fire dancers – it was aÂ wonderful experience I would recommend for an older toddler or preschooler. If you have a picky eater like we do, I recommend packing an alternate meal or snacks with you for them, as the foods are exotic and likely all new flavors to your little one.

Taylor definitely has a hard time sitting, so we were nervous about a 3 hour show. BUT they broke it up into four different sections with breaks for eating in between which allowed movement time that kept her attention and got her through. At the end of the night she begged us to let her get up on that stage and demonstrate the hula moves she’d learned at Montage! She did pretty well ; )

Children’s Hula Show at The Lahaina Cannery

Another option to see hula that’s free, a shorter duration, and entertaining for toddlers is the Children’s Hula show at the Lahaina Cannery. They perform every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and every Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. at the mall’s center stage. Taylor really enjoyed watching other children dance the hula, but she wanted to get up there and dance WITH them!

1221 Honoapiilani Hwy, Lahaina, HI 96761

FOOD FUN On Maui For Toddlers

Farmer’s Market

You’ll find tons of yummy local fruits & foods to try here (I heard there’s a homemade cream cheese that’s literally mind blowing), and it’s very family friendly. Have fun watching your toddler sample and picking up some delish goodies, and maybe even an iced coffee boost from Badass Coffee which is right there too!

Â 3636 Lower Honoapiilani Rd,Â Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761-5916

Shaved Ice

This is a given. No vacation to Maui with a toddler is complete without a shaved ice. Taylor loved the cotton candy flavor she tried this year (and the blue-stained mouth to go with it!)Â If you haven’t had a shaved ice, get one for yourself too!

Choice Health Bar

I can’t not mention one of my favorite places to grab a bite on the planet – Choice Health Bar! If you go, you MUST try their Acai bowls (I can’t stray away from my fav, the Green Buzz!). They make a ‘Keiki Shake’ (Keiki means child in Hawaiian) that’s relatively inexpensive and perfect for your toddler to sip on if they’re picky like mine is and likely wouldn’t indulge in an acaii bowl!

1087 Limahana Place 1A

LAHAINA, HI 96761

I could go on and on about all of the places we love on Maui, but Iâ€™ll stop there. You can’t go wrong exposing your lucky little toddler to a place like the beautiful island of Maui. Even though ‘vacation’ isn’t always exactly relaxing with little ones along, you’re making amazing memories together and exposing them to a beautiful culture and island vibe that you can’t help from being de-stressed by.

I hope you find these recommendations helpful as you plan your vacation to Maui with a toddler. Please let me know in the comments if you have any questions, or share with me if you have other places or activities on Maui that are great for toddlers!

XO,

Ashley

P.S. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment here on this post or email me at ashley@taylor-mademama.com

July 3, 2019July 3, 2019 - Ashley

Our journey with physical therapy to address toe-walking

Our journey into Physical Therapy to address toe-walking.

Has your little one, or a child you know ever had to go to physical therapy? I would love to share some of our journey into physical therapy to address Taylor’s toe-walking with you to encourage you to 1) ask your Ped questions if you have concerns, 2) get rid of mom guilt, and 3) live your best life by sharing what watching Taylor go through this process is teaching me about how to do so!!

Background

Despite asking her Pediatricians (we’ve moved/changed insurance so she has seen several) over the years about her toe-walking, which started as soon as she could stand with assistance….. no one ever did the assessment she had last month at her physical. Her new Pediatrician discovered that T’s Achilles tendon is incredibly shortened. Even with assistance she couldn’t flex her foot to 90 degrees…Whether she was born that way, lack of adequate tummy time, sensory seeking tendencies, or a result of any combination of things, this is an issue that now needs to be addressed.

THAT is why she has told me it “hurts” to walk flat-footed.
THAT is why she can’t jump, squat, run or move as fluidly as expected for a 3-year-old.

Mom Guilt….

Initially, I started kicking myself, and #momguilt kicked in, for not being more pro-active. I mean, I‘ve gotten comments about it DAILY for 2+ years, so why wasn’t I asking more questions and pressing the issue??

Then I thought, 1) how blessed we are that this is the only health issue we’ve ever really faced with Taylor, when so many families have far bigger issues they’re bravely dealing with with their little ones, and 2) screw mom guilt! I asked the only questions I knew to and moved forward based on the answers I was given (“it’s sensory” “she’ll grow out of it”).

We are all just doing the best we can as moms. We do it all out of love and best intentions and, once we know better we do better.

We’ve moved forward one day at a time, thankful that we now have a course of action to help her to move freely + comfortably from here on out. For now we are doing ankle/calf stretches twice daily, “duck walks” down the hall, yoga (downward dog), spending time standing on a sit disc to get input into her heels as she colors at the kitchen table, etc. while we wait for her to get fitted for carbon fiber footplates that will make it difficult for her to get into toe-walking position.

Changing a 2+ year gait pattern doesn’t happen overnight.

One day at a time. One flat-footed step at a time.

What watching a 3-year-old in Physical Therapy teaches me about dealing with failure + perseverance.

I was blown away watching Taylor during her most recent check-in appointment. I hope my takeaways will encourage you to feel good about taking risks and reframe the way you look at failure. I shared some about this Live on Facebook as well, if you’d like to watch/listen:

T was presented with no less than 5 tasks that she physically could not do well within a 30 minute period. I watched her literally fail forward in some cases, but without worry or looking around at what any of us in the room were thinking until she was able to do it to the best of her current ability.

The point wasn’t for her to practice until perfect during that time. It was to practice long enough to make a slight improvement. How often do I approach things I know I won’t be perfect at with reluctance and apprehension, or just avoid them altogether?

She was resilient, unafraid of what others think, open to coaching/encouragement, and she persevered to accomplish what she was capable of for that day.

She wasn’t worried, as I/we so often can be about being perfect or “as good at this as” this person or that person at a given task.

She just did her personal best and made a little more progress.

We have to start thinking of or trials & failures as opportunities to stretch, grow and become better. We have to stop comparing ourselves to others at a different stage/with different backgrounds/different limitations. We have to give ourselves grace as we re-train old, engrained patterns. Nothing changes or grows overnight, and we won’t grow unless we are willing to fail forward and keep trying.

The literal definition of Tip Toe is, “to walk with your heels raised off the ground,” but it can also mean, “carefully avoid discussing, dealing with or doing something.”

Do you ever find yourself tip-toeing through your life avoiding that growth because you are scared to fail? I know I have in the past. Can we survive tip-toeing through life? Could Taylor survive tip-toeing for the rest of hers?

Sure. Of course. But we’ll never do all that we’re capable of that way. T would never run like the wind as she’ll someday be able to if she (and we as her parents) continue to persevere with physical therapy.

Keep going. Keep growing. One day at a time.

If you have had experience with physical therapy for toe-walking (or know a mama who has!), I would love to connect. Just comment on this post, send me an email at ashley@taylor-mademama.com or message me on Facebook.

PS. If you aren’t already a part, and would like to be a part of my private Facebook community centered around living our overall best lives as women – physically, mentally and financially click through THIS LINK and join us!!

May 3, 2019June 4, 2019 - Ashley

The 10 Questions You Should Ask Before Joining A Network Marketing Company!

The 10 Questions you should ask before joining a network marketing company

Is it just me, or does it seem like every day someone else you know is joining a network marketing (MLM, direct sales, social selling) company? It can certainly be a savvy financial move as it allows anyone the opportunity, with relatively little investment and/or qualifications, to build their own residual income.

But not all companies are created equal. How do you choose who to jump on board with?!

If you’re open to making some additional money (and having fun in the process), or even replacing the income from your current job + working from home like I have, then partnering with a company/team in alignment with your values & lifestyle is definitely an option to consider – especially with the way commerce is moving quickly toward the internet, Influencer marketing, and social selling!

When you’re looking at opportunities, it’s important that you don’t get distracted by hype (we’re the “best”, “ground floor!”, “founder’s shares!!”, everyone is doing it – see #6 below for why that can be a no-go!), do your research, and know the 10 questions you should ask before joining a network marketing company!

Everyone always says their company is the “best”…

So, how the heck do you know which to join and which to run from?

The answer to, “which network marketing company should I join?” isn’t one I can give a definitive answer to because a large part of that is going to be what works for and appeals to YOU, your lifestyle and values as far as products, business model, and leadership (your chosen upline or sponsor!).

To help you avoid getting into something you later realize isn’t all it was pitched/made out to be, I want to share some of the lessons I’ve learned along my journey in the industry in the form of the questions I now strongly recommend any of my friends/followers ask before joining any network marketing company (or making the decision to partner with a new one, like I did!).

I hope you find these 10 questions a super helpful framework in your decision making if and when you get serious about adding that additional income stream!!

10 questions to ask before joining a network marketing company!

Is the company product focussed? This should be a “yes” answer. Sketchy companies are selling an opportunity to sell an opportunity, and that’s a BAD sign! That’s where network marketing companies get the “pyramid scheme” reputation (those are actually illegal, and those are the companies that can and do get shut down!!). Another red flag is a super pricey and required Starter Kit. Personally, I would ask what percent of the company revenue comes from customer SALES versus the purchases/sign up kits of distributors or customers who are considered “distributors”.
Do you have to build a team if you don’t want to? This should be a “no” answer. Remember, you want to look for a product-focused company unless you want to recruit the masses and assume that everyone else wants to + is skilled at that, which I can tell you that 98% of people are NOT.
Do you have to build a team to make good money? You really want to find out if the only people making money, receiving recognition, and rank advancing are those who recruit and build teams. If you were to build a team with the company, would the majority of your team’s volume (AKA your paycheck!!) be coming through customer sales (that’s good!!) or through new distributors sign ups? Remember, most people are NOT going to be recruiters. If you’re looking at a company where everyone is flocking to sign up or has in the recent past, and people at the top have made their money that way, you want to make sure that there will be actual customer sales to replace those starter kits padding your paycheck after the momentum burst is over.
Can you “outrank” your sponsor? This should be a “yes” answer. You do NOT want to partner with a “top heavy” compensation plan where all of your efforts would benefit your upline, and you wouldn’t see equitable compensation for the work YOU do.
How old is the company? You will want to join a company that has been around and thriving for a while so they’re 1) not constantly working out “kinks”, 2) have a tried & true product and process, and 3) you’ll actually be able to collect residual income down the road versus looking elsewhere if and when the company folds (95% of network marketing companies do NOT make it long term). “Ground floor” can sound sexy, but “Stability” sounds even sexier, IMO ; ) The IDEAL time to join a company is pre-momentum (the period in a network marketing company when the most millionaires are made, lasting anywhere from 2-7 years!).
How saturated is the market? You do not want to get in with a company everyone has already heard about. If you know a bunch of people who partner with that company, then likely so does everyone else that you’ll be speaking with – making the competition a lot more stiff; The likelihood that your potential customers and business partners have already bought from or joined in with someone else a lot higher. It IS possible to build a successful business in a saturated, but it will be an uphill battle and you’d better have an existing large network. Trust me on this one : )
Is the product or product line unique? Can someone just go and get the product/s (or something super similar) just anywhere? How well do the products sell? You’ll want to find this out for obvious reasons – you want to be with a company that has a product that’s in high demand ALWAYS – not a fad. This is essential for customer retention and referrals (see #10!).
Is the product consumable? Meaning, will people want/need to buy the product fairly often? For example with Tupperware, that’s not a consumable product so you have to think, how many plastic bowls can 1 person actually buy?? Does the company have “anyways” items, in addition to “hero”/unique products that can’t be purchased anywhere or through anyone else, that customers could repurpose their spending from Amazon/Target/Walmart/etc to YOU, for life? THAT is where the real residual income comes into play from the sales side of your business…
Consider the way the company & team teach marketing. What marketing strategies do they teach, use and expect? Are they teaching you to build a brand around yourself (opening doors!), or are you expected to become a billboard for a product/product line? Will you be compromising your personal brand or limiting future endeavors by partnering with this company based on the way they teach/expect you to market for them? Are you comfortable marketing the way you see people in the company doing so for the long term (e.g. if home parties aren’t your jam, don’t join a company that encourages building that way)? Who is your sponsor/upline, and are they a leader and/or mentored by a true leader In the industry (AKA do they know what they are doing, and can they teach others to do the same?)?
How is the culture of the team & company? This is really about 10 questions rolled into one because it’s THAT important. Are these people you’d like to sit down and have a cup of coffee or a glass of wine with? Is it something you’d want to be a part of long term? These are people you’d be around at events, chatting with regularly, etc. Are they having FUN or is it ALL about business?? What does the company believe in? Does it align with your own purpose and passion?
Ok, I have to make it 11… What systems are in place to incentivize referrals and make them easier to acquire? Referrals are true residual income. A referral is business/sales that YOU do not have to actively work to acquire. One of the biggest draws to the company I partner with was their referral system (half of my customer volume is from people I’ve never met, and I only post 1-2 times per month about product – without using the company/product name – and have $4-7 in personal sales each month).
BONUS questions to consider regarding time: How much time approximately would you need to spend working your business each day for the financial goals you have with this company? Will you need to be spending tons of time on the phone for 3-way calls, explaining products, etc.? Will you need to do trade shows, vendor events, or home parties to grow your business? These things can add up to a TON of your time. And if you have very little time to devote to building a side business/income, or you value TIME FREEDOM like I do, you are going to want to look for highly efficient, duplicatable systems to get the job done in the pockets of your time! No amount of $$ is worth having NO time!

In conclusion, don’t get caught up in the hype around the next “best” company. Do your homework and due diligence by asking these questions in light of your goals and what you want your lifestyle to look like in 5/10/15 years, and you too will find a company that you’ll be stoked to be a part of and an additional stream of income that can be a turnkey to so many of your other goals!

As with anything in life, your success in a good company is going to depend on the work ethic you have and the actions YOU take to build a business, but it’s super important to consider the products, business/revenue model, compensation plan, marketing systems and whether or not you can work with all of that, before joining a network marketing company!

I hope you find these questions helpful in your search for your own “home” company/team, and set you up for massive success and FUN!!

In asking these questions, I was able confidently commit to a company that I consider the #jackpot when it comes to partnerships for myself + those I’ve brought on board!! If you would like to chat with me to see if my leadership, company, & systems are a fit for you, email me at ashley@taylor-mademama.com, or enter your email below and I’ll be in touch:

February 25, 2018February 2, 2019 - Ashley 8 Comments

From Working Mom, To Stay At Home Mom, To Work At Home Mom!

If you’ve been following my journey over the last two years you’ve seen me: have and fall in love with my baby girl, tearfully head back to work to a career I thought I’d be in until retirement, try my best to balance it all, a year later make the decision to leave that career of 12 years to be at home with Taylor, struggle with some of the reactions I was met with following that decision, move to a new city and a new home, find my confidence in my new role as a stay at home mom, start a journey in an industry I never knew existed, change lanes to a new company partnership after a year that would allow me the time freedom to continue pursuing my other online endeavors AND help others find success, and then really hit my stride as a Mompreneur (top 1% of that company within 2 months!!).

Did you track with that story arch?

I know, it’s a lot of change, but to design a life we love – making decisions and change toward that life are essential. I’ve found my MOMpreneur sweet spot and I’m excited to share it with you.

When I left my career as a Special Education teacher turned School District Administrator, the plan was for me to return to work in a couple of years when Taylor was school-aged. Maybe even work part-time before then consulting or advocating within the Special Education field/community.

MY REALIZATION

However, about 3 months into my time as a stay at home mom and ALL the moment-filled days I got to spend with my little girl, I realized without a doubt in my mind, that I did not want to go back to work outside the home.

I thought even more about all the moments I had missed being away from her that year I went back to work outside the home, and I didn’t want to miss any more of them – not a drop-off or a pickup from school, not a smile, not a tear, not a single thing if I don’t have to.

I truly loved my work in Special Education but, if I’m 100% honest with you, it was emotionally exhausting for me. When I commit to something I am passionate about, I give it everything I have. I would come home after 10 hour days, drained, and I couldn’t ever stop thinking or worrying about the cases I was involved in. Those cases, those children, those families deserved that energy, but…

My emotional energy needs to go to my husband and Taylor, not my work. I feel called to be at home for them. It was worth the huge financial and lifestyle changes we made as a family.

That said, I WANT to work. I WANT to make money for our family and to have to spend on fun things for myself when I want to. I love to pour myself into things that I’m passionate about, as I did with Special Education. I want to have a career that allows me to continue to help people and utilize the gifts I’ve been given and the skills I developed through time, education and practice. But I want to do all of that at home.

I prayed about it and didn’t know where it would all end up, but committed to trusting and figuring out what I would need to do to make it happen. I started my journey in the Social Marketing industry in September of 2017, originally intending for it to be a side hustle to my part-time work with my Motherhood + Lifestyle blog and to my full-time job of Mom.

That side hustle has now become a business that provides a full-time income, yet provides the TIME freedom needed to be present with my family.

My original goal was to replace the 6 figure income I was when I left my previous career by the time Taylor started Kindergarten. After one year in the industry, I’m halfway there with 3 years to spare!

WHAT I DO NOW

Every day I have the blessing and responsibility of helping other women to start and run their own businesses as well; making sure they are connected with the training, high duplicatable system, tools & resources available to them to experience whatever level of financial success they desire.

“When you find your calling and you design your life in such a way that you can share your gifts with the world on a consistent basis, you feel like a rock star. When we share what we were brought here to give, we are in alignment with our highest, most powerful selves.”

– Jen Sincero

Beyond the positive, unexpected financial impact of this branch of my online business, this “job” also pushed me to be more myself than I EVER have been in my life, and to share that with the women all across the country that I have the pleasure of meeting. Each day I wake up excited to share, to create, to plan, to learn, to grow, and to become more of who I’ve been created to be – on my own terms and from my own home – AND to inspire and help others to do the same. It’s a blessing I’m so grateful for and that I’m passionate about sharing with other who have the same desire for purpose, time freedom and financial freedom that I did..

I’m home with my daughter and my husband. I’m working on my own schedule and loving that work. I’m making an income and an impact. I have time to take care of myself so that I can pour back into my family and others around me.

from stay at home mom to work at home mom. how to become a lipsense distributor and work from home

I have the best of all worlds. This lifestyle IS possible, but it took making some difficult decisions, big changes, hard/smart work, and closing doors so that others could open. If you’re in a place where your heart, that little voice inside that you can’t ignore, is prompting you to make a change or try something new that just might change your life, I encourage you to make a plan, roll up your sleeves and GO FOR IT; Live your life by design, not by default.

Each day during my morning routine, I pray to CONNECT with the right women. This includes business partners, as well as the people who will never impact my income but whose lives I can add value to in some way. I wonder if one of those people might just be you?

Are you?
-Determined
-Hard Working
-Teachable
-Positive
-Passionate about helping others

If so, then we should absolutely connect! Maybe you’ve been following my journey for years, or maybe this is the first post of mine you’ve read – either way I would love to find a time to chat with you one on one about your goals.

I would love to get you more information to see if something like what I do is a fit for you too!!

Best,

Ashley

October 6, 2017February 2, 2019 - Ashley 20 Comments

Toddler Schedule + Routine For A Stay At Home Mom

Are you a stay at home mom of a toddler looking to add more structure, routine and “me time” into your weekdays? A work at home mom who wonders how to get everything done in the day? New to the stay at home mom club and need more routine in your daily life? A mama thinking about making the transition from working mom to stay and/or work at home mom? Or perhaps you’re just curious about what Taylor and my routine looks like these days (the last updates I gave were this one when I was on maternity leave and this one when I was still nursing/pumping at work!).

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then this post is for you.

Before I jump into our toddler and stay at home mom routine, I feel compelled to write something straight from the heart :

Recently, I had a conversation with a long-time friend. She shared that, through following my journey from working to stay/work at home mom over the last year or so, a fire was lit beneath her to leave her own VERY successful career to start a business working for herself + stay at home with her two little ones. And, guess what? She has made it happen for herself and her family! I couldn’t be more happy for my friend who had a vision of a different lifestyle and, despite any fears and hesitancies, followed her heart and went for it.

In turn, her story stoked MY fire to encourage women who may be in the same place I found myself a year ago – a heart being pulled toward being at home, yet also with the fear of uncertainty of letting go of a career and identity outside the home.

If this resonates with you right now, please know that I get it. I’ve been there, and I can tell you that I do not regret the decision for a minute. The moments I get to share with Taylor EVERY DAY now, even the hard ones, outweigh anything I could be accomplishing at work. Do I continue to think about what the future of my career may look like as I did a few months ago when I left? Sure, those thoughts still cross my mind…

BUT, here is the evolution in my thinking:

There is always someone who can do my/your day job (maybe not as well, maybe just as good, maybe even better) but there is NO ONE who can be YOU to your child. If you want to be at home with your baby, and it is possible for your family, don’t be afraid to make the big transition because, “the days are long, but the years are SHORT.”

Remembering this always brings me back to a place of content with the decision we’ve made. Fortunately/strategically on my part, between this blog and my Social Marketing biz, I’m finding ways to satisfy the creative, social AND entrepreneurial sides of myself WHILE getting to be at home with Taylor and focussing on my family (and make a full-time income through the latter!!).

The last few months have truly been the best of all worlds for me, and I would LOVE to chat with you if you have any specific questions about my journey or what I’m up to these days if I don’t answer them within this series.

If you haven’t yet read the first post in this series, How To Rock The Transition From Working Mom To Stay At Home Mom, I encourage you to go back and read that first. In it, I discussed my newly minted stay at home mom response to the question, “what do you do?” as far as work, and finding confidence in however you choose to live your own #momlife.

Working Mom to Stay At Home Mom Update #2

This brings me to another question (or variation of) I’ve been asked many times since becoming a stay at home mom is,

“So, what do you DO all day now?”

That’s actually a really good question, and one I felt super nervous about in the weeks leading up to the transition from working to stay/work at home mom. I was SO used to a jam-packed, tightly scheduled, daily routine that the thought of open-ended days gave me a ton of anxiety. Full disclosure, I remember crying the week before I was finished with work, for many reasons, but mostly because I just couldn’t picture what my new days and weeks would look like.

I wanted to do this stay at home mom thing well and didn’t want to lose myself in the day to day mom-ing/home-making or waste days sitting around watching cartoons with Taylor…. As it turns out, I have spent several days with Taylor sitting around doing mostly just that- and I’m totally okay with it. In fact, I’ll take those extra snuggles any day of the week.

Having a predictable schedule and routine is important for you/your sanity and your toddler. However, it is also important to be flexible and adjust according to your little one’s (or your!) needs on a given day. Moods happen. Things come up. Kiddos and mamas get sick. Naps are dropped. Structure without rigidity is key!

Structure without rigidity is the key!

GRAB A COPY OF OUR MORNING/EVENING ROUTINE PRINTABLE PDF CHECKLIST BELOW!

morning routine chart for a toddler — SNAG YOUR PDF TO PRINT + LAMINATE BELOW!

*after completing payment click on “Return To Merchant” to access your printable PDF!!

Weekday Toddler Schedule and Stay At Home Mom Routine

That said, I wanted to share what a typical weekday for this stay at home mom and her 18-month-old toddler looks like. I work best when I time block (as you can see in my admittedly OCD Google Calendar below), and I hope it’s helpful to see what typically takes place during each block:

7 AM – Taylor wakes up and plays with her stuffed animals and reads books in her crib for 15-30 minutes while I “wake up”. One of the goals I have for myself is to start getting myself out of bed at 6AM in order to build in a little more me/work time before the day begins. I’m SOOOO not a morning person though, so we shall see how that goes….any tips?

7:30 AM – AJ or I (my hubby works from home with is AMAZING) get Taylor out of her crib, change her diaper, and bring her into our room to drink her bottle (yep, still drinking a bottle of milk in the AM + PM) while we watch the news/I get ready for the day. Most days I just put on some tinted moisturizer, curl my eyelashes and that’s about it. I can’t usually get Taylor downstairs without making a pit stop at the playroom, so we play there for 15-20 minutes before breakfast. Conveniently, the laundry room is connected to that room so I can start on or fold a load of laundry as she enjoys!

8:30 AM – Taylor eats breakfast and I drink coffee and check emails. Her breakfast is anything from a banana + oatmeal, to a bagel, egg + raspberries. At this point, she is able to request her favorite foods which is so amazingly cool!

9:30-11:30 AM – Monday through Thursday (again, not EVERY Monday through Thursday because flexibility is key!) we go to Lifetime Athletic Club within this time block. Joining this gym is hands down the best decision we made as a family when I quit working and we moved to a new city. Their childcare facility, programming, and staff are absolutely phenomenal and Taylor LOVES going there. While she participates in toddler art or music class, I get to workout for an hour or so. This time is SO good for both of us; she gets to develop her independence and play skills while I get to maintain (maybe even increase!) my fitness and sanity, win-win! I always bring a snack for us to share outside the gym when we’re finished up. If you follow me on Instagram you’ll see that I often document our “conversations” during this time that has come to be a special tradition between she and I.

On Fridays during this time block, we go to the local library for a Mommy & Me developmental play hour which is super fun for Taylor, a little stressful for me (because she is literally the Energizer Bunny + Tazmanian Devil in this environment), and overall great for her development. Anything for T.

11:30 AM – When we get home from the gym, I make lunch for Taylor to eat before she goes down for her nap. Her lunch is usually leftovers from the night before, a toddler approved Green Smoothie, Annie’s Mac and Cheese (no shame in my game!), plus some fruit and water.

12-2 PM – Naptime, glorious, naptime. Although T’s naps have been hit or miss over the last few weeks, she typically naps for 2-3 hours a day. During this time I shower, work on blog-related stuff and/or my Social Marketing business (as of January 2019 I now make my full-time income through this endeavor which is AMAZING!!!!), start or finish a load of laundry, and (some days) clean one room of the house. I create a prioritized “to do” list for each naptime block at the start of the week and get as far as I can through that day’s list, bumping unfinished business to the evening “Task” block or to the next day. Obviously, this system gets WAY backed up when Little Miss decides to boycott her nap/s, but I digress…

2-4 PM – This is the time we either A) get outside of the house to play (if I have an errand to run that day, we’ll go on the way home), or B) play indoors and incorporate a learning/developmental activity. This may be a trip to the park or zoo, going outside in our backyard to play with her water table or playhouse, artwork or another craft in the kitchen (this art smock is a must, and under $5!), a make shift “fort” in the living room, or up to her playroom to “cook,” in her kitchen or play with her toys and dress up clothes.

Around 4:00 I offer T a snack whether we are at home or out and about. Her favorites these days are gummies, protein + fiber bars, and Goldfish.

6-7 PM – I begin preparing dinner around 6:00. While I’m prepping for dinner AJ (the hubs), Curious George, Peppa Pig or Daniel Tiger babysit for Taylor, and we eat together around 6:30 PM.

7-8 PM – Almost every weeknight Taylor takes a bath, and then we go through her bedtime routine. Since I’ve been at home with Taylor, my hubby and I have been switching off every other night with who is “in charge” of the bedtime routine. On my nights off, l usually take a bath with my favorite bath bomb and enjoy some “me time.” This time is so critical, especially on the nights when I need to put in evening work to catch up on work stuff.

9-11 PM – This is the time where I (usually) try and get things I didn’t get done earlier in the day done. Although, many nights all I do is enjoy a glasses of wine (or 2 or 3) and a crime show with my hubby on our comfy couch. Those are the best weeknights of all : )

I would love to know what your stay at home mom routine and toddler schedule looks like. I love getting ideas from other mamas like you! How is it different than ours? How is it the same?

XO,

Ashley

UPDATE [January 2019]:

I am now blessed to be able to work and make a full-time income from home!! That’s not everyone’s desire, but it truly was mine and I’ve found a way to make it happen for our family, and a way to help others make it happen for theirs!!! If you’d like more information on what I do now or if you are looking for an opportunity to either make some additional income for your family or even replace your income like I have I would love to work with you!!

Check THIS POST out for more information, mama!

August 11, 2017June 10, 2020 - Ashley 17 Comments

The Transition From Career Mom To Stay At Home Mom

Whether you carry the title of Mom exclusively (“stay at home mom”) or are a “working mom” outside or inside the home, it’s rare that anyone truly sees or gives you credit for ALL you do in your role as a mom.

You don’t add “Mom” to your resume because the results you’re producing can’t be quantified, even though it’s the most important title you’ll ever hold.

You’re indispensable (the boss!) but there is no corresponding salary, nor performance bonuses to cash in on.

You’re really good at this motherhood thing; you are constantly honing your craft, but there isn’t a career ladder to climb or promotions to be given.

You punch in for this job, but you NEVER punch out…

So, especially as a stay at home mom, how do you respond when you’re asked the question,

What do you do?

Before I get into how I’ve been answering that question lately, let me first say that (45 days in) I do not have a single complaint about the stay at home mom life. It is a privilege and a blessing, and it is the life I chose. While there are certainly effects of this major change worth mentioning (and writing future posts on!): financial adjustments, shifting responsibilities and dynamics in our marriage, acclimating to a new home and town, finding “me time” when I’m an introvert at home all day with two extroverts, etc., life is good. I go to bed each night excited that I get to spend the next day hanging out with my girl. I’m not missing anything. My husband is amazing, supportive and works incredibly hard and well to support our family. This lifestyle, this (at least mostly) undivided time…I’m living my dream and I’m so, so grateful.

Side Note: I find the “stay at home mom” and “working/career mom” labels obnoxiously pigeonholing and misleading but I’m still going to use them here for sake of clarity; I think we can agree that ALL moms are full-time moms, and stay at home moms do a lot more than just stay at home.

We’re all just doing what we feel is best and what works for our families – and a darn good job at that!

From Career Mom To Stay At Home Mom – Update #1

Something I realized during the initial transition period from career to stay at home mom, and not something I’m super proud of admitting, is just how much of my identity is tied up in how other people perceive me based on what I did/do.

I know a job title, salary or anything else external does not define my worth, but on more than one occasion I found myself responding almost apologetically to the question about what I do sayin something like, “I’m just a mom right now, but I used to…” I reference my previous occupation as if it increases my standing in the eyes of the person who asked; I add words as if they add value – as if being Mom is not enough.

I don’t assess others (especially moms) in this way, I know that being a mom is one of the highest callings + most demanding jobs out there, and I was very confident in my decision to put my career on pause and be a stay at home mom, so my words and reaction came as a surprise. Maybe it’s that I felt competent in my profession, but I’m still getting my footing and confidence in this all day mom/homemaker thing. Maybe it’s the subconscious influence of the society we live in, undervaluing what we do as moms and overvaluing productivity/money-making/achievements. Whatever it is, I felt the tug of my pride, and a wrong thinking showed itself in need of correction.

Confidence & Worth As A Stay At Home Mom

Fortunately, motherhood has a beautiful, humbling, refining quality when we reflect upon and act out of the experiences we have along our journeys; Oftentimes this brings a reminder of a simple, deep truth like it did in this instance for me – no matter what we do part time, full time, inside of the home or outside of it, we are defined by who we are.

Not by the title you have or someday wish to hold.

Not by what you do or don’t do.

Not by what you have or haven’t accomplished.

Not by accolades or criticisms from others, and certainly NOT by the amount of money you earn or don’t.

True worth has nothing to do with the external, and everything to do with the internal and unseen – the “who” you were created you to be, the person you are in this world. As moms, we ALL struggle with thoughts that we aren’t enough, that we aren’t contributing enough to our family financially or time wise, or that we’re just generally not doing things right.

Well, I’m here to tell and/or remind you that you alone are absolutely enough and that – as long as your kids are loved, safe and mostly happy -there is no wrong or right way to “mom”. Feel good about doing what feels right to you and works for your family.

YOU are a gift to your family and this world and you should have every confidence in the person and Mom that you are. There is nothing else you need to prove to anybody.

As for me, I will continue to pour my talents, heart, soul, mind, and skills into my family and raising our precious daughter without the time + mental commitments to another job for this season of life. There will be times in the future when I use my gifts toward other ends and maybe even pick up where I left off with my career, but my current path is stay at home mom to Taylor.

That is enough.

I am more than enough.

My role as Mom is invaluable.

The same is true of you.

So, the next time I’m asked what I do, with shoulders square and the confidence and pride ALL mamas should have, I will simply say, “I have the privilege to be a Mom.”

When you’re asked, “what do you do?how do you respond? Could you relate to any of the thoughts I shared in this post as a working mom or stay at home mom? I would absolutely love to hear from you.

This is the first in a series of posts on the journey into SAHM life and this big transition for our family, so stay tuned + make sure to subscribe if you haven’t already. Do you know a mama who could use this encouragement? Please share this with them!

UPDATE [January 2019]:

After going back to work for a year (which ended up being A LOT harder on my heart than I anticipated), we decided as a family that I would stay at home with Taylor. This was a BIG decision for me (read about thatÂ HERE), but Iâ€™m glad I made a leap of faith. We moved cities and changed up our whole lifestyle, but the time I now have with Taylor is worth all that change.Â Our Toddler + Mama Daily Routine is also inÂ THIS POST!

But there’s more…

I am now blessed to be able to work part-time hours and make a full-time income FROM HOME!! That’s not everyone’s desire, but it truly was mine and I’ve found a way to make it happen for our family, and a way to help others make it happen for theirs!!!Â If you’d like more information on what I do now or if you are looking for an opportunity to either make some additional income for your family in the pockets of your busy life, or even replace your income like I have I would love to work with you!!

Check THIS POST out for more information, mama!

Other Taylor-made Mama posts you may be interested in reading:

June 28, 2017July 1, 2017 - Ashley 6 Comments

What I Learned In My First Year Of Blogging

This time a year ago I had about 5 posts waiting in the Word Press wings when I pressed “Publish,” and this blogging adventure began. I’m pretty sure that the only people who read those posts, or any subsequent ones over the next couple of months, were my husband, parents and best friends. Flash forward only one year, and I still can’t quite believe when I see that there are hundreds of women who visit this blog each day. Although that’s small peanuts as compared to many bloggers, I’m still excited by that because it means I’m putting content out that my fellow mamas are finding useful.

I remember being kind of embarrassed to put myself out there as a “Blogger” to an extent that those who know me in real life are, I’m sure, surprised by. I’m an introvert to the core, but this year I found a passion in this creative forum which allows me to connect and share experiences with other moms all across the world. Taylor-made Mama is like one big, borderless, online Mommy Group, and I love it!

I’ve learned a TON this year (I surely NEVER thought I’d be teaching myself to code!), yet I still feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of what I need to know in order to do all I want to here. I started this blog while on Maternity Leave as a way to document my experiences as a new mom and share #momhacks I learned along the way, and hopefully share that with any friends and family who might want to keep up with our little family. Sounds easy, right? I had a personal blog years ago that documented the highs and lows of being a Special Education teacher, and I didn’t think this one would be much different in terms of effort…Well, let’s just say I was certainly naive to think a {trying to be} legitimate blog would be an easy addition to my already busy life, trying to balance my version of it all.

Bloggin’ Ain’t Easy

Quickly, I realized just how MUCH work went into this little corner of the internet, and also the possibilities it held… Blogging is super time consuming; the brainstorming, writing, pitching, photographing/editing, researching, publishing and promoting is endless work if you allow it to be. However, once I got started I knew this was something I wanted to continue and expand upon despite losing sleep, replacing gym time with blog work or the humbling realization that this isn’t something I would be ~~ever~~ instantly be a pro at.

Today, on the 1 Year Anniversary of Taylor-mademama.com I celebrate sticking with this for an entire – extremely busy – year and all that I’ve learned so far, but even more so I celebrate YOU.

I’m SO thankful to each of you for the support and encouragement you’ve given me along the way. Thank you for taking time out of your days to open your email or browser to read this blog, comment, email questions, hang out with me on Instagram, Pinterest or Facebook, participate in my Giveaways, etc. There are literally millions of Mommy Blogs out there, but you stick around here with me. I can’t thank you enough for that. You make all the time and effort worth it.

What’s Next

In January I sent out a Reader’s Survey asking what you’d like to see more of on the blog in the coming year (aside from cute Taylor pics, bc you know you don’t even have to ask for those!) and you let me know you want more time management, workout, organization, and meal prep advice and printables, as well as updates my current Mama Must Haves.

As timing would have it, my last day of work outside the home also happens to be today – June 29th! Now that I’m a full time Stay At Home Working Mom (SAHWM? that’s how I’m labeling myself anyway), I’m looking forward to having more time and energy to pour into this blog and adding more value – I have a ton of exciting things in the pipeline for you.

I know my strengths and weaknesses as a Blogger, and I recognize I have a LONG way to go, but this is me sharing about motherhood, life and following dreams with you in a way ONLY I can. Maybe it isn’t starting a blog or quitting your job, but I hope I can inspire you to follow your own heart/dreams as a mom and person in this life. You have things to share with your family and the world that only YOU can, and it’s never too late to change direction in life and follow your passion and purpose. You’ll be happier and a better mom for it, I promise.

I hope you continue to find encouragement, motivation, and inspiration here. Thank you so much again for supporting me, friends. I love ya’ll!

Gratefully,

Ashley

P.S. Below are a few of the tops blog posts from the first year of Taylor-made Mama, in case you missed them:

June 4, 2017August 7, 2017 - Ashley 23 Comments

How A Baby Changes Everything

This post is sponsored by Carter’s; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Although they are little, babies sure can create BIG change in our lives.

From the day Taylor was born until today SO much has changed for us. If you follow us on Instagram you probably already know that we moved to our new home/city last weekend and that in about a month I will be leaving a 10+ year, successful career to stay home with Taylor. If interested, you can read more about that decision HERE. The reason for mass amounts of change in a relatively short timeframe? An itty, bitty newborn baby who has grown way too quickly into an {almost} full blown toddler.

Our move represents the incredible way that a baby can change your internal + external priorities and reality…

Before and even during pregnancy, I thought I wanted to be a working mom of 1 child only, and my hubby and I had our life planned accordingly. We certainly didn’t think that, within a year of T’s birth, that we would reorganize our financial and physical life in order to allow me to stay at home with her. Nor did we imagine we would search for a home that would be able to (hopefully, someday, no I’m not pregnant) accommodate another baby! But, as I am sure you have experienced in your own way, a baby can be quite the catalyst for change.

As we packed up the home we spent our first year as a family in I couldn’t stop thinking of all the memories we made in those rooms and how much growing we all did in different ways. However, I’m super excited for this new chapter in our lives. It will be one with undoubtedly less “me time,” but filled with so much more “us” time and for that, I’m incredibly grateful.

Luckily, through all of the change, Carter’s has us covered. Taylor has grown up in their zip-up playsuits (hello, easy diaper changes!) and I may or may not have spent WAY too much money during their Memorial Day sale on tons of the cutest swimsuits and outfits for Taylor’s summer. Carter’s has compiled some of their most classic, tried & true styles (including the zip-up playsuits) to comprise the Little Baby Basics Collection.

Little Baby Basics baby clothes are sized newborn through 24 months. As your baby – and you – go through all the changes (and growth spurts) involved in the first 1+ year of their life this is a line of baby boy clothes and baby girl clothes that you can count on for consistent quality, affordable prices, comfort and – very importantly – cuteness! I mean, look at the elephant detail…those pant ruffles… *sigh*

The Original Body Suits from the Little Baby Basics Collection, like the ones Taylor is shown wearing throughout this post, are must-haves in any baby wardrobe. They are sold (for incredibly reasonable prices) in packs of 5 coordinating patterns + designs which also makes them an adorable baby shower gift.

Carter’s has offered a generous coupon to my readers, available now through July 4th, 2017. With this coupon, you’ll receive 20% off their already great prices if you spend $40 or more, in store or online. Stock up for now, later or even a future baby shower gift:

Not sure where your local Carter’s store is? You can find the nearest store by clicking here.

Happy Shopping and remember to savor each and every moment with your little one/s – it flies by too quickly not to!

Other Ta[y]lor-made Mama posts you may be interested in:

Like what you read in this post? Please share THIS LINK on Facebook, or PIN the image below:

April 28, 2017February 2, 2019 - Ashley 20 Comments

Why I’m Leaving My Career To Be A Stay At Home Mom

Working Mom. Stay At Home Mom. Work At Home Mom.

An unfortunate truth is that, no matter what your decision or family circumstance in regards to work and motherhood, there will always be people who question, criticize or judge.

Since making the choice to put my career on pause to be at home with Taylor most everyone has been amazingly encouraging (i.e. the overwhelming, positive response on Instagram when I originally shared our news in this post). However, I have also had people ask directly – or behind my back – why I’m making the decision that I am, why I’m leaving what I’ve worked so hard to achieve over the last 10+ years…

Well, my answer is this: it feels right to my heart, I want to be the one to care for Taylor every day of the week, and it’s what is possible & best for our family. I know I will be the best version of myself as an individual, wife and mom because of this choice. Not to mention, I am also confident that my skills and drive will not simply vanish because I choose to stay home for a season of life.

Trust me, I can hold my ambition AND my baby.

Not every mom feels like I do. Not every mom is wired the same. Not every mom has the same family circumstances and/or opportunities.

There are moms who absolutely love to work outside the home and would go crazy staying at home every day. They enjoy their work. They wouldn’t be the best version of themselves as an individual, wife and mom staying at home. If that is you (I thought I would be you), be proud in your ability to balance work and home life in a way that feels good and right for you and your family; Although you may hear differently, there is nothing “wrong” or “selfish” with working outside the home because you want to. I know you know this, but you don’t love your career more than your child because you choose to work.

I know working moms who would love nothing more than to stay home with their babies, but are not able to do so. If that is you, please know that you are giving everything you can to contribute to raising and sustaining your family, and you are simply amazing. I feel your heart – being a working (outside the home) mom isn’t easy to begin with, but it’s downright hard when your heart wishes you were elsewhere.

Work from home moms…I seriously don’t know how you do it. I can’t even get anything with this little side job blog of mine done from home now that Taylor’s down to one nap on my Friday off… If you’re pulling off the work at home mom life, my hat is off to you.

Then there are moms who have always envisioned being a mom and who couldn’t wait to quit their day job when they became one to stay home and raise their babies. In a world where so many moms do work outside the home by necessity or choice, you might feel like the minority (again, maybe that’s just the area where I live?). You may feel isolated, and even find yourself wondering if the 24/7 job you are doing is even noticed. Well, it is by those of us who “get it” and, most importantly, by your kids/family every day. Don’t ever feel less than because you are “just” a mom. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Finally, there are moms who make the difficult (and expensive) choice to leave successful careers to stay at home at some point in motherhood. Co-workers or others around you may not quite understand why you’re leaving the workforce to be “just” a mom. You’re letting down women who paved the way before you. You’re wasting your degrees. Even some friends and family may question why you’d walk away from a job, salary and potential career opportunities you’ve worked hard to earn – and expensive mistake…Although I can only hope you have loved ones who are nothing but supportive.

Why I chose to put my career on hold to be a stay at home mom

I know that I am a very girl to have the choice to make between working and staying home with Taylor. Staying home is a luxury. I recognize that having a parent at home not every family’s reality, especially given the insane housing market (or is that just where I live?). For me the decision to move toward Stay At Home Mom-dom was made after making the initial choice to return back to work after Taylor was born. I thought that’s what I wanted to do. I envisioned that as being my perfect reality of having “it all”. I did have my version of “it all,” but I couldn’t balance it. At least, not in a way that took away the ache or made me feel at peace in my heart. Even working part time, and having my mom and husband watching Taylor in our home while I worked, the anticipation of needing to go back to full time eventually provoked an anxiety in me. I wasn’t expecting to feel that way, but there it was.

Long story – full of prayer, worry, life changes, thought and decision making – short, my husband and I are now changing up our entire life to make this happen because it is what we want and what works best for our family. Over time, my parenting and work life will both ebb and flow, but neither will end; For this season, I am afforded the precious, irretrievable gift of time with Taylor, and any other babes we may be blessed with. Work can wait.

Criticism about your choice to work, stay home or somewhere in between?

What I want to say to you – and myself – is this:

If you decide to continue or start working outside of the home when you have kids, even if you don’t financially need to…

If you decide to leave a successful career to be a stay at home mom…

If all you’ve ever wanted to be in life is a mom, and now you are one, happily at home…

There will always be people (even friends and family) – for reasons of insecurity, jealousy, selfishness, ignorance, or boredom- who will criticize the decisions you make in your life. Trust me when I say that it will only serve to bring YOU down and/or drive you crazy if you let the opinions of others influence the way you feel or cause you to question what you know to be right. So, whatever your #momlife looks like, remember that only you and your family truly know what works, and believe that your mama heart is just a committed as the next. And, if you’ve made it to the end of this very long post – thank you : )

Have you ever felt judged for the decision you’ve made to either work or stay home? I’d love to hear about your experiences and answer any questions you have about my journey.

You can read the next post/update in this series HERE!! A LOT has changed (2 years later and I now work at home on part-time hours making a full-time income, for one!!) and I would love for you to come along on this journey with me!!

P.S. If you are considering making the decision to leave a job you like/love to stay at home for a season like I was, I encourage you to be confident, brave and just take the plunge. Do I have worries and some anxiety about making the transition? Do I worry about how, when and if I’ll get back onto my career path some day? Sure. Although I know the transition won’t necessarily be completely smooth sailing, I can honestly say have not felt any regret and my heart is at ease. I hope the same for you!

Other Ta[y]lor-made Mama posts you may be interested in:

January 24, 2017February 23, 2017 - Ashley

2017 Blog Reader’s Survey

*I originally sent our this survey as an email. However, many of you reached out to me yesterday to let me know that you were unable to submit the survey – thank you so much for letting me know!

Due to this error in processing, I’m embedding the survey below for your convenience.I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and honest feedback by answering the questions in the short survey. It will help me tailor my posts to what YOU want to read about!

P.S. EVERYONE THAT COMPLETES THE READER’S SURVEY AND PROVIDES THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS IS ENTERED TO WIN A $10 STARBUCKS GIFT CARD!

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