How I became more than “just” a mom.

How I became more than “just” a mom.

Finding your passion is life changing 


Not "just" a mom.
I am more than a butt and booger wiper. 


For the past 17 years I’ve been “just” a stay at home mom. I had an occasional job here and there but nothing of substance. When I was a little girl I used to say that I never wanted kids. I wanted to be an FBI agent and study the minds of criminals.  I was going to have a high power job and be a boss.  I was never going to have time for kids.  


I graduated high school a year early and started college.  I met my husband who was a submarine officer, who graduated from the Naval Academy. I had my first baby at age 23. Long story short, we moved from state to state with the Navy and four kids later, I found myself as a stay at home mom.


You see, during these last 17 years I have always been known as “Paityn’s mom”, “Guys wife“, “Lt. Glennon's wife”.  I never finished college, which as you can imagine lead to very embarrassing conversations with high ranking officer wives in the military. “Oh where did you go to college, where do you work?” 9/10 I’d lie because I was ashamed to say I never finished college. I was “just a stay at home mom!” I would get pregnant and take a break from college.  I ended up being a career college student. 


I begin to feel restless, anxious and lost. I am now 40 and done with being “just a mom”. I finally started to chip away at what my true passions are. Who i am as a person. Finding my identity outside of someone’s wife and mother. It is a slow and tedious process. But I am learning more every day.  I am figuring out what my purpose is. Taking back time for myself and my mental well being, my hobbies and I’m learning how to make an income while being a stay at home mom. 


It is possible to have your cake AND eat it too. You can have your own identity and be so much more than “just a mom!”  Check out my amazing community of moms in this group I created on facebook.  

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Want to shop with a purpose? Check out my etsy shop where I donate to Project Semicolon.  

Joy Triggers: Instant happiness when you need it the most.

Joy Triggers: Instant happiness when you need it the most.
It’s time to start looking for Joy Triggers. Given what’s happening in today’s world I am starting to feel like I am surrounded by negativity and doom and gloom. Murder Hornets, that other thing that shall remain nameless.  Masks, social distancing. Things I never thought we’d be dealing with in 2020. It is so easy to fall into a pattern of negativity.

It is so so easy to slip into a pattern of pessimism. It’s like falling down a rabbit hole you can never get out. The first few days of quarantine I felt ok. As the days went on however, things became increasingly hard.   I started to notice a trend on social media. Illness, social isolation, loneliness and an all around bad vibe. It felt like I was being swallowed up by a dark cloud.
Enter joy triggers.

Ariana Huffington, Founder and CEO of Thrive Global spoke about this in an interview.  "It’s not enough to be productive, it’s not enough to be successful, I need my joy triggers. Joy triggers are not rational. Bring them into your daily life, because I really believe that ... it’s all a part of how we can bring balance into our life... getting joy from simple (but beautiful) things — scents and sights and tastes."

Joy triggers are the tiny things in life that bring you joy.  The scent that reminds you of your favorite relative.  The rainbow you see after a storm.  Watching your kids run after bubbles squealing with happiness.  Petting a dog.  Quick chat with a friend online.  That first sip of coffee in the morning.  Recently in an effort to have some normalcy I started taking a daily walk.  As I was out walking I noticed lots of chalk drawings.  It always made me smile.  Some of the most amazing chalk arts I saw





Being more mindful of these joy triggers is key.  Being present in the moment.  I highly suggest having a journal or note in your phone titled joy triggers.  Write these things down or type them in your notepad as they happen.  Reflect upon them when you are feeling overwhelmed and anxious.  In a perfect world your joy triggers would be something that is simple to do and easily replicate-able.  What I mean is that when you are feeling down, sad, or anxious you can quickly reflect back to those triggers and hopefully it will help you continue on your day in a more joyful and peaceful way.  

What are a few of your joy triggers?  Remember that "quick chat with an online friend" I mentioned above.  I have a place where you can chat with other moms.  Some of my best friends I have only met "online" and they spark the biggest Joy trigger ever.  I'd love to have you join us here.  
Love what you read?  Subscribe for updates.  

Follow me on Social Media:

Join my group to learn more about how to support your mental health and well being.
Love the gram? Follow here.
Jumped on the Tik Tok Trend? Find me here


Want to shop with a purpose? Check out my etsy shop where I donate to Project Semicolon.  

I have the oils, How do I use them?

I have the oils, How do I use them?
I have essential oils but how do I use them?
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