They may not be the most professional staff in the world – but they get the job done.

They usually come to work with sticky fingers and bed head. Their main duties include laughing, playing, making messes, having occasional meltdowns, jumping, yelling, and making more messes. Sometimes they nap or go to bed early, and that’s when my official work hours begin.

Otherwise, the “work” day with my staff is all about having fun, eating well and honoring our energy so none of us feel crazy by the time night comes. When our day has been pretty harmonious, I may have energy to write and work on my e-course after they’ve gone to bed. When it hasn’t gone as smoothly as we had hoped, then when the house is finally quiet I either reach for the Calgon, cry, read a book, hop on my yoga mat, or chill watching some show like The Bachelorette. (And most nights I hang with my hubbie – the only other adult staff member in this free spirit life.)

My office is full of toys, scraps of yarn, art project messes and a scattering of trucks and barn animals.

On the rare occasion that I find a free moment to get on the computer during the day, it seems to never fail that one of my staff members knows I’ve just sat down, and they have saved their list of questions for that very moment…”Can you get me pretzels and hummus? Can I watch Clifford? Can you button my pants?!?”

So…this is how I work with a team ages 5 and under. And I sit here, with my newest staff member still growing inside my belly just feeling blessed.

I love my work. I love that I get to share it with inspiring people like YOU.

What I do may not be reaching the thousands. I have yet to hire my paid team of free spirit employees. I don’t have a best-selling book, or a ritzy office, or work clothes that aren’t stained with blueberry fingerprints or paint.

But…I’m happy.

I’m grateful for the choices we’ve made.

I stay home full-time with my kids.
I work very part-time around their schedules.
I have fun a lot of the days.
I struggle with finding time for the things I enjoy outside of motherhood.
I fumble and stumble along the way.
I discover new things. I fall. And I’m willing to try again.

It’s all part of being a mom.

My staff is demanding. They have so many needs. And they rarely give me breaks. In fact, they work me all hours of the night and day!

Yet, I know how fleeting this job is and most days…I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Today, Monday, July 8th, I am launching my newest class!

I’m excited and I’m nervous.

I’m excited because the women who have come together for this experience are AMAZING! I’m nervous because like I mentioned above…I have ups and downs like the rest of us. Some days run smoothly and I have energy to offer an e-course alongside my mothering duties. And then…there are the rougher days – when the kids won’t nap or they go to bed late and I’m exhausted by the end of it all.

But I’m learning how to ask for help. I’m learning how to let go. I’m learning how to simplify. I’m learning that I can’t do it all, nor do I want to. I’m learning how to TRUST. And I’m learning how to EMBRACE being imperfect.

If you are a mom (or mom-to-be) and want to embrace YOUR creativity and intuition while connecting with other moms who just…GET YOU…please consider joining us.  We need to support each other through one of the toughest jobs in the book.

Registration for Mothering with heART is still open CLOSED.

(Psst..this is the last e-course I’ll be offering this year as our newest staff member will be here sometime this fall.)

Big hugs, my love.

Take good care of yourself.

Get some rest.

Laugh more.

Be well…

 

 

 

 

And if you are still unsure about what this online experience is all about, I’ve created a video just for you with more details.

Mothering with heART info from Shannon Kinney on Vimeo.