I'm Kristin.  I am a wife, designer, Christian and for now a SAHM.  My husband and I are parents to three kids- Dylan Archer, Kyler Jude and Noelle Rose. Despite the name, this isn’t a mommy blog and you won’t find sponsored content here. My target audience is actually my children when they grow up if they wish to reflect on their childhood so everything I share has them at the forefront of my mind and secondly those who wish to follow along my journey. I created this space to document my family's adventures and lessons I've learned along the way.  The Mom Jungle is a modern interpretation of both the family newsletter and scrapbook.  

I call this The Mom Jungle because motherhood is fun and messy, filled with laughter and sometimes heartache… it truly is a jungle out there!

A Paradigm Shift

A Paradigm Shift

THE MOM JUNGLE

Today I want to share a revelation I had [as well as an apology to my boys].

You see, I am wired as a “Doer.”  I thrive on lists and checking off completed tasks.  I feel most accomplished and successful when I am productive, however; as a SAHM, my usual standards of success need to adapt.

Currently, I’ve been working on my business launch, a message [sermon] I'm preparing for church, several DIY projects on-the-go and hitting the gym hard daily- all while running a household, raising my boys and investing into my marriage and friendships.  These are all good things, but it requires proper prioritization and balance.

Sadly when I try to work during daytime hours, I can often become frustrated with my boys due to all the starts and stops, the distractions and painfully slow progress.  Today I thought to myself:  Can’t they just STOP interrupting me?!

“I’m unsure if it was God or my own conscience, but as clear as day I heard:  They are not interrupting you.  Your to-do list is interrupting them.

”

THIS.  This is a paradigm shift in my perspective.  I have such a short window of time where my children are going to be this dependent on me.  These are short, sweet years and I don’t want to take them for granted. 

Dylan & Kyler, I am so sorry.  You ARE my priority and my parenting will reflect that. 

To my amazing three-year-old boy:  You are a three-ager in full force, but you are kind, tender-hearted, wild and FUN!  You have the best laugh I have ever heard.  When you struggle with patience, I promise to try to be more patient so that I can teach you patience.  I promise to listen to your stories and rambles with interest.

To my sweet one-year-old babe:  You are sweet, silly and developing a sassy side, which I love. I know I have been overwhelmed at times seeing how you have mastered baby gates, escaped into the basement once and can even climb onto the kitchen table! [#moderndayHoudini]  While you give me at least one heart attack a day, it’s an honour to be entrusted to care for you and keep you safe.

I want to be a joyful, patient, calm and softer mom.  If anyone deserves a mom who possesses these traits, it's these two.

T-H-R-E-E

T-H-R-E-E
Wild One

Wild One