AUBREY KINCH

Let's break down a few things that have helped us make doing chores with toddlers successful!

between motherhood, business owning, and a child of god

written MAY 3, 2018

So I’m gonna give you guys a little backstory... this morning I was just feeling off and emotional. Everything was kind of getting to me and I couldn’t pinpoint why. I even sat down with Andrew and was like "I don’t know what it is but everything is triggering me at this point right now and everything is making me feel insecure and upset." So having that disclosed, going into the event tonight for The Foundress, I was worried not knowing how to explain myself not knowing what to say I do. Looking back at what I just said at the event, I was speaking as if my identity within my children

Don’t take that the wrong way because I absolutely love my babies but my identity is not in my children - my identity is found in Christ and knowing that I am worthy. So when I’m thinking about a bio or explaining who I am, it shouldn’t be I’m a mom and so much of what I said tonight was saying that I am a mom and that’s it.

Yes, I have that title of Motherhood but when it comes to what I do, I am a business owner, a graphic designer, a wife, daughter, sister, friend, and I am a child of God. He has abundantly blessed my life and my family through business that has come from this online platform just having an online presence where so many of you follow my story. I never take that for granted. I love sharing and being open with you guys I think the transparency behind being able to do that and the vulnerability of that is something I’m meant to be sharing.

That doesn’t mean that motherhood is inferior to having this online presence and it’s not to say that the online presence is inferior to being a mom or a business owner or whatever it is that I’m doing with my time. I think I struggle explaining what it is I do because they have my hands in so many things right now.

I have this Instagram that I manage, I have clients where I’m managing their social media and building out their website and online presence, I am sharing my love of essential oils, and then I still do blog designing outside of social media.

I’m in a season of life I’m wearing so many hats that I don’t exactly know what to say but on a regular basis, on an everyday basis, I’m always a mom. I’m always putting on the Motherhood hat. I think it’s easy for me to identify saying I’m a mom and I’m here to encourage you in motherhood and while that’s true, I always have wanted to share and be raw in the mess of life and the mess of motherhood and that it’s not perfect and it’s not easy. I’m one melt town away from losing my damn mind and that’s okay - that’s life!

So when I’m really trying to find the core of who I am and what it is that I’m doing, I don’t really have that definitive answer.

I do know that I am a child of God and I have been very open recently after doing the Bible Journaling Challenge, that I am wanting to share and be a light to His Kingdom with this platform. Which in turn, I think that is why some people have fallen off and that’s okay too, because it may not be your cup of tea. Let’s be honest - I’ve invited you guys to unfollow me! I mean, I don’t think it gets any more vulnerable or open than that.

I have evolved and changed so much since my blog started when Andrew and I got married - which is eight years ago - and I’m not the same person. I’ve grown and changed but I’ve also become a mother and I’ve also started business ventures and stopped business ventures, I worked for our church for a while but in all of that I’ve built this platform to be able to share and be open with you all. I’ve made so many mistakes and I’ve done so many things wrong and I look back thinking “why did I do that? What was the purpose of that?”  but I do know I want to share.

I want you guys to know you are also worthy.

So I’m gonna leave it at this - I know motherhood can be isolating and I know motherhood is hard -  heck, you guys have seen me crying about rough days with my kids. I’ve never had anything I shared resonated so much with someone! That vulnerable moment brought me the most rewarding reading plan I’ve invested in! It's the YouVersion Bible app and the plan is "Overwhelmed by My Blessing: Encouragement for Moms". That’s what this community has! That’s what this business of mine has become - sharing and connecting and talking.

And while Instagram is ever-changing, I will still be here sharing and talking because I want you to know that I’m going through the same thing right now and if I could just sit with you and give you a hug and say you’re doing a great job, whether that is through motherhood, or a job that’s really difficult, or a season of life giving you trial after trial, I want to be there through this community, this online platform with Instagram waiting to encourage you and uplift you!

So if I could go back and do you tonight over with The Foundress speaking about who I am and what it is that I do --

I am Aubrey Kinch. I started a blog when my husband and I got married because we had no social media so we wanted a way to keep our friends and family connected. I married into having the sweetest little son and he’s just my angel! He’s my light. We have two little girls who give me a run for my money and leaving me crying to my instagram friends. I share about motherhood struggles, the triumphs, the trials, and everything in between. Like ballet class and Friday Night Lights down to how I'm OCD and like to keep our home organized and clean, even with kiddos.

I am a graphic designer who loves a pretty feed but when you go to my story, it’s unfiltered, it’s raw, it’s messy, and I hope that’s what you take away from what I share. So in the chaos of kiddos, co-parenting, balancing a business all while being a wife and mother, Christ is the center. My hope is when you come to my feed, you can feel inspired and uplifted and encouraged.

I’m honored to be a part of The Foundress to be able to share those successes and failures and get to know everyone in that new community. Coley and Lindsey, thank you for giving me the ability to share my story.

Today was rough. Like really, really rough. I sat and cried in my car, I cried getting the girls bathed, I cried to my instagram audience sharing how the thick of motherhood is hard. It's really effing hard. I have days I snap over and over, I find myself wishing away the day and counting down the minutes to bed time and I have days I am just done. I can't fathom having one more melt down or tantrum and I've mentally thrown in the towel.

Today, I found out that's normal. It's common and it's welcomed and supported by all those other moms out there going through the exact same thing. I strive to raise my babies with a heart for Jesus, with manners and politeness, with respect and compassion - but a lot of my days, I catch myself wondering when the heck is that going to sink in.

But reality check. They're babies and kids. They aren't grown adults with it's expected to have our tantrums together (for the most part) and their life completely in order. They have these emotions they are trying to learn and deal with; love, anger, excitement, fear, joy, sadness... and I'm hear to show them that's okay to have them all! God made them that way! It's my job to teach them how to honor those emotions, feel them, and share them respectfully when the time is presented.

Let me say, the middle of Target using the anger emotion, throwing yourself on the ground... not my favorite time for you to use that one. Could we maybe save it for the car?

Last night I found myself with the above situation happening with all eyes of people around me ON ME. Looking at me with judgment and disgust. Not a single person said "you're doing a good job, mama!" or something like "they love you and keep doing what you're doing" I think anything encouraging in that moment would've lightened my heart and given me some hope. So my encouragement to you - next time you see a mama with kiddos all over, losing their minds and she looks mortified and hurt and embarrassed... go give her a hug and say "you are doing a great job."

And if you're one of the people who responded to my instagram story today, thank you. You held my hand today and I felt it. It takes a village and I'm blessed by mine.