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Mom Win Wednesday: Lauren Kutsko

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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.


 

Michelle
Michelle

Today we are excited to hear more from mom, garden teacher, and entrepreneur coach,  Lauren Kutsko.

Michelle
Lauren

Hi! I have been on a bit of a minimalism kick.  For Christmas I didn’t want to buy things so for my husband his gift was a hike everyday of break with his family.  It was an absolute blast!  I will for sure be using time together as a gift more often!

Michelle
Michelle

That is such a good idea. I love gifts that attach memories and experiences to them. I bet it was a win for the whole family.

Do you wear any other hats in addition to your [big, gigantic, hugely significant] Mom Hat?  

Michelle
Lauren

I do.  I have a few depending on the hour of day!  I would say I am a “Jane” of all trades.
I work as a garden teacher at my children’s school in the morning solidifying my future as the “crazy plant lady”.  In the afternoons I work alongside my husband who is an entrepreneur coach.  My focus is to help women discover the opportunities of business ownership through the franchise market! I have been blown away by the coaching process and the meaningful opportunities there are for women to meet real needs in their community through this market.  [Follow her adventures: @fancynonsense on Instagram.]

Michelle
Michelle

I love that you are encouraging women to take brave steps to use their gifts well. So tell us about your kids…

Michelle
Lauren

We have 3 kids, Joe 7, Hazel 6, Trevor 4.  They are a blast, until they aren’t and they decided to be human and pitch a selfish fit.  But we are growing and learning together on how to share life with a whole heap of forgiveness.  

Joe is fiercely competitive and athletic with a sensitive and humble heart that glimmers beautifully in sweet moments, that usually only I am privileged to see.

Hazel has an incredible imagination and excels in helping others.  And in our house she is the one to ask if you can’t find something.  We joke it’s her superpower.  

Trevor is my cautious rule following cuddler who would do anything for anyone. He’s also the family comedian with some pretty impeccable timing.  

Michelle
Michelle

“With a whole heap of forgiveness.” Amen to that! What is a recent mom win you experienced that took time and perseverance to accomplish?

Michelle
Lauren

My biggest win is something I battle daily.  I am always reminding myself to slow down and take my time.  I so often feel that I don’t have time to do my job well.  I think it started when my kids came. They are pretty close in age and when you have 3 babies you really do have to rush from one feeding, diaper, mess, nap or errand to the next.  Now that my youngest is a very capable 4 I still find myself in this frantic rushing energy.  I am trying to slow down.  I often ask myself, “where are we rushing to?”   I have given myself permission to move dinner past the arbitrary 5:30 deadline in my mind and to allow myself freedom to cook and become creative again and that feels really great.

Michelle
Michelle

That’s so true. I think as moms we feel like we always need to rush to the next thing because there are so many things on our plates, but how great that you have slowed yourself down and found your creativity again.

What is a mom win that you would text your best friend?

Michelle
Lauren

I would say my biggest win was this Christmas break from school.  I loved my time with the kids and this is the first time that it’s felt that way.  I think they have finally reached an age where they are actually fun to be with!  I guess I’m not a baby/toddle person.

Michelle
Michelle

Your honesty is so refreshing. I think it’s freeing as moms to admit we prefer some seasons over others. Thank you so much for sharing your mom wins with us.

Michelle

If you would like to be featured as a Gold Medal Mom or you know someone who would, please contact us here!

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Wrestling Sheets and Attitudes

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Laura
Laura

I hate to complain, but has anyone ever had to change the sheets on bunk beds?

Laura
Anna
Anna

No, but I can imagine…?  Changing sheets is one of my least favorite chores! It’s like the sheets and I are in a wrestling match every time! LOL

Anna
Laura
Laura

?

Laura
Jessica
Jessica Sorosiak

And then you get a kid or two who wants to “help” with the sheets.  Getting a fitted sheet on a mattress with a kid on it is not my idea of fun!

Jessica Sorosiak
Laura
Laura

No! No fun at all! Plus, I always end up sweating!  And while the drops roll down my back, I try to recruit the four year olds to toss me the pillows and the 1 million stuffed animals they need to have in bed with them to me. They end up rolling around on the floor.  I start to feel annoyed and then mad because no one is helping me do this task that drives me insane, and then before you know it, one of the twins hits his head on the toy chest, I hit my head on the ceiling fan on the way down the ladder for the 9th time and everyone is a mess!

Laura
Anna
Anna

Whoa girl! I am exhausted just thinking about all that! Glad I don’t have bunk beds now. ?

Anna
Laura
Laura

Ha, yes, you should be… but this isn’t the only chore I could complain about.  But the truth is, I hate that I feel so annoyed at the chores (laundry, dishes, etc).  I hate complaining about things I feel like I should be grateful for.  Where does this grumbling come from?

Laura
Jessica
Jessica Sorosiak

Like…why do I have to wash all of those dirty dishes in the sink that I used to cook all the food I was able to make?! (I hope you sense my sarcasm!?)

Jessica Sorosiak
Anna
Anna

I totally hear you. I have found that I get really grumpy whenever I even LOOK at a pile of laundry. And doing it, well… let’s just say I have impressed MYSELF at my ability to procrastinate on the laundry. I just always feel like it is never. never. ending. I inherited this from my parents – it is hanging in our bathroom:

Anna
Jessica
Jessica Sorosiak

Ha!  They make a good point…

Jessica Sorosiak
Laura
Laura

Love that!  And I understand that my house is soooo not going to be perfect.  And the nature of chores is continuous.  But if I understand that, why am I so whiny about it all?

Laura
Anna
Anna

Hard question, because I know too – we “should” be grateful for everything we have. And sometimes I am. But most of the time, I probably need an attitude adjustment.  

Anna
Jessica
Jessica Sorosiak

Well, without God’s help, I don’t think I can.? I’m not sure we  necessarily have to love doing every task (I mean, God gave us preferences, after all!), but we don’t have to take on a negative attitude.

Jessica Sorosiak
Anna
Anna

How do we make that U-turn on a daily basis?

Anna
Laura
Laura

Hmm…another good question. Because I don’t really love changing the sheets…So if we are saying that it is unrealistic to enjoy some of our tasks where does that leave my heart? I think I am struck by the fact that my heart is reflected in my whining.  What’s that scripture?  From the mouth, that heart speaks or something? (Luke 6:45)

Laura
Anna
Anna

But does that mean that we have to like our chores?

Anna
Laura
Laura

I have always correlated liking something with being grateful for something, but maybe that’s not totally true?  I mean, do I expect my children to like picking up their toys?  What do I say to the boys when they start whining?  

Laura
Anna
Anna

We tell them they don’t have to like it! But that they need to be responsible in caring for what they have. Oh, and have a grateful heart for it too. Yet, that’s easier said than done.

Anna
Laura
Laura

Exactly!  So what do we tell ourselves?

Laura
Jessica
Jessica Sorosiak

I think it’s important to focus on the circumstances around the chores, and maybe that will help change our attitudes and our hearts.  I don’t have to like the dirty dishes in the sink, because God knows I’d rather never wash a dish again, but I am thankful for the delicious food I get to enjoy that produced those dishes and I’m especially grateful for the time I get to spend around the table with family and friends while enjoying the food made with those dishes.  And if I choose to reflect on those circumstances, it makes me feel a little less negative and more neutral about the dishes waiting for me in the sink.

Jessica Sorosiak
Laura
Laura

So instead of willing my attitude to change from negative to positive, maybe I could focus on what my heart is truly grateful for.  My heart is so grateful to God for my home and warm cozy places for my boys to sleep.  And because they share a room, they are building special memories that will last their lifetime.  That makes me so thankful.

Laura
Anna
Anna

And I’m thankful my family is well dressed!  And that they have many opportunities to get messy!

Anna
Laura
Laura

Right. So if my heart is focused on that while I wrestle the sheets, my attitude will follow suit.  That seems like an easier shift  to make.  Grateful for my circumstances, family, friends, and taking the chores and the to-do’s more in-stride.  Thanks, ladies!

Laura

 

Soaking in the Truth

Scripture to encourage you:

    • “As for those who do have riches in the present world, charge them not to be proud and not to let their hopes rest on the uncertainties of riches but to rest their hopes on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.  Charge them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and ready to share.  In this way they will treasure up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may lay hold of the real life.”  1 Timothy 6:17-19
    • “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that yo may be blameless and pure children of God, without defect in the midst of a twisted and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the sky.” Philippians 2:14-15
    • “We pray that you will be continually strengthened with all the power that comes from his glorious might so that you will be able to persevere and be patient in any situation, joyfully giving thanks to the Father for having made you fit to share in the inheritance of his people in the light.” Colossians 1:11-12

Music to inspire you:

    • Do Everything by Steven Curtis Chapman
    • “Do Everything Without Complaining”  by Steve Green (This is a song for our kids and it’s featured on our Treasured Products page. Please note: we know it’s a bit cheesy.?)

Readings to come alongside of you:

    • 8 Tips for Getting Kids to Do Chores {without complaining} by Jenn from The Purposeful Mom
    • How to Turnaround a Downhill Day by Arlene Pellicane on Proverbs 31 Ministries (This one is about gratefulness in general, not necessarily about chores.)

    • Play music while you are doing your chores. It’s harder to grumble while your are singing! I actually do this for my boys as a challenge.  I’ll say, let’s see if we can clean this room up by the time 3 songs are finished or something.  (Translated to moms: I’m going to work on these dishes for 3 songs and then the rest will be done tomorrow!)
    • Take to heart that image in Anna’s bathroom from above.  It’s a hard thing to accept, but it might help put chores in perspective to what is really important– our faith and our families.
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We don’t claim to have motherhood figured out. Actually quite the opposite. We’re a group of women who first and foremost love the Lord and want to honor Him with our lives and talents. And we decided that what better way for us to sort out this beautiful and messy thing called motherhood but to process it together in text messages? Our prayer is that as we share our real-life stories and honest experiences, every mom who visits our blog will receive tangible truth and experience real grace.

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