Diedre

Quarantine Curls: How to Keep Your Curly Hair Hydrated While at Home

April 14, 2020 By Diedre Leave a Comment

This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you subscribe or purchase something through the links on this page.

Quarantine curls.

That’s what I call hair that is missing a beautician and stays under a cap or bonnet most of the time.

Y’all, when the stay at home order hit in Georgia, I had just taken out my faux locs.

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For better or for worse.💍 Farm season has been slow this winter & we got too much rain, so seedlings are just getting in the ground. Our chickens got worms & were dropping like flies. One of our new farm pups started killing 🐔 (sometimes farm life ain’t easy ya’ll!)I started 2020 sick & was sick for weeks. And then corona plagued our world, which brings some uncertainty to our farm business as we depend on the spring farmer’s market. But instead of anxiety & fear, we’re choosing Joy & peace. We’re soaking up these extra moments together even if it’s not the way we envisioned. I’m thankful he’s gotten so good at removing crochet hair, so now it only takes me half the time I would spend alone. And since Georgia is eliminating state testing because of school closures, the kids can enjoy learning again without all the pressure. So even when life is uncertain, we can find joy in the small things. What are you finding joy in today?

A post shared by Diedre ❤ Are Those Your Kids (@arethoseyourkids) on Mar 16, 2020 at 9:16pm PDT

I was giving my scalp a break and had intended on getting another protective style. I was torn between faux locs or passion twists (again).

And then the shelter at home went from two weeks to a month, to now the end of April.

I got really lazy with my quarantine curls and my hair was started to look a little dry–okay let’s be totally honest—crazy.

Something about the uncertainty of our world caused me to focus on everything but my hair. But I have a lot of hair. And I was tired of fighting with it because I wasn’t giving it the care it needed.

I didn’t have access to my beautician for a trim and I couldn’t even peruse the hair care aisle to check out the newest products.

I had to rely on the products that have always served me well instead of shopping for new ones.

If you’re stuck at home like me and want to make sure that your quarantine curls still look great, here are a few quick and easy tips to have your curls popping again in no time!

Detangle quarantine curls fully before styling

If you have a head full of hair, detangling could easily take 30 minutes to an hour if you are carefully working through each section. I’ve been guilty of detangling in a rush, and then styling took longer because I had to work through knots.

Trust me, if you have a conditioner with good slip, then working out those tangles will work in your favor & styling will be so much easier!

Skip the products with harmful ingredients

What kinds of harmful ingredients? Stay away from products with words like fragrance, parabens, sulfates.

Why are fragrances toxic??

Phthalates used to make fragrances last longer, have been linked to many hazardous health conditions, such as reduced sperm count, liver and breast cancers, reproductive malformation and diabetes.

Did you know that under the Fair Package and Labeling act of 1966, companies don’t have to list their ingredients?

Check out the Netflix documentary Stink for more information.

One of my favorite books that teaches you how to make your own DIY products is Kinky Locs. It was written by a licensed esthetician and gives several recipes for rinses, hair masks, deep conditioners and more!

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize

Curly hair needs moisture, especially the thicker, coarser textures. Before manipulating your hair in any style, make sure your hair is moistened with water.

This is my favorite water bottle.

Since everyone in my house has curly hair (with the exception of my husband), we have one in every bedroom. It sprays water evenly and doesn’t get the hair soaking wet.

Sometimes I like to add oils (lavender or cedarwood) or aloe vera juice to my spray bottle to add an extra boost of hydration to my curls.

Protect your curls at night

My favorite cap for sleeping is the Grace Elayae slap. Every cap or scarf I’ve ever owned has always come off at night. The Grace Eleyae cap stays put and keeps my curls protected while I sleep.

Most days I’m lounging around the house, on a Zoom call with my co-workers or essential oil friends, homeschooling the kids, or helping my hubby on the farm.

None of these duties really requires my hair to be free, so when I take my cap off, I often keep my hair in twists.

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I love doing twist outs on the weekend. I keep my hair twisted after washing & wear my twists as a style (in my younger years I would never do that but psshh..) Then usually on Sunday morning (church) or Monday morning (work), I untwist them. I don’t fluff out my hair day 1 because I love the super defined look & after all that work, I want my twist out to last all week. Some people use (leave in) conditioner only, but I love that gel gives my twists a non-frizzy look + they last longer.

A post shared by Diedre ❤ Are Those Your Kids (@arethoseyourkids) on Jan 5, 2020 at 8:14pm PST

I know, it’s tough. It’s tough to have to do your own hair all the time. We’ll get through this together.

5 Simple Ways To Teach Your Kids About Online Safety

April 13, 2020 By Diedre 1 Comment

This post contains affiliate links. This means that I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you subscribe or purchase something through the links on this page.

With many schools around the country closed for the year, parents are forced to rely on online resources to educate their children–and let’s be honest, to help with their own sanity too! If our kids are spending more time on the internet, it’s important for us to spend time talking about online safety.

Unlike many of us, our children grow up understanding that technology is an important part of our everyday lives. Our kids watch us take pictures and videos everywhere we go.

Most children don’t even know what a landline is!

They watch others make videos and post to Snapchat, Tik Tok and a variety of social media platforms.

The best way to protect your child and your family is to simply teach them about online safety.

Don’t Make It Too Scary

Some parents show their children news articles about children found tortured or dead to keep them from talking to strangers.

The problem with using this as the only means of explaining online safety to your children is that many kids naturally form relationships online. As a school counselor, I’ve talked to hundreds of kids about online safety. When I’ve asked kids from elementary to high school if they have friends on their social media accounts that they don’t know, an overwhelming amount of kids say yes.

Why?

They want to be seen.

Kids want to be liked.

They want their status to gain attention.

They don’t see the danger in allowing strangers to see what they post. They just don’t get it, and they think the dangerous things that happen won’t happen to them.

Try having a conversation about how your child can’t trust everyone on the Internet: “People aren’t always who they say they are on the Internet – some people go online to hurt kids, so unless you know them in real life, always assume they’re an adult. Don’t tell them your last name, and don’t show them what you look like.”

Talk to Them About Your Parental Controls

Parental controls are a great tool for families. They block websites, features, and downloads that your kids shouldn’t be using. You might block websites that your children would be interested in using, like social media and sites that let people watch movies for free.

When you set up these parental controls, talk to your kids about why certain features are blocked on their web browsers. Every parental block has a purpose that your child can appreciate!

Keep an open mind about your parental controls – sometimes, a website will be blocked that your child needs for homework.

Single-player flash games and multiplayer games can also wind up on a blocklist unintentionally.

Tell your children that website blocks are negotiable, and if a website is blocked that they feel they should be able to use, they can talk to you about potentially unblocking it.

Show Them Tools They Can Use

If you subscribe to antivirus software, you probably have tools that check for viruses.

Show your kids how they can run a virus check when they use the computer. With one click of a button, they can make sure they’re protected from malware.

There are also search engines that show how safe a website is to use. If your child enters a website into this search bar, they can find out if that site and its downloads are safe.

Some antivirus tools, like Norton scan files as you download them to see if they’re safe.

Show your child features like this so they know not to disable them. Additionally, show them how to block users on any websites they use.

Tell Them What to Look For

Sometimes, there are telltale signs that a person online is unsafe.

Teach your child about the things a safe person should not ask them for: pictures, their town, their last name, or where they go to school or camp. Remind your kids that another kid isn’t going to beg, scare or threaten them for this information.

Also, teach your child to consider signs that the person they’re talking to is actually an adult. Are they unfamiliar with popular games and TV shows?

To keep your kids from falling for phishing scams or downloading viruses, teach them to always check the URL bar before entering usernames and passwords.

If the URL has a different suffix (.net instead of .com), is spelled differently, or looks otherwise different, it’s not safe! Of course, remind them that what comes after the suffix doesn’t matter – that tells you which page you’re on, not which website you’re using.

Remind Them That They Can Trust You

If a child comes across danger online, they might be afraid to tell you. They might feel like you’ll blame them for being on certain websites or punish them for their actions.

Make a verbal or written promise with your children: if they interact with a bad person on the Internet, accidentally download a virus, or accidentally disable a safety feature, they can tell you about it without facing punishment.

Talk to your older children about their friends. Check their devices regularly and have open conversations about what they are seeing online. They may not be engaging in inappropriate conversations online, but I guarantee you they know someone who is.

Sometimes teens ask for or exchange nude or half nude pictures. The pictures get circulated to everyone–even people who didn’t ask for them. Talk to your child about what they should do if they are on the receiving end of pictures, or someone asks them for pictures.

When I was a middle school counselor, kids often felt uncomfortable receiving pictures they didn’t ask for and deleted them without telling an adult out of fear.

Have these conversations with your children so they know exactly what to do.

The internet is a useful and dangerous tool for children. It’s our job as parents to teach them the importance of online safety.

For younger children, we love the Amazon Fire tablet.

You can set parental controls, and for the 1st year, you get access to Amazon FreeTime Unlimited which gives your kids access to over 20,000 apps, games, books, videos, audio books, and educational content from PBS Kids, Nickelodeon, Disney, and more. Your subscription will then automatically renew every month starting at just $2.99 per month plus applicable tax.

You can create screen time limits, set educational goals, and filter content with easy-to-use parental controls.

Here are some books that can help guide your conversations about online safety:

How to Get Your Relationship Back on Track After Arguing

March 22, 2020 By Diedre 2 Comments

It can be difficult to get your marriage back on track after arguing.

Whether it’s lack of communication, or the inability to express feelings, communication issues interferes with happy marriages.

And even in relationships where healthy communication isn’t an issue, arguments will still happen. And there are seasons that are tougher than others and it seems like you just can’t get it together.

Marriage is hard heart work. Marriage requires two different people who were raised differently to come together and build a life together.

Raising kids, blending families & finances. Whew. Sometimes it isn’t as easy as it appears.

Sometimes our culture puts so much emphasis on the wedding, but not enough on the life after the wedding.

One of the biggest problems in marriages is communication.

I’m a counselor and I feel like communication is a strength of mine, but I’ve been hit by some rough seasons in life and in my marriage. Thankfully my husband is just as committed as I am to making our marriage work, so we’ve had to roll up our sleeves (on a few occasions) to get to the heart of our issues.

If your season is lasting longer than you had anticipated, here are a few tips on how to get your relationship back on track:

Stick to the issue at hand and don’t attack

It’s easy to go in attack mode when you are hurt or disappointed.

And no name calling. Ever.

Listen, nothing ever good comes from backing someone in a corner and going into attack mode. I promise.

If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything. Put your discussion on pause until you can articulate like an adult. Yup, I said it.

Stay away from speaking in absolutes

“You always….”

“I can’t believe you…”

“You never…..”

No one does the same thing the same way all the time. Be responsible for your words, even when you are angry.

Discuss your issues right away, don’t allow them to fester

The longer you hold in your feelings, the bigger your explosion will be when they come out.

For me, this is the toughest. When I get angry, I hold back. Not because I’m afraid of expressing my emotions, but because I don’t want to lose control of my emotions by saying things I’ll regret. I also don’t like arguing about the same things over and over again.

Marriage means discussing the same things over and over again until you get it right. And that’s okay.

We’ve been taught that something is wrong if we can’t fix it the first time.

But you won’t always be on the same page the first time you argue…or even the second or third.

Getting your relationship back on track means being willing to have long and frequent discussions until you get it right.

Enlist the help of a professional if you can’t seem to get it together

Don’t threaten leaving

It’s just not nice. It causes hurt, frustration and later regret. No one gets married with the goal of divorce. Don’t use threats to get your spouse to hear what you have to say. Hurtful threats don’t work–even if they work temporarily, it doesn’t sustain a healthy relationship.

But if you are experiencing physical abuse, get out. It isn’t your fault.

Listen, to everything there is a season—and some seasons last a little longer than we anticipate.

Life throws us curve balls and those seasons bring hurt, confusion, depression, and a host of other issues, but if you are willing to address those issues, you can get your marriage relationship back on track after arguing.

10 Ways to Lessen Anxiety About Home School During the Quarantine

March 20, 2020 By Diedre 1 Comment

This post is sponspored by Godaddy, but all opinions are my own.

I’ve been a blogger for five years and I’ve never seen parents panic more than I’ve seen in the last few weeks.

School closures have parents on edge and entrepreneurs are biting their nails waiting for normalcy and praying that their savings can sustain them during this pandemic.

Parents have been thrust into teaching their kids via home school during the quarantine. While anxiety is at an all-time high, it’s hard to see day by day when your vision is clouded by fear. Here are a few ways to help you cope and take a deep breath:

Start your own garden

When you grow your own food, you can have confidence in knowing where your food came from. How it was grown, what was used to grow it, and who handled it.

You don’t have to worry about braving the stores for fruits and veggies when you grow your own. And if you’re an outdoorsy person, you get a dose of Vitamin D while you do something you love!

Stay in touch with family and friends

Apps like Marco Polo and Zoom allow you to still see the people you love while you are practicing social distancing. If you’re an extrovert, it can be difficult to be shut off from daily interactions with people.

Limit your social media time

People are losing it online. They are sharing information without fact-checking. They are waving anxiety around in a desperate attempt to cope.

Being online can be a place that causes more anxiety if you are already experiencing anxiety due to the current state of affairs.

It’s okay to log off and give yourself time to breathe.

Take advantage of all the free entertainment available online

Home school during the quarantine doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun!

Instead of checking your Facebook account for updates that may not be accurate, use the Internet to access free group fitness, concerts, museum & zoo tours, and so much more!!

Let your tv or computer screen take you where you can’t go for now.

Use the resources your school/district is offering

By now, I’m sure you’ve seen a plethora of resources to help you navigate homeschooling with your child.

If you aren’t an educator, it can be overwhelming to know where to begin, even if your school is providing links and packages. Most teachers have provided a way to contact them, as well as offering office hours if you have questions.

Teachers entered the teaching profession to TEACH!

Don’t feel like you are bothering them by asking questions. They are concerned about their students and want to see them succeed, even if they are having to learn via distance learning.

Get creative with homeschool work

Is your kindergartener learning how to write their name? Get outside and have them write their name in dirt with a stick or in some chalk on the sidewalk.

Is your third grader struggling with multiplication? Use pretzel sticks to make groups to create a fun edible lesson.

Sitting at the kitchen table doing worksheets is boring. And if it’s not your thing, it makes the homeschooling last even more overwhelming.

Think back to some of the things your favorite teachers did in school. They use creativity and kept your attention. Learning doesn’t have to happen indoors and it doesn’t have to last all day. Think outside of the box! Home school during the quarantine doesn’t have to be labor-intensive and boring!

Catch up on housework

If you work outside of the home, balancing work, family, and home can be tricky. Sometimes it can be overwhelming juggling it all. Use this opportunity to catch up on some household projects that you were waiting on spring break to do.

Turn on some music and have a folding party. Get your little ones to learn to match and have them help match their socks. Housework doesn’t have to be boring. My kids love it when I blast music and dance around while doing things around the house. It makes a house feel like a home.

I work in an elementary school, so I make a practice of keeping up with laundry and wiping down surfaces. In my house, we try to keep toxic products out of our home, so I only need 1 product to clean every single surface, Thieves!! It helps our family stay above the wellness line.

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Now is the time to invest in your health!!! With Young Living you get the opportunity to be plugged into some amazing supportive groups (like @shadesandstone), an amazing welcome package & access to me for all the questions! Thieves sanitizer, thieves household cleaner (for all the messes & spills), thieves roller (make your own), lavender for cuts & scrapes, valor for big feelings, peace & calming for the crazy moments, Ningxia to keep us all above the wellness line. Thieves is one of the easiest YL products to ditch and switch with. When you grab a bottle of thieves, you no longer need soft scrub, lysol, comet, toilet scrub, comet, windex, or any other cleaners! I use to pick up bottles that looked like they were “green” and “safe”, but I quickly learned that pretty pictures of plants on the bottle did not translate to being free of toxic chemicals. Let’s get this oily party started and let me help you on your wellness journey!

A post shared by Diedre Anthony (@oilyminded) on Mar 13, 2020 at 5:17pm PDT

Learn more about long term wellness

Wellness isn’t a choice you make once, rather a lifestyle.

When my husband became a farmer, his goal was to provide healthy, sustainable options for our local community. I remember him saying that he wanted to ensure that no matter what happened in the world, our family would never go hungry.

I admired his tenacity but scoffed a little at his thoughts about if something happened. His mission doesn’t seem so crazy anymore.

Wash yo hands

Listen, all the ‘rona’ talk has us paranoid about how long the virus can live on surfaces.

Now is the perfect opportunity to teach (and reteach) your kids how to wash their hands.

When our kids graduate from toddler years to adolescence, we assume that they’ve learned the basic skill of handwashing, but now is a good as time as any to reiterate it to your ENTIRE FAMILY.

Give yourself some grace

Home school during the quarantine is new for all of us. I’m a school counselor and preparing lessons for my kids was a little overwhelming for me too.

I’ve been in the field for over 12 years, but the new dynamic of our world makes homeschooling seem a bit daunting.

You won’t stick to the same schedule every day and that’s okay.

It’s okay to sleep in some days.

It’s okay that your kids miss their teacher.

It’s okay to miss work even though you are feeling guilty about not enjoying every second with your kids.

We have been thrust into quarantine, loss of some of our basic needs (i.e. toilet paper) and homeschooling all at once. Understand that defining your new normal won’t happen overnight.

And that’s okay too.

And find a community to connect with online. Times are different. And hard. Especially for those of us who are entrepreneurs. Thankfully, Godaddy has provided a new community for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Click here to be a part of it.

5 Common Misconceptions about Extended Breastfeeding

February 18, 2020 By Diedre Leave a Comment

Extended breastfeeding is a topic that makes many people cringe.

With all the things moms are judged for, this extended breastfeeding may be at the top of the list. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for about the first 6 months with continued breastfeeding alongside the introduction of complementary foods for at least 1 year.

The day my son had his 18-month appointment, I knew it was time to wean. I just felt it. I was tired of wearing nursing bras and I wanted my freedom back.

When I decided to wean, it was because I’ve given him what he needs and I was ready, not because of the judgment of others.

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When you babywear, does your little tend to hang to one side? Homeboy is 14 months old & almost 30 lbs. He has a healthy appetite & I’m still nursing. I’m just about ready to give it up & have my boobs back, but then he gets hurt & as my hubby says, I “give in.” My family says I baby him more than the girls & I disagree. But, maybe they’re right. He’s my 🌈 baby. My last baby. My baby boy. #sorrynotsorry Moms, how long did your breastfeed? Babywear?

A post shared by Diedre ❤ Are Those Your Kids (@arethoseyourkids) on Jun 17, 2019 at 1:28pm PDT

And trust me, the judgment is there. I’ve heard it all from “wow, I couldn’t breastfeed that long.” Or “As soon as mine got teeth, they had to go.”

“You’re a good one, I wouldn’t want a big ol’ baby attached to me.”

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Happy Friday!! Let’s get the party started!! Sike. I picked up the kids then realized I left some of my pump pieces at work. So on the way home I took all 3 kids back to my office. Baby J didn’t want any 🍼 so I had to pump…..While entertaining the baby & trying to keep him from falling out of my chair. Some days I dread unloading my whole crew to go places. It can be cumbersome but honestly every time I do it, it gets easier. Do you ever amaze yourself with what you are capable of handling??!!

A post shared by Diedre ❤ Are Those Your Kids (@arethoseyourkids) on Dec 7, 2018 at 2:43pm PST

Extended breastfeeding isn’t for everyone–and for a variety of reasons:

Some women don’t produce milk to a year or beyond, issues with latching, lack of family support, work constraints make it difficult to pump/feed or some women simply don’t desire to nurse beyond a year.

According to the Mayo Clinic, worldwide, babies are weaned on average between ages 2 and 4. In some cultures, breast-feeding continues until children are age 6 or 7. In other parts of the world, however, this is less common and can sometimes provoke uninformed, negative reactions.

In the U.S there are some common misconceptions about extended breastfeeding:

Baby won’t take a bottle or a cup

Just because a child breastfeeds past a year doesn’t mean that they won’t take a bottle or a cup if you offer. In fact, moms who work outside of the home full time have babies who take a cup while they are away at work.

Extended breastfeeding hurts

Listen, I know one of the main concerns people seem to have about extended breastfeeding is the fact that your little one has teeth.

My baby boy has bitten me before–more like grinding his teeth as he was going to sleep. It was painful and my nipples were still sore the next day! My solution for the biting was to take him off the breast before he fell asleep. I often had to squeeze his cheeks if I felt his suction slowing down and his jaw was clenching.

I had no issues with my daughters biting me or grinding their teeth. Every child is different, and biting has not been a concern for everyone who chooses extended breastfeeding.

Less desirable to your spouse

Without getting too personal, extended breastfeeding has not affected the intimacy with my husband. We still enjoy spending time together, going on dates and have a healthy sex life.

Extended breastfeeding has not affected the way he sees me or my body.

Hard to do in public

Nursing tops & bras make nursing in public so much easier than it use to be. When you are nursing an older child, they can usually communicate through words or motions that they are ready to nurse, which takes the guess work out.

And trust me, by the time you’ve made it past a year nursing, you’ve got the system down.

People will judge you for nursing a big baby

Listen, people will judge you for all your choices.

Breastfeeding. Not breastfeeding.

How long your child is rear-facing.

Whether or not you choose to make your own baby food or purchase it.

Staying home with your baby or going back to work.

Going back to work too soon or not soon enough.

THE LIST IS ENDLESS.

Don’t make a decision about what is best for your family based on the judgment of others.

An Easy Guide to Working Full-Time, Raising Kids & Having a Side Hustle

January 3, 2020 By Diedre 3 Comments

This post is sponsored by Russell Brunson. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Being a mom is one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done, but so is having a side hustle and working full time.

11 years ago, I finished my master’s degree in school counseling and starting working full time as an elementary school counselor.

After reading the book There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom as a young teenager, I knew I wanted to be a school counselor.

The main character, Bradley Chalkers was a terror to the 5th grade. He lied, picked fights with other kids and was no fun to be around. But the school counselor, Carla saw something in him that he didn’t see in himself. By the end of the book, I was in tears. I knew that I wanted to effect change just like Carla.

When I started my career, I was in a serious relationship that quickly turned to marriage. It was easy to balance work and marriage.

My third year as a school counselor, I transitioned from elementary school to high school. Balancing work and home life were extremely difficult. There were so many late nights (class night, graduation, financial aid night) and early mornings (AP testing, field trips, etc) that took me away from home.

The mom guilt was unbearable. I felt like I gave more to my school kids than my own child, so I made the transition to middle school.

Life as a middle school counselor was pretty sweet. I loved building relationships with hormonal (pre)teens as awkward as that sounds.

Helping them navigate such a difficult stage brought me such great joy. I was also enlightened about how vulnerable this age is. Talking to my students about online safety, family issues and self-harm thoughts made for some heavy days.

There were many afternoons that I met with parents about their children who had concerning mental health issues.

By the time I was working full time as a middle school counselor, I was a mom of 2. As much as I loved my job, I felt like I was still giving more to my school babies than my own children, especially when you add in a 45 minute commute.

Working late afternoons were tough because my kids sat in my office while I worked. I often shushed them while I made phone calls, answered emails, or finished paperwork.

For as long as I can remember, I knew I wanted to be a mom. But I also had dreams of having a career and being a writer. I didn’t know how to have a side hustle and be a mom.

I’m currently reading Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers and man is it speaking into my life!!

By completing the 30-day challenge, you’ll learn key strategies to increase your site traffic.

Russell Brunson brings you some real practical application in such an easy to read, practical way. I’ve had to take a few breaks to digest the advice (and tea) he’s giving. Russell Brunson is a best-selling author & CEO of $100M software company Click Funnels. He has built a following of over a million entrepreneurs and sold thousands of copies of his books.

If you are ready to dip your big toe in social media marketing and funnels, then this is a MUST book for your collection.

Four years ago, I gave birth to this blog. It’s a combination of my love of counseling and helping people coupled with my first hand experience in raising biracial children.

Thankfully, I don’t have to choose between any of the roles I play, but some days balancing everything on my plate can be quite challenging.

If you have dreams of adding a side hustle or having kids and the just the idea of juggling it all is enough to break you out in hives, here a few tips to help you channel all of your ideas so that you can be the mom boss you were meant to be:

Start Slow

You know that old saying, Rome wasn’t built in a day? Well, it’s true! When I put my mind to something, I want my idea executed immediately. Waiting is hard for me. But you know what creates more frustration? Unrealistic expectations.

When I first started my blog, I also wanted to be a freelance writer. I hustled every night while my kids were asleep. I put out content consistently every week and looked for places to submit my work.

I collaborated with other bloggers and wrote guest pieces for a variety of other bloggers.

I was published by the Huffington Post the first year I decided to pursue writing, but when I look back at my old blog posts, I’m embarrassed. The photography was awful, I used too many different fonts, and some of my posts were just not fleshed out enough. I was trying to do it all and too quickly.

Had I taken the time to research what I really wanted and gone a little slower, I could’ve had more content that I was proud of, instead of content that I later had to go back and redo.

Don’t get distracted by social media

Remember, you own your own content. Why not own it on your own platform vs. social media? It gets easy to play the comparison game, but in Traffic Secrets, Russell Bruson reminds us to be authentic.

Show up in a way that gets people interested in your content because you are being you.

Sacrifice

In order to gain anything good, there has to be some level of sacrifice. Most of my best work is done while my children sleep.

I’ve sacrifice many naps to write.

In the beginning, my husband didn’t get it. My newest blog posts would go live between 9:00-10:00 pm. In fact, he even asked me why I was working so hard for free.

When the kids went to bed, it was our time. Our time to catch up with each other and spend quality time before the next day. I was frustrated that I had to justify my passion to him.

When the campaigns, money and seeing my name and picture in print started to come, he quickly became a believer.

He started to understand why I was willing to sacrifice my time.

Sometimes family still doesn’t get it. I get made fun of for always taking pictures or for hiring a photographer.

But that doesn’t stop me from pursuing my side hustle.

When you are focused on a goal, not everyone will understand why it’s important to you. But as long as it remains a passion, their opinions shouldn’t matter to you.

Try New Things

Have you ever wanted to start your own YouTube Channel? Be a freelance writer? Own your own business? Now is the time to do it! The Internet can aid you in starting your dreams. There are very successful people who share their secrets online.

Budget

Dreams are free, but big ones aren’t. If you decide to invest in your side hustle and make it a business, you will have some expenses. It can be easy to start spending money when you make it, but if you want to pursue a successful business, you will need to income to invest in new materials, head shots, business cards, etc.

I made the mistake of spending all the money I made the first year of blogging. Instead of investing a better looking website, business cards and making my blog look professional, I went shopping.

When I decided to get serious about my blog so that others would see me as a professional, I had to make money to spend money. I started listening to podcasts, reading books & making boss moves.

Mama, you truly can have it all, but not without some hard work. People may not understand why you are hustling so hard, but the payoff will be so great if you stick with it.