As a mom, you may not have qualified for the Rio Olympics, but you certainly deserve a spot on the podium in our eyes. There are no “perfect scores” in motherhood, but if you had a discipline breakthrough, managed a meltdown, or found time in your day to pursue a dream, then we want to take a moment and celebrate alongside you. Even the little “victories” add up to be big wins in the long run; so let’s champion each other. After all, we’re on the same team.
Today we are featuring Shawna Goldstein! Shawna, can you share a picture of your family with us?
Yes! Hi, I’m Shawna Goldstein. This is from our family photo shoot last fall. You can tell the boys were thrilled to have their pictures taken!
Haha, I totally get that! Surviving a family photo shoot could be a whole conversation in and of itself! Do you wear any other hats in addition to your [big, gigantic, hugely significant] Mom Hat?
I am the Women’s Ministry Coordinator at Christ’s Church in Mason. Our church’s website is ourchristschurch.com, and our women’s blog is OurRedeemedLives.com. I also teach group fitness classes in all my spare time. ?
That’s awesome! And I love that you still fit in your own interests (and fitness/health!) in the midst of all your responsibilities.
Now tell us a little bit more about those handsome boys of yours!
I have three boys, ages 5, 7, and 9. The five year old is so loving and affectionate, but a bit clingy to mom. Going to preschool, church, and childcare at the gym can sometimes be a struggle for him. My 7 year old is possibly one of the biggest King’s Island enthusiasts on the planet! We take him multiple times a week, but he talks about the rides 24/7. He also loves sports and video games! My 9 year old is a nature lover. His dream job is to grow up and explore the world, discovering new animals and species of bugs. His latest mission is to find and catch a snake in the woods near our house!
Your boys are so much fun! (I don’t know about the catching the snake part though, haha!) What is a recent mom win you experienced that took time and perseverance to accomplish?
We are constantly striving to teach our children what it means to have a relationship with Jesus and praying they will choose that for themselves. They all say they believe, but the recent win came when they all started to realize the need for others to believe in Jesus as well! We’ve had conversations about how not everyone believes in God, or how some people say they believe in God but that they don’t believe that Jesus is God’s son and the only way to have a relationship with the One True God. My kids have started to have a burden for one particular family member, and have been asking me multiple times a day, “Mom, can we pray that ____ would believe in Jesus?” What a win that is!
It really is, Shawna! I love that. Those seeds you and your husband have been planting are starting to grow!
What is a mom win that you would text your best friend?
My middle has started to eat spinach and strawberry salads daily!!! This is a HUGE win because the word “vegetable” is not in his vocabulary. Why is he suddenly eating spinach? Because he thinks it will make him grow tall enough to ride Diamondback and the last few rides at King’s Island that he is not yet tall enough to ride! (I told you he was a King’s Island enthusiast!)
Hey, that’s awesome! Whatever works to get them to eat those veggies, right?
One last question, Shawna. What are you learning as a mom right now?
I’m trying my best to be present in every moment. It is so easy to get distracted, nodding and pretending I’m listening when they talk to me. But I never want them to STOP talking to me as they get older, so I’m trying to be an active listener. I’m trying to value the things they say and show interest in what interests them. I’m trying to be intentional about shutting off my brain to the hundred places it wants to wander and really tuning into my kids!
That is a challenge that a lot of us face! I think it’s great that you are thinking ahead to when they’re older, and that you have to be a good listener now so that they will keep talking to us as they grow up. So smart! Thank you so much for sharing your mom wins with us, Shawna!
If you would like to be featured as a Gold Medal Mom or you know someone who would, please contact us here!
I really love the last portion of this interview. I too need to work on really listening to my children. Finding interest in the things that they are interested in.
Thanks Erin! It’s a daily struggle sometimes!