If you have read any of my posts or have started following this blog you know I am a mom of 6 children, 1 boy (23) and 5 girls (21, 20, 18, 10, 8). I work full time as a National Recruiter and Team Leader. I love my life, family, and my career.

I am writing this week after having some time to decompress. Life has been hectic this summer. I just moved three of the oldest girls off to their colleges of choice and now my house is sitting empty (in my terms that is) with only 2 kids left at home. The hours sitting on the sideline or in the audience, driving from event to event has gone down but so has the number of hands that are used to help. So, to be honest life feels just as busy. What really feels different is the opening of the front door, the steady flow of the kids’ friends, the call out “Momma Tera” that my house once had. The young adults that very frequently gathered on my bed and shared all the details of their life with us. I am that mom that always has an open-door policy, a house full of food, a smile, hug, and an ear to lend. The hours I spent bonding, coaching, mentoring, and loving all these humans filled me, and made me happy to know that maybe I was also a part of helping all of them thrive and feel loved and cared for. Helping them see different perspectives and the knowledge they had I loved and believed in them mattered. I am truly missing my extended family as well as the other parents that sat next to me cheering for so many years.

I had a colleague ask me this week how I do it all? With working full time and raising 6 kids, I seem to have it all together. At first, I laughed and said people ask me this all the time. I am not sure how I do it, it’s not easy at times, I am tired, I get overwhelmed, I am human. I however would not change a piece of my equation. I love my life, my family, friends, and I love my job. I am passionate about always growing and trying to be better than I was yesterday.  I love to learn, and I love to help others learn and see their gifts. What has always been the hardest thing for me is “the want” to do things perfectly, to not make a mistake. However, over the years I have seen I just can’t do it all. I am not perfect, my house is not always clean, I am not the one who knows my kids’ sports schedules a month in advance. I am proud if we make it to the games on time and the kids are in the right uniform and haven’t forgotten a water bottle. I said to my colleague “You must be willing to let some of the perfection go, ask for help from others, and figure out what fills your personal bucket to keep thriving”. For me, it’s watching those I love to grow and learn. The best is when I hear how one of my children or their friends have done well and are thriving, a success of one of my team members at work, or when we receive a client’s praise. I want to show everyone around me that the expectation of perfection is not realistic. I am glad I show those around me that I have flaws and it’s not realistic to put so much pressure on yourself. I try to coach to always approach work and life with the attitude to work hard and try your best. At times, the best is not always enough and just look for what you can do better next time. These are the things that fill my bucket and make all the hard work worth it.

The short of this blog: Find what fills your bucket, be ok living in organized chaos, it’s ok to ask for help and lean on each other. Try to find what your path is, and the craziness will work itself out if it’s done with heart. Finally, don’t beat yourself up, try to enjoy life.