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To start things off, one question that I am asked a lot is how and why I chose Marbles Rolling as my blog title. I've addressed the question a few times over the years but as my writing evolves and as our family grows up, I gain new perspective on how the title is meaningful.
Marbles Rolling has always represented momentum to me. We chose the blog title when I was 35 weeks pregnant with Roscoe, when Andy and I were still "single", before kids, just me and him. Our momentum as a couple had been building over our 11 year history and before we knew it there we were, lounging in bed together brainstorming names for a blog and anticipating the birth of our first baby. It was thrilling to be in that place. We had no idea what life with Roscoe would look like.
Now, almost four years later, Marbles Rolling has become integral to my experience as a mother, and the theme of momentum is still relevant. I wouldn't say that our life is thrilling in the traditional sense of the word but I do feel an equivalent rush as a mother, a sense of delight, pleasure, pride, love, and surprise for these little people that we are raising. Like when I am witness to their intense curiosity or when they construct these really heartfelt sentences full of wisdom and innocence. I am moved every day by who they are and the ways that they contribute to our family. Our relationship is ever evolving and that is exciting for me.
As I mentioned in a post when Roscoe was a few months old, I feel an equivalent sense of bursting-at-the-seams happiness and contentment when the world opens up for the kids as they grow and then we realize that our world has opened up too. The anticipation we feel looking forward to our overnight dates, or reclaiming favorite pastimes as the kids become more independent, or dreaming about what our future of adventure will look like with a range of school-aged kids, the feeling is the same and it is all good.
Life with two toddlers translates to days full with energy and impulse, inherent struggle, inevitable release. Eventually peace. Then there are these incredible moments when we all come together in synchronicity. It can be exhausting and exhilarating, depending on the moment. The pendulum swings in both directions and the momentum we've created as a family unit carries us through the hours and days.
The first version of Marbles Rolling included a family of marbles that represented me and Andy and the four kids we imagined in our future family. When I hired Stephanie to update the brand, and because she can't take credit for the original version, a new one had to be created so we decided to go with just one momma marble and four baby marbles. There may only be one more kid in our future, or perhaps there will be two, it's an ongoing (and heated!) discussion. Not knowing what will be, I decided to hang on to that fourth little marble in my header for a while longer.
I look forward to answering your questions! Post 'em in the comment section!
In your role as a doula how do you arrange for Child care? Women in labour hardly ever follow a Schedule and while I am sure Andy takes care of night duties how do you manage flexible child care for when he is at work?
ReplyDeleteI love these! I'd be very interested to hear more about how you handle running your own business and managing your children. Do you have structured work hours or do you just try to squeeze work in throughout your day? Do you use childcare or just work around the kids somehow? Also, how do you like being a working stay-at-home mom (do you consider yourself that?).
ReplyDeleteI am also curious about your home. I know you are currently renting, but it looks like such a charming place with lots of character. I'd love to see pictures of how you've decorated to make it feel like "home," even though it may not be your forever home.
Looking forward to reading al your FAQs!
I love how intentional and thoughtful you are about how you raise your family - your home, your food, your activities, where you place your time and effort. I am in awe and inspired each time I read your blog and am so happy you have been writing more frequently. I would like to know how you manage these intentional life choices within the context of a broader family structure - So, how do you explain/justify and support your efforts and money spent on eating well to extended family who just don't get it? How do you keep an eye on your overall family goals when they are challenged by other needs you must attend to (for example, spending time with or caring for or celebrating with extended family members and friends when it might seem to come at the expense of immediate family). time.
ReplyDeleteI would also like to hear about your current work out routine, I know it has been a big part of your life and you have constantantly been looking at ways to keep it fresh, push yourself and fit it into your family life.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to get to this question for NaBloPoMo this month. I haven't forgotten about you!
DeleteI'm very excited to respond to all of these questions. It's funny you each brought up a topic related to larger issues that I've felt at one time or another were out off limits to write about here, for different reasons. But you just gave me good reason to get over it and write! I will probably break these questions up and address them separately over the next few posts.
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