​"Am I doing something wrong?" I half seriously asked my mama as my 8-month-old sat watching Daniel Tiger.
 
I was thinking this because I follow a lot of moms on social media, and I've seen the way they do things. The posts they make. The homemade baby food. The no TV until 2. Babies sleeping through the night, in their own rooms since day 1. 
 
And that my friend, is not us. 
 
Puffs, Daniel Tiger & "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" covered by her daddy on repeat. This short list of three things are the only things that soothe my upset baby, other than a bottle and being held by mama and daddy. 
 
We're just getting started, and I know there is a mama reading this that has already gasped, or loudly proclaimed their disgruntled thoughts about what she just read. 
 
Yes. I let my child watch TV before 2. I give my child food that wasn't prepared in my own kitchen. I let my child listen to music other than Ludwig Van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. 
 
You may disagree with my mama decisions, and that's okay.
 
I am right, and so are you. 
 
I know what's best for my child, and you know what's best for yours.
 
Just because we choose to do things differently, doesn't make one of us better than the other. 
 
"Mom Shaming" happens so quickly when we think that our way is the only way, the best way, and there can be absolutely no other. Instead of taking the time to think that every mama has a reason for her choices, we’re quick to think, if she doesn't do it our way, she's wrong.
 
We are so quick to see other mama's decisions as wrong, but we don't want anybody to think that about ours.
 
Daniel Tiger, Puffs, and Jesus songs. I have my reasons for them, you have your reasons against them. 
 
Daniel Tiger has great lessons to teach, it's not mindless, rude, or crude. Puffs teach her coordination. Her father and I believe in God, and want to share that with her.
 
I have my reasons, and you have yours.
 
TV, diapering, sleep methods, medicines, treatments, toys, music, vitamins, clothes, food, detergents.
 
You name it, there's more than one way to do it. 
 
I want what's best for my child. I would never cause her harm. I want her to feel loved and nurtured. To grow up to be smart, loving, loyal, and independent. 
 
If I had to guess, you want that too, mama. Don't you? 
 
Just because my choices aren't the same as yours, doesn't mean I'm a bad mother. 
 
I'm right, and so are you. 
 
I know what's best for my child, and you know what's best for yours.
 
 
We don't have to agree with each other's choices, but can we just agree to stop shaming?
 
 
Because I can be right, and so can you.

Lately I've spent a lot of time putting myself out there. Not my physical self or person, but my inner self. The thoughts, heart, and creativity that beat within my heart. Creating a family page, making something and selling it, and writing. Sticking myself right out there in the spotlight. Not my cute baby everybody likes, but myself.
 
Why? 

I have asked myself this a lot these last few weeks.

Why in the world am I doing this? It would be MUCH easier to just, you know, not. 
To just keep the pictures flowing of my baby that everyone loves. Everybody responds well to those. That's easier.

So why?
 
Because I'm still here.

Yes I'm a wife, and I am a mom, but I'm also still me. 

I'm still here.

I still have goals and dreams that go way beyond dishes and the laundry pile. 

I am more than a reheated cup of coffee and wiping butt.

Make sure you hear me right, I am not above it, but I am more than it.


​Before a wife and before a momma, there's me; and I'm still here.
 
I want to see my husband and child grow, succeed, dream and achieve, but I also need to want that for myself.

As a momma we are called to love hard and lead well. In our actions, in our speech, the way we live our daily lives, and what we set out ahead of us to achieve. 
 
 
So in our family, right now I'm making an impact inside of the home so I can make an impact outside of the home later. Through Hensley, and any other children we add to our family. All while making a few pacifier clips here and there, and word vomiting onto our cute little family website. 

I want them to see that I tried. I don't have to get a book published, or have my own podcast, or have a huge following to show my children what success looks like. I may not be the world's definition of successful, but in our home, I am successful. 

I put myself out there, I love as hard as I can, lead to the best of my ability, and am never afraid to try anything once.
 
Not all momma's may have the same goal, and no dream is bigger or better than another. 
 
So put down your phone (of course after you finish reading) and stop comparing yourself to the working momma, the stay at home momma, the single momma, married momma, work from home momma, the make vegan-organic everything, even for the dog, momma

And set your own goals, momma.
 
Need some encouragement? I'll be glad to help you along the way.

If I can do it, so can you.

Scared? I still am too.

​Is it worth it? Absolutely.