"What I Have Learned" Series - Featured Mommy: Emily Payne

Emily seems like a super-mom, she wears a few hats, and momma to 3. Her gorgeous kids are Jake - 6, Mick - 4, and Natalia - 2. With three little ones, a busy career, she definitely has her hands full on a daily basis; however, this smiling beauty never seems frazzled, but assures us that all moms have their moments...and that is ok.

Career-wise, Emily has always loved interior design.  She works for the Federal Government with the Accommodations Unit, where she facilitates the fit-up and design of office spaces, coordinates moves and projects - basically an interior designer for the government.  She does this part-time, and in other work she has her own business, Emily by Design.  Here she does residential design, mainly for newly constructed homes (everything from the ground up), and has been doing so for the past 10 years.  If you are interested in getting in touch with Emily for interior design, please visit her link here.

Aside from work, kids and general life, Emily and her husband, Josh, learned that their middle child, Mick, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in December 2014. Adjusting to life with diabetes, and learning to take care and manage it for their little boy isn't enough for this family.  They are active in the juvenile diabetes community by creating awareness to the cause and fundraising for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, so that hopefully one day we will find a cure.  Please see Mick's story here and please donate to the cause.      

Here is my interview with this amazing mom.

Did you always know you wanted to be a mom?
I never really thought about it like that, it was just one of those things that was never a question.  I knew I was going to be a mom someday, after marriage comes baby...just a natural next step. 

What would you say is your biggest learning since being a mom?
Patience. I sometimes get frustrated and feel like nothing is getting through to the kids, "don't swear, don't put your hands there, stop doing that."  I sometimes feel like I am just on repeat and don't see the results that way.  As the kids grew, I kind of see that things just have a way of coming to fruition.  If you keep with the lessons, keep speaking and showing them, it eventually just works out...I hope...they are still young. 

What was the hardest about transitioning to mommyhood?
Personally, I found this was a big life adjustment. I used to be so caught up in keeping the house clean and entertaining at home, and at times this was a priority over spending time with my kids or napping when they were, as newborns. It was a complete mind-shift for me, which made the transition to motherhood easier. For example, we would be having a party at home, and it would be time for another feeding, and I would think, "oh shoot, I have to leave the party to go nurse for 45 minutes." But instead of looking at it that way, I had to turn it into a positive, like "oh I get a break from everyone and I get some quiet time with just me and my baby;" everything made more sense after that.  I wish someone had told me that before, and that it is ok, that life does change. I wasn't a natural mom, as people say, I had to learn everything, so it took me a while to adjust, and I feel like I still am adjusting, even after 3! However, once you do, everything, although different, is totally ok.

What is your favourite thing to do with your children?
I love quiet time.  When I can just sit and snuggle with them, or read a book.  Because they are getting older, they are always on the go, playing and running.  So it's nice to be able to have them close to me, when we are silent and just cuddle...I take that in.  The peaceful moments mean so much...the most.

How do you balance work, family and hobbies?

I don't even know.  It just works out. I don't feel too stressed about it to be honest. I do what I can, and can only do what I can do. I try my best and don't stress about it.  I also have an incredibly supportive husband, who is one of the most amazing dads I know, also parents who are there for us at a drop of a hat.   
I don't have too much time for hobbies right now, but I do love real-estate and always have my eye on exactly what is going on in the housing market in our area. It's all so exciting to me. I would also love to find time again to travel in the future. Particularly, I love Croatia, it's where my family is from and I grew up going there in the summers. I want my kids to see that and learn about their background. So I try to speak it to them and tell them stuff, so that they know.

What advice would you give to new moms?
Don't worry so much about all the typical entertaining/cleaning duties, that you may have been used to.  You don't have to keep things perfect.  The most important thing is to focus on the kids and yourself and relationships.  That thing they say about sleep when the baby sleeps, people say it but don't always do it...do it!  Don't take that time to clean or do errands, especially when you are exhausted.  Take those naps when you can!  Don't worry about messes, in the long run, that's not what matters.

Is there any item or anything in general you would say is a must-have or must-do for parents?
A rocking chair in the nursery!  I didn't think I needed one, but we got one of those gliders from a friend and loved it.  I don't know what I would've done without it.  That thing is like perfect for snuggling, it's awesome.  I 100% recommend it.

I was very excited about sharing Emily's interview with you all, for various reasons.  One reason being, I know so many can relate to her honesty, her warmth as a mom, and also be inspired...inspired to accept things you need to do, want to do, cannot do or should relax on. It always helps to know we aren't alone in thinking we feel overwhelmed some days, but Emily reminds us that it's not worth stressing about, just adjust and enjoy.

Please remember to visit the family's page for raising awareness for Juvenile Diabetes by clicking here.

Emily with her family, husband Josh, Sons Jake and Mick, and Daughter Natalia

Emily and her little loves