Kristen S’s Mom Life: Real Moms Interview Series

Hey moms! Find all sorts of useful tips and parenting hacks from other moms just like you. The Mom Life: Real Moms Interview Series is a place to get support and advice from people who have been there… or are there. Today we’re hearing about Kristen S’s Mom Life.

Kristen is a mom of a teenager who is a wonderful example of parenting with respect, not losing sight of yourself, and modeling the type of person she wants her daughter to be. I hope Kristen S’s Mom Life Interview is as inspiring for you as it has been for me!

I love hearing advice from other moms. Learning tips from moms who are rocking motherhood is so inspiring to me! Moms who have tips for easy weeknight meals, creating family moments, cleaning hacks, money saving, family travel, and just Mom Life in general.

Today, I bring you a special edition of our Mom Life Interviews on a Monday. I usually share these on a Saturday – and every Saturday, if I’m on the ball, which I haven’t been since May!

I have to apologize to my friend, Kristen. I’ve been sitting on her Mom Life Interview since May!?! I even had to update her daughter’s age.

To be honest, I didn’t know what to do once COVID hit… Our Mom Lives are not the same right now. They weren’t the same back in May when I gave this series a little break, and they aren’t the same now. However, I think I’ve come to the conclusion that it will be a long time until our lives as we knew them before the pandemic return to “normal.”

So, this is it! I think I’ll start these Mom Life Interviews back up again, and I can’t think of a better person to start with.

Kristen is someone I’ve followed for many years. She is a fantastic Instagram friend. Follow her here! She also writes on her site Good ‘N Good For Ya and you can follow her on Pinterest too.

I’m so excited to share Kristen S’s Mom Life with you!

That’s right! This isn’t our first Kristen (with an e), you can find another Kristen’s Mom Life here!

Kristen S’s Mom Life

Tell us about your family

Hi, I’m Kristen and I live in Tampa, FL. We moved here almost 5 years ago from NH and I’m still amazed that I get to skip those cold winters and live in the sunshine year round!

Today I’m going to open up to Kristin’s super sweet readers with something I haven’t even talked about on my own blog yet.  So here goes: at the end of 2019 my daughter’s father and I decided to divorce. We’re still great friends and the best co-parents ever! We just didn’t work as a married couple anymore. 

So for the purposes of this interview I’m a single mom of an awesome 14 year old girl. Egads- high school in the fall!  

As a mom, what is the best part of your day? 

These days we’re both at home all day, me working, my daughter finishing schoolwork for the year. So my favorite part of the day is when all that work is done and we can sit back together and relax! We like to snuggle up on the couch to chill out and watch TV.  

3 Words that describe your parenting style? 

Supportive, accepting, chill.  

What is a parenting rule you never break? 

Informed consent, especially around social media.

I don’t show my daughter’s picture on my blog or public social media or use her real name. She’s about to turn 14 so that might change since she’s able to understand things enough to consent. But maybe not, she may not want to be associated with my blog stuff and that’s totally ok.  

Even with personal social media I always kept in mind what photos or stories she might want immortalized and shared with extended family and friends. Consent is a HUGE thing with us around a lot of different topics. 

What is a parenting rule you always break? 

Screen time. Even before Covid. Now…yeah. Let’s just not go there 🙂  

How do you prioritize family-time and me-time? 

I remind myself of the woman I’m raising. Do I want to set an example of a “martyr mom” who puts herself last and is miserable? Uh, heck no! Then I need to live that example and take the time for myself.  

What is your favorite family activity?

One of the best things about having a teen is that going to Starbucks and having an awesome conversation counts as a favorite family activity! Honestly… there’s something about getting a coffee and either sitting down or going for a walk together that brings out some of the truest, deep talks.  

What advice would you give new moms? 

You know yourself and your little one better than ANYONE else. Trust that. Don’t let anyone push you. Your kiddo won’t go to college in diapers, with a pacifier or still breastfeeding.  Ask for the help you want and need and don’t let it come with strings attached.  

Do you make a point to stay healthy and fit? If so, how do you fit it into your busy lifestyle? 

My day job is as a health coach and I’m certified as both a health coach and personal trainer. So I guess you could say that health and fitness are kinda important to me 😉  

I’m all about a moderation mindset though!! We eat pizza, milkshakes, and fries as well as salad, chicken, and broccoli. I love to lift and I was back at the gym the first week it opened in my state! It’s honestly the best thing for my mental health. My daughter used to go to the gym with me and it was something we both enjoyed. As soon as she stopped having fun with it and said she really didn’t want to go anymore we stopped. (As opposed to when she was doing the kid thing of saying  “I don’t want to go” then having fun as soon as we got there.) Honestly, why do kids do that?!  

As for making time, I think that it’s part of that living the example thing for me. I never let people guilt or shame me about it because it’s the lifestyle I wanted to demonstrate. Even when I had a different career and I would sign her into the gym child care after work. (And I’ll admit there were some unkind comments made!)  It was just part of our family routine and values, the way making the bed is in other families. I want her to prioritize herself and her health as an adult so I always tried my best to follow through with showing that. 

I loved reading about Kristen S’s Mom Life!

Meet more moms and read their advice and experiences every Saturday! You can also find more Mom Life tips on our Mom Life Pinterest Board.

If you’d like to join in on the fun, leave a comment below or send an email to exploringdomesticity(at)gmail(dot)com with subject “Mom Life Interview Series.”

You can read more about Kristen S’s Mom Life on Good ‘N Good For Ya and follow her on Instagram and Pinterest too.