Rachel is the newest Mom Series participant. She is a busy mom of 3 kids under 5. She currently is working on two different blogs – writing about her hobbies and lifestyle. She links to them throughout this interview. Her experience in motherhood with home births actually inspired a lot of content for her blog Approaching Home – linked below. I think you will enjoy her perspective and honesty. It’s always fun to see the ages that everyone loves the best. I can’t say I’m in the same boat with loving the 1.5 to 2.5 age range. You can check out this post to see my thoughts!

Welcome Rachel!

My name is Rachel, I’m a stay at home/homeschooling mom. I always wanted to be a mother so I never got myself into a career, but I did nanny for a few families while in college. My husband and I have three kids so far! We have a 5 year old, 3 year old and an infant. I have a few blogs: Approaching Home is where I write about homemaking, and Seam Whisperer is where I share sewing tips!

Motherhood Journey

My journey into motherhood was a little but unexpected. We planned to get pregnant right away but what we didn’t plan for was back to back miscarriages.

My first miscarriage was a huge surprise at the very end of my first trimester. A few months later, I got pregnant again and then had another miscarriage very early at about 5 weeks.

I was very determined to keep trying and the next month we were blessed to get pregnant again and I eventually had my first daughter at home. All three of our kids were born out of hospital, and that is a little bit of what inspired me to start blogging. To share what I have learned about Home birth as well as motherhood in general.

Unexpected things since becoming a Mom

Probably the most unexpected and also important thing motherhood has taught me is how change is the only constant! Time flies so fast, things are always changing at such high speed! I never could have guessed how fast these young years go by before going through them.

In addition, sometimes the vision in our heads doesn’t play out exactly how we thought it would, but in my experience things always work out in the end. Motherhood requires a lot of faith and patience.

Hardest thing since becoming a Mom

The hardest thing about being a mom is also the best thing about being a mom: the fact that you are so unbelievably loved and needed by other living beings! It is so fulfilling but also very exhausting at times. I’ve realized I’m not as patient of a person I thought I was, but I am grateful that my kids have “brought out the worst” in me so that I can actually practice becoming a better person. You can’t fix what you don’t know is broken!

Favorite thing about being a Mom

My favorite thing about being a mom is seeing the fruit of my hard work finally grow. For example, seeing my kids play together, hearing them read to each other, watching them learn how to write and count.

Favorite thing to do with your kids

My kids and I love to go on walks every day. I usually have one baby in a wrap, one kid in a stroller, and one on a bike and we go swing or swim or play. Being outside playing feels so good, we try to do it every day.

Favorite thing to do without your kids

When I get a moment without my kids my favorite thing to do is sew. I have an obsession with making clothing and dolls and all sorts of things! I’ve also picked up blogging as a hobby the past two years. I have recently combined the two and started a sewing blog called Seam Whisperer. I also spend some time reading.

Anything you miss about life pre-kids

I dropped out of college to become a mother which was one of the best choices I ever made (and I don’t ever plan on going back!) but I do miss being on sports and dance teams. That is a season of life I won’t get back but enjoyed very much.

Anything you would tell your pre-kids self

If I could go back in time to talk to myself, I would tell myself to stop stressing out so much and just listen to my motherly intuition. When I was a first time mom I was so concerned about every little thing, but now I have realized there isn’t one “right” way to parent, I just have to listen to my kids and learn in the moment. We flow!

Favorite age so far

My kids are still young but I absolutely adore the age from about 1.5-2.5. I know people call that the “terrible twos”, but it’s not for me! I love it!

A must have baby item

My must have baby item I would die without is a woven wrap to wear my baby. I wear my baby all the time, on my back and front and hip. I would never get anything done without it! I love hugging my baby all day. There’s a few wraps that I love and use regularly. The Solly wrap, and the Lenny Lamb wrap are some my favorites!

Thanks again Rachel for your participation! If you want to jump on this bandwagon, drop your email here! I’ll be happy to send you these questions and would love to feature you on the blog!