Gin & Zin

Interview with Bridget~ International Mum of 4

Meet Bridget~
I am Bridget, an international Mum of 4, just beginning to find my new normal. 
I love my husband, 4 kids, three-day weekends, sushi, wine, sunny days and long walks on the beach. 
My eldest son is coming to the end of a 3 year-long journey battling leukaemia. He is an amazing boy who just takes whatever life throws at him and I am constantly in awe of his strength to soldier on and his solid and real faith. 
 

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Interview- With Kim on caretaking and her “empty nest”

Meet Kim~
I am Kimbo;  Wife, mother of two grown sons, and entering the 4th year of caregiving of my Mom.  I have been married to my high school sweetheart & true love for what will be 36 years this year!  I am a Pollyanna at heart, and a Lucy in actions. I have a hard time sitting still and am learning how to breathe.  

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Interview with Rebekah~ Teach your children well

Meet Rebekah~

I am a quirky, tree hugging, beautiful hot mess, mother of 4 busy kids aged 16 -2 years old. I am a business owner, healthcare worker and wife. So balance is something I strive for daily. I find involving my kids in almost everything I do not only teaches them but I also get to spend quality time. We are learning together the fundamentals of life.

My biggest strength as a mom is not caring what people think of my parenting style.

When I am not with my kids I enjoy trying to work on myself. Whether a Piyo session or cooking class or 10 minutes in my bedroom to meditate.

Interview~ Teach your children well

You mentioned that learning the basics with your kids was something you are very passionate about. What got you started on this journey, or did it just happen out of necessity?

The more I researched what is in our foods and products we use, I started to see a correlation in our declining health. I wanted to know as much as possible where my food was coming from and I came to the realization that I would have to do the majority of the steps myself. My husband and kids built some garden boxes and we started with broccoli and cauliflower. From there I wanted to know the different processes of preparing food to make it most beneficial for our bodies. I have also been able to replace our chemical filled cleaning products with natural things. It’s fascinating to find that the plants you took for granted in your back yard have so many great uses.

What are some of the most memorable things your parents taught you growing up? Did you learn other skills from other adults in your life?

The most memorable thing my parents taught me was to do what is right despite what others say or do. My mom is truly my best friend. She continues to teach me how to not only be a better mother but a better person. My dad always makes sure my mom knows he loves her. It is very powerful for a daughter to see.

I learned how to genuinely treat people with kindness and respect no matter who they were from my Grandpa Craig. This lesson I try to instill in my children every day.

What are some of the basics you’ve ventured into with your children?

Baking is our big focus lately. My family loves to eat and I want to find delicious and healthy flavors to encourage a love for real foods. It’s hard to find a recipe that doesn’t include sugar and still taste sweet.

Growing up we always had a tomato garden and it was the one thing that carried over into my adulthood. I never was able to do a full garden but always had one cherry tomato plant in a planter so the kids would have something they could go pick themselves. It warms my heart to see my kids enjoy the simple pleasure of picking their own food.

We have tons of blackberry bushes on our property and every year we all look forward to picking them. We have some recipes saved for jams and pies we are going to try next summer. 

Have you seen more growth or independence emerge in your children from these alongside lessons?

Yes, I have noticed a definite independence emerging. The 3 older kids don’t come to me when they are hungry now, they will go to the cupboards and make something themselves. They come and ask if I need help any time they see me pulling things out in the kitchen.

I’ll call that a major WIN!! What do you plan to tackle next?

Finding and connecting with our true selves. Learning to control our thoughts, actions and emotions despite what might be going on in the outside world. 

My website is www.reba483.nerium.com 

Instagram is www.instagram.com/reba_nerium

Thank you for this opportunity 🙂

Reba, you are a light in the world, and we are so thrilled to hear about your family, which sounds like a solid team unit! I’ll bet that broccoli is good and ready right about now!

Meet Alexis- Who sheds light on pregnancy with humor~

Meet Alexis~

I am a classy dame who enjoys the finer things in life like PlayDoh and discounted cheeses from Grocery Outlet. I like black coffee, whiskey on the rocks, and dive bars (or at least I used to). I live in a gorgeous home in the forest with our cat Juicy and my amazing catch of a fiance. He is a world traveling, adventures seeker who designs and creates prothetic legs for a living. He is quite possibly the most interesting man in the world. Read more

The Importance of Community~ Meet Emily

Meet Emily~
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I am a full time working mom of an almost 4 year old boy. He is my miracle baby, sweet and feisty at the same time. I met my husband when I was in college and he is an incredible partner who supports my wild ideas and dreams. I am thankful to have him by my side.  We celebrated 10 years of marriage last October. I love spending time with my family and friends, while exploring our new home on the east coast. I believe hearing other women’s stories is important and has helped me embrace my own, unique journey. I am thankful for the incredible people I have encountered over the years, and I truly appreciate how they have helped shape who I am today.
My biggest strength as a mom is finding opportunities to explore new places/cultures with Jackson. My hope is that Jackson learns to love our differences as much as what holds us together as humanity. I also hope he always embraces his love for adventure, nature, and bugs.
Running is the main way I recharge away from the home. You will hear a little more about that next.
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The importance of Community
Before I dive into the questions below, I wanted to say that I feel honored to talk about this topic. For me, community and relationships have been key to my survival and sanity. In my opinion, community can be and should be messy. It is a place to be vulnerable. It should foster dialog along with reconciliation. Community doesn’t mean that we all agree or that we are the same. We all must come to the table from a place of honesty and trust in order to build strong communities. With everything that is going on in the world, it has never been more important for every woman and mom to embrace her journey, find her voice, and stand together.
 
Emily, you have made two big moves in your life. Can you describe what lead you to each move? Did anything happen at either location to give you a sense of community or did you have to seek or create it?
My journey has literally been from West to East on Hwy 50. First 18 years in California. The next 14 years in Colorado. Finally the past 2 years in Maryland. The first major move to Colorado was much easier, because it was just me and was driven by going off to college. I was also playing a college sport which gave me a built in community. A lot of growth occurred, but I didn’t necessarily have to seek out community. My husband was also born and raised in Colorado, so we had family and longtime friends that became part of my community.
Moving to Maryland…with a family…for a job…into a rental that we had two weeks to find…was very different. Not knowing anyone, meant that we would have to create community. We moved in the summer, which was positive because most people are outside doing activities. We also invested in paying for the community pool, that in turn led to meeting some amazing new people. It has been effort to push, get out and meet new people. One thing I have found in Maryland, is there are several families in similar situations who don’t have local family or longtime friends in the area. I find it can help build a strong need or sense for community. You think twice when a holiday is coming up to see if there is another family that could be missing home. It has helped me stay focused on trying to create a home that welcoming and inclusive to others, instead of focusing on what I am missing.
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What do you miss about home?
 
I miss family the most. I also miss some of my closest friends. With each move, I have found the need to redefine past relationships, along with setting new expectations as to what those relationships look like now. I can’t expect every friendship to remain the same, but I can find new and different ways to stay connected. It doesn’t mean that I forget people, or even that I stop caring. It just means the relationship looks different. In order to move forward in a new home, I feel like you have to create this space.
How do you keep in touch with family? What works the best?
 
Technology. One thing I am thankful for is the ability to FaceTime. We try to set as much time aside as possible in order to connect, usually on the weekends. It might mean grabbing a few minutes during bath time.  I also make random phone calls in order to try and stay in touch. With my job I am on the road quite a bit, so I do my best to take advantage of the available time to catch up. It works best to stay flexible and to remain understanding that people are busy. It isn’t personal if you can’t connect. While we don’t always have as much time as we like, we remain thankful for the time we are able to set aside and connect.
You mentioned hosting parties, being in a running club, in addition to your full time job and mothering! Is there any quiet or down time? What do you do then?
 
Yes, I do stay plenty busy. I am also learning to say “no” to things that aren’t priorities. I am a morning person and I enjoy my quiet time early before the house wakes up. Affirmations and devotional time is usually how I start my day. I also love to read and enjoy a good cup of coffee.
How would you describe a normal weekend at home?
 
Wake up, run, snuggle time (maybe some good cartoons), activity outside/within the community, grocery shop, meal prep, housework/yard work, play dates, pool time, etc. While it sounds a little crazy, the point is to do things together as a family and outside if possible. We are really trying to take advantage of living where we do, while we do. No telling where we will land with our next adventure.
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What advice can you give to someone who has just made a big move, without family or friends nearby?
 
It takes time to build relationships and find community. Sometimes it will be an easy connection, and other times it won’t be the right fit. As lame as it sounds, it can be a lot like dating. Be patient. Find something you love to do, and then go find a group of people doing it. For me, finding a running group was a huge game changer when we moved to Maryland. Running became a common ground, and it has allowed some incredible relationships to form. Do whatever you can to get outside of your home. It might be uncomfortable, but do what you can to push yourself to meet new people. Meet up groups are great. Social media can be helpful with finding local groups as well. It will take some effort, but it is worth it in the end.
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darling Jackson on the road

 

Thank you, Emily, what a great tale of creating your own village!
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