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Biz Owner + Mom of 7 on Business, Babies, and Boundaries with Kennisha Griffin (Part 2)

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In this part of our interview series, I continue my inspiring conversation with Kennisha Griffin—a successful author, entrepreneur, and mother of seven! We explore the daily juggle of managing a household, raising kids, and running a business. Kennisha pulls back the curtain on her day-to-day life and shares practical insights that will resonate with moms everywhere.

Meet Kennisha Griffin

Kennisha Griffin is a mother, and entrepreneur who runs Create and Blossom, a company dedicated to helping writers get their books published. With over 17 years of experience in the publishing industry, she is passionate about creative writing and has built a successful career doing what she loves—all while raising seven kids. Yep, you heard that right—seven kids! Ranging in age from two to sixteen, Kennisha’s family life is full and busy, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She brings her children along for the ride, incorporating them into her entrepreneurial journey, showing that it’s possible to be both a present mom and a thriving business owner.

The Realities of a Busy Mompreneur’s Day

Kennisha’s days are anything but typical. With seven children, including a newborn and a growing business, her schedule is a delicate balance between work, family life, and self-care. And while she’s found ways to make it all work, Kennisha admits that it’s far from perfect.

During summer, her older children help out by preparing their own breakfast and keeping the household running smoothly. For the younger ones, she relies on support from friends and family, as well as occasional babysitters. Kennisha reflects on how difficult it was in the early days, when she didn’t have much help, and how much she had to rely on herself to balance the demands of work and motherhood.

Asking for Help and Letting Go of Guilt

One powerful takeaway from this episode is Kennisha’s belief that it’s okay to ask for help—and that doing so doesn’t make you any less of a mom. For her, the shift from managing everything alone to welcoming assistance from trusted family members has been a game-changer.

This shift, however, wasn’t always easy. She opens up about how many moms (including herself) initially struggle with guilt, thinking they should handle it all alone. Kennisha shared how she felt torn between wanting to maintain her professional image and being present for her kids. She admits that the expectations she placed on herself often led to unnecessary guilt and stress.

Balancing Work and Family—The Daily Dance

In her early days of entrepreneurship, Kennisha juggled her business and her children, often working from home with crayons and toys scattered around her office. She recalls making deals with her kids during important meetings: “Please, just watch this one-hour show so Mommy can finish her work.”

No matter how much she planned, the reality of motherhood meant there were always surprises. Whether it was a child wandering into her office during a meeting or having to pause work to deal with spills and accidents, Kennisha embraced the unpredictable dance of her day-to-day life.

She also shares that as her children have grown older, her work-life balance has evolved. With more help from her older kids and family, she can now manage a dedicated workspace outside of her home. But even then, her heart remains at home, frequently checking in to ensure her kids are okay.

Giving Yourself Grace

In our conversation, Kennisha reminds us all that even with the best-laid plans, perfection isn’t the goal. There are days when everything runs smoothly, and other days when humility strikes. What matters is that we pick ourselves up, keep moving forward, and strive for balance.

We also discuss how important it is to adjust expectations. Kennisha emphasizes that what worked yesterday may not work tomorrow. Seasons change, kids grow, and schedules evolve. Flexibility and grace are key.

Balancing Work and Family: A Moving Target

Kennisha’s current routine includes dropping her son off at football practice, running errands, and being home for naps and meals, all while trying to honor her work schedule. She sets boundaries between work and family time but acknowledges that balance is not always perfectly executed—and that’s okay.

I always say that balance is like riding a bike: “If you’re rigid, you’ll fall. But if you keep moving, constantly adjusting, you’ll stay upright.” Balance isn’t about perfection; it’s about fluidity, flexibility, and giving yourself the grace to adjust.



Kennisha’s journey is a relatable one for so many of us trying to balance the demands of motherhood and career. Her story is a beautiful reminder that no one does it perfectly—but with the right mindset, support system, and a bit of grace, we can make it work.


AFTER YOU LISTEN:

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Leah: [00:00:00] Welcome to another episode of The Balancing Busy Podcast. I’m Leah Remillet and you are jumping into part two of an interview with Kenesha Griffin.

Leah: So if you did not listen to the first one, you’re going to feel like you jumped into the middle of a conversation because well, you are. So you’re going to want to go back one episode, listen to part one with Kenesha and then come back to this one. If you already heard that one, well, let’s jump right in. Okay. I’m just so curious. Will you tell [00:01:00] me what your normal day looks like?

Leah: Like, I’m just, I just want to hear and understand, like, with seven children and a baby. A business, like, are you waking up at 2 a. m. and then going till, right, like,

Leah: I want people to hear and understand and recognize. And then I’m happy to kind of share, you know, mine through the, through the, the years as well. But like, I, you know. I think there’s this idea that, um, we have to be available all the time, that, um, you know, and, and, yeah, there’s, oh, there’s so much that we could unpack, but let’s just, let’s just start here.

Kennisha: Yes. Oh, my goodness. So my, so my days run very differently. So I will tell you this, my, my older one, my older kids, Um, they’re old enough, now it’s summer time, so they’re out of school, so they’re old enough to make their own [00:02:00] breakfast, they’re old enough to be home. Um, I used to primarily work from home, now I have an office, I have office space, so now I’m not there, I go to work, I get up, and I get dressed and go to work.

Kennisha: Um, I did not have, uh, child care, uh, as in someone else keeping an eye on the small ones every day. So, I will say this too, I could not do this without Without help. Yes. I think one of the challenges that I personally have spoken with a lot of moms who have difficulty finding help or even asking for it because they think and feel like they’re supposed to.

Kennisha: It’s not me with my kids then, you know, I can’t, I can’t do it. I got to wait until they’re in college, you know, and I just don’t agree with that. You know, I think it’s okay. It’s okay. I think it’s okay to get a babysitter or someone that you trust, fully trust, completely trust [00:03:00] with your children. Um, for me, I have my mother in law here.

Kennisha: Now, this wasn’t my story back when my older kids were younger. Uh, when they were younger and I lived in Dallas, I did not have a babysitter. A babysitter, or anyone. So, I primarily worked out of my office at home. Um, I would get up in the morning, I would make them breakfast, like summertime, just thinking of a summertime schedule.

Kennisha: Get up, make them breakfast, make sure everyone else was situated, and then I was right in my office. Many times, had coloring books, and crayons, and crafts, and toys, and Elmo in the background. While I was sitting in my computer working, you know, and it was a dance. I would, I would tell, um, other shows I’ve been on, I would talk about that.

Kennisha: This was literally a dance I did throughout the entire day. You know, you have to wipe spills and change diapers and potty train and play. Right. And play too with the kids. Take them outside to the playground. Then come back and answer [00:04:00] emails and get into book projects and handle a full production list of things to do.

Kennisha: And, there are times when it’s like, okay, mommy has a meeting, so we really need you to be quiet for me. Oh, I 

Leah: remember those! Like, I will do anything. Anything. I just, for this one hour, please, watch the movie. I, I was, I just I was so careful about how much screen time I let the kids have, and I’ve confessed, you guys, it was not because I was such a great mom thinking about, you know, Oh, my children shouldn’t be exposed to screens, which is so true.

Leah: And as I’m, you know, like, if I was doing it over again, I would be even more cautious. But, um, the honest reality was, I was like, I know I have a meeting and I need them to be able to stay in front of that TV for the one hour. So you can’t have any other screen time. So it’ll be. extra special and you’ll stay put!

Kennisha: Well, I’ll pay you whatever you want. Here are some snacks. Here’s some cookies and fruit [00:05:00] snacks. Here’s some strawberries and grapes. My kids love fruit. Strawberries and grapes. So here’s, here’s a spread. If you can just be right here for me during my meeting, I promise. We’re going to go to the park. We’re going to pick out a toy.

Kennisha: We’re going to do whatever you need. This is such an important meeting for me. Please, right? I mean, I would be pleading, pleading with my kid and it never failed. It would never fail. I’ll be at my desk. I’ll get them situated. I’m like, I need to crack the door a little bit so, you know, they can have their volume up and see how they look like.

Kennisha: There was always a little person coming in and coming in anyway, standing right beside my desk. Okay. Mommy, mommy, but mommy, like, no, it just got to the point when I just remember telling my clients, you know, I apologize at any moment, a little person is going to come walking in here. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t matter how set up I get them.

Kennisha: Okay. So, I mean, listen, I had [00:06:00] to be really honest and upfront when my clients in the beginning, listen, I work from home, I have little kids. You will probably hear them at some point. Um, they have to stop and get them, but I promise I’m coming right back. You know, a real concern of mine back then. was feeling like I’m, like, they wouldn’t take me seriously as a professional.

Kennisha: Professionalism was always very important to me, you know, before children. Like I, I wanted to be this. Big top business woman, classy, taken seriously, you know, but with the children, I was like, Hey, they’re not going to take me seriously. They’re going to think that I’m crazy. And you know what? Most of them wasn’t Kenesha.

Kennisha: I had kids. I understand, you know, I don’t know how you do it. It’s okay. I like to hear the babies back there. You know, that’s what they would say. I, I’ve had my own guilt [00:07:00] and embarrassment when I didn’t even need to, because you know what, most of them got it, you know, and they didn’t penalize me for being a mom, but them hearing a cry in the background, go get your baby.

Kennisha: I’ll be right here. It’s okay. Those are the, that’s the feedback I get. So I put so much pressure on myself to be this perfect, you know, working mom at home. When really, children are just so unpredictable, you never know who’s going to fall and hurt themselves if you’re kind of here in the background. And I’ve done this long enough to know I have probably heard and experienced everything you can imagine with little kids while I was working and in a meeting.

Kennisha: You know, um, but the day to day for me these days, um, I’d say I have it maybe a little bit better than, than back then. I feel, I tell my kids all the time, they were the ones who really went through the fire. Cause I had no sitter, I had nobody, it was me when I had, uh, writing workshops that I was teaching.

Kennisha: I took them with me [00:08:00] if it was like a summer, I said, come on kids, we’re going to bring coloring books and pens and paper, we’re going to stick together. Y’all be still right here while Mommy’s gonna be right up there. I remember standing up there giving a presentation and the little kids were running right on up to me while I was standing up in the front.

Kennisha: And But they were like, it’s okay. They got it, you know, but yeah, but these days. Yeah, it’s if you’re my mother in law She’s she’s wonderful. She has them a few days of the week My husband has them all day when he’s off and then the bigger kids can watch them for me during a period of time So honestly, even though I have my own office space that I tend to do a lot of back and forth I’ll leave, I’ll go back home so I can check on the kids, make sure everyone’s good, put the kids down for a nap, feed them lunch, you know, even, even my older ones who can watch them, I still watch them.

Kennisha: Watch them watch them if that makes make sure make sure everything’s good or don’t text me if there’s something wrong But yeah, [00:09:00] that might my day to day is a whole lot of back and forth when kids are in school practices my son plays football So I would leave work by a certain time Bring him to pull up our practice be there I try really hard to honor a, a tight schedule in terms of my work schedule.

Kennisha: I try really hard to say I’m going to only work from this time, this time. And then after that, it’s all family. It’s all family life. I can’t say that I perfectly do that. 

Leah: I don’t think any of us do it perfectly. And I think that’s really important to share. I mean, like I’m a balance strategist and literally run a podcast about balance.

Leah: I am the queen of talking about systems and automations and workflows. And I want to make sure people know I don’t do it perfectly every day. Like there are days where I kill it and I’m like, look at me. I’m amazing. And then the next day, I’m like, humility has arrived. I, wow. Right? I mean, like that, that’s, that is the truth.

Leah: And then we pick ourselves up and we try [00:10:00] again. And we, we just, you know, we, we keep making that, that attempt at forward motion. Right. So I love that you’re sharing that because I feel the same way. Like I have my ideal day, I can tell you what the ideal day looks like, right? But they don’t always look like the ideal day.

Leah: I’m trying to work to make more of the days the ideal day instead of, instead of less, right? Like I’m working towards more ideal days. But I think the other thing that’s so critical to realize is that the second you’ve got a handle on it, like as soon as you find it, feel like I’ve got this. Something changes.

Leah: It becomes summer break. It becomes football season. It becomes, you know, another baby is added to the family. It becomes they’ve just hit a new stage. I mean, every time we think we’re doing better, it all shifts and we get to learn https: otter. ai [00:11:00] Each time that you reach that next level, this is the first time you’ve ever done parenting with this age of kids or running a business and raising babies now with, you know, three instead of two or whatever, whatever it looks like, you know, we’re, we’re constantly trying this for the first time in a new, At, at a new level, 

Kennisha: absolutely that you are, you are spot on.

Kennisha: That’s exactly right. It was my first time having a high school senior. My first time, you know, um, with two, that’s probably going to be working, you know, this summer too. So then I have to add jobs for two that are not driving yet. So, you know, I’m also chauffeur around the city, right? Yeah. There’s, oh, it’s what I hang out with friends, you know?

Kennisha: Yeah. Oh my, I want to go this just last week. My daughter was like. You know, hey mom, I, you know, want to do something Friday, but I had plans, you know, already on the calendar while she was just like, all right, so we both try to figure out how to [00:12:00] make both of them work. You know, you got a plan, but okay, well, if I go at this time, then maybe I can bring you on this time, or if your friend’s okay with this other day, and maybe, you know, like both planning, like, you know.

Kennisha: With our schedules to try to figure things out. It’s it’s crazy. You know, gotta be flexible. I tell you that it 

Leah: is so true. I I often try to explain balance. The reason people get such a bad feeling around balance and so many people are like balance doesn’t exist. And I’m like, stop saying that. It makes us all feel like there’s no hope.

Leah: It does exist. Okay. But if you are looking at balance as rigid, It will not work. We need to think about balance as riding a bike. Now if I try to stay on the bike and not move and keep everything exactly as it is, I’m falling either direction. I mean, I can’t stay on that bike. But if I’m trying to make forward motion, I’m going to constantly be adjusting, right?

Leah: Like I actually have to adjust from side to side a little bit. I get to the hill. And so I’m putting on the brakes to slow things down. [00:13:00] Then I’m like, Oh. Like, okay, I’m ready for some, you know, a challenge. Now I’m going up a hill. Now I’m going to start, you know, leaning in and pedaling harder. Like, that’s the truth about balance.

Leah: It is, it takes so much flexibility and being willing to adjust all the time. Just all the time. You’re just always adjusting. That’s, that’s, that’s what you do. Right? Like that’s, that’s how it works. Okay. I’m dying to ask you, honest, like, honest answer. How are you doing with like, You time, like, do you, do you have, do you like, you know, what, what is your, your taking care of you look like?

Kennisha: I I’m going to be honest with you, I am still trying to identify. This space for something fun that I want to do again. I used to, I used to work out at the gym, uh, after work. I just would give myself an [00:14:00] hour to do a class of some kind and not just work out. Made me feel so great, you know, and, um, I will confess, I am not an early morning person.

Kennisha: I have friends that are the 5 a. m. friends that get up so early and start their day at five. And if it’s five o’clock and I look at my phone, then I’m going to turn it back over and go back to sleep. Yeah, I am more the, the night owl than I am the morning person. I love to stay up late, but probably.

Kennisha: Because the day has been so exhausting that when everyone’s asleep, I just want to appreciate the quiet a little bit longer until I go to bed. So, um, right now that is my thing, but I need sleep. So I’m trying to change that. I’m trying to change that. Um, a fun fact about me is that, um, Well, one, I love all, all of the arts.

Kennisha: So at any point I’m listening to [00:15:00] theater, I’m listening to musicals, I’m, I love the arts. As a writer, creative writer, I love it. I love it. But, uh, I also used to ballroom dance. Oh, that’s amazing. So I used to go to the studio. Yes, it’s, it’s probably my, the most fun thing about me, I promise. Everything else is probably not as fun.

Kennisha: But I love dance so much. I used to practice it. Um, I was training to be an instructor and I thought, well, maybe I should go back to boom dancing. You know, there’s a studio out here, maybe I could just, you know, just have my time at the studio. That’ll be my me time. And then, you know, go back. Um, but I don’t know, I’m, I was just having this conversation just the other day.

Kennisha: I’m trying to identify, but, but you remember what we’re talking about? I don’t want to overwhelm myself with another thing. Yes. Yes. Yes. You know what I mean? That I like have to do. If I sign up and commit to it, I want to commit to it, but do I really want another commitment? You know what I mean right now?

Kennisha: Because family life, it’s so busy, uh, and unpredictable [00:16:00] and work life is also very busy as my production schedule increases and grows with new people, new books. And if my team grows, right, there’s a lot of that that’s happening as well here. So I don’t want to overwhelm myself, even with the fun thing, but as something that I have to do that I’m paying for it.

Kennisha: See what I mean? So I’m trying to find, maybe it’s just a walk in the park every day, you know, 

Leah: I absolutely understand. So, uh, for me, my workouts have always been, not always, but most of the time they’re pretty short and they’re at home 30 minutes. And I have so many friends who love the gym. They love the classes and.

Leah: And for me to be able to make my health a priority, I knew it had to be like quick and dirty, like just even the idea of me having to drive to the gym, like, Oh, that’s 10 minutes, then 10 minutes back, you know, it’s silly, but from my brain, [00:17:00] I was like, Nope, I can’t do it. Can’t do it. And then, you know, you’re going to be there 45 minutes or an hour or whatever.

Leah: And so I just acknowledge that about myself. And it’s like my husband and my daughter, they love the gym. They are gym people and they go together every day and they try to convince me that I should come almost every day. And I’m always like, absolutely not, not the thing, not gonna do it. And I love that they love it, right?

Leah: But even just recognizing for us to just see what works for us and not feel like we need to apologize or like we’re not doing it right. Like you, if you love your classes, then you do your classes. And I love my 30 minute, you know, I turn on the app, I do my 30 minute workout and I’m like, okay, check. I love that.

Leah: And then. What you were saying with like the fun thing. Oh, I just, so I joined a pickleball group. Okay. And I totally love it. I think it’s so fun. And I noticed that I have a very all or nothing personality. I constantly joke that I’m trying to learn how to instill I’m going to install a dimmer switch because I am either on or [00:18:00] I’m off, right?

Leah: So like, my goal has been like, okay, how do I install the dimmer switch in me? And I joined this, um, pickleball group and it’s so fun and I love it so much, but I had a really busy week and I was stressing because I’m like, well, I can’t miss pickleball. Like I, I, I committed to this and I need to, and then I was like, stop it.

Leah: This is your fun thing. Yeah. Yeah. Yes, you can. Right. And like, I literally had to talk myself through that. It was completely okay for me to miss the pickleball. And I’m going to be honest, I’m going to confess to all of you. I have not been to pickleball in six weeks and you know what? It is okay right now.

Leah: Like it has been a crazy big six weeks. We have been traveling. We have graduation happening. We just finished track season. Like there’s been a lot of stuff. And so. It’s okay. And, and just thinking about, okay, so I, I want to go back to something that you and I were talking about ahead of time, and we keep talking about throughout this is like [00:19:00] this feeling that each of us have, that’s like, what’s the next thing I’m going to figure out?

Leah: What’s the next thing I’m going to add? And, and how we both struggle with that. And it’s something we’re each working on, right? Like, like I said, I’m trying to install the dimmer switch in me. And, yeah. And learn how to mellow out a little bit. So just kind of talk me through your feelings around this and, and where you feel like it’s hurt you.

Leah: You know, obviously there’s pros and cons. It’s, it’s a very big reason for your success and what you’ve been able to accomplish. And the fact that I, I was, I was teasing Kanisha that, At the beginning where I was like, I mean, this is an amazing day. You run a company and you have seven kids and no one had to like scrape you off the floor today.

Leah: Like you’re killing it. So like, just kind of talk me through your feelings around this. Yes. 

Kennisha: So I have always been forward. Thinking I’m always the what’s the next date? Uh, the next place [00:20:00] level. Um, what can I do to see consistent growth? I felt like I always had to see it. On paper for me to believe that there is growth happening because, you know, I was sitting at a football game talking to, uh, one of the other, a friend of mine, who’s also one of my, uh, son’s, um, friend is mom and we’re sitting there talking.

Kennisha: And I was like, you know, can you believe how big the boys are? Like, I literally stopped and looked at them and they had been playing football together for several years now. And when you look at them now, they’re like, oh my gosh, they, they have really grown. Like, they have like grown, grown. And he was just like this small.

Kennisha: And now look at all the boys. Like, we were, we literally had that conversation and then it made me think, Sometimes we can just be so focused on our movement, a constant [00:21:00] movement, a constant thing that we don’t really stop and realize the growth that we have experienced or the growth that we, that’s actually happening in our lives that we’re so busy.

Kennisha: Going, you know, forward and looking for pursuit of the next thing. So, you know, her and I had a conversation about that and it made me realize that, that has just been me. I’m always looking for the next, the next thing, you know, always updating my media kit, always like, I have another idea. Oh, look, I need to send this idea with some of my husbands and say, you know, I’ve got this idea about this podcast show.

Kennisha: I really need to send this over. To this media company, you know, oh, I have another idea about another Event that I would love to host or even thinking of all of this stuff. My brain’s just as I’m always, always, always like, Ooh, this is such a great idea. So I grab my phone and I’m writing a note down, you know, but then, and then I’ll have my assistant, you know, go in and say, you know, I’ll give her some tasks, Hey, go ahead and make, make these [00:22:00] contacts and we can set up a meeting with this, this person, that person, this person, that person, all of this stuff, you know, but while I am very forward thinking and, and I think.

Kennisha: To a degree, it has certainly been helpful. Like, I’m not afraid probably to speak to anyone or to have any conversation at any moment. And that’s just me. I think my personality is just unafraid, fearless. Let’s just go for it. You know, why not? Yeah. Or not ask the question. Um, but if I’m not careful, then I’ll look down and look at my calendar and be like, Well, how in the world am I going to get through all of this, all of this, this week and my kids have this, this, this, this doctor’s appointments, uh, volunteering, you know, they’ve got all these other things that they’re working on.

Kennisha: They have friends. So I want to get together with their friends. We need family. We need family time. We need a [00:23:00] date night. We’re going to squeeze that in. You know, I’ll look down and be so overwhelmed and then I’ll realize even after all of that I’m going to get through the week that I am just.

Kennisha: Completely spent, you know, is that what I want? You know, do I want to be so exhausted that there’s no, you know, that I can’t function, I also had a wake up call. Recently, because I also have a, um, I have a heart condition that I have been following since I was about 18 years old. You can’t see with this dress I’m wearing, but I’m wearing a heart monitor right here.

Kennisha: And it’s something about one of my heart valves, my mitral valves, uh, just doesn’t function properly. I’ve been feeling about it, again, since I was 18. It’s not anything that’s requires, you know, um, surgery or anything like that. This time, but as I’ve gotten older, there certainly has been some strain, even more strain there.

Kennisha: So I have to be careful about my health. And listen, we haven’t even [00:24:00] talked about the changes that happen after have children and what we feel as myself being in my early 40s now, and there’s that and hormones and postpartum. And postpartum changes with your health and all of that and mental health. We haven’t even talked about that, that we have to be careful of because there’s certain other things that for me, if I’m so busy and I’m constantly moving, that stress can be kind of triggering.

Kennisha: And it can become an even bigger problem. And so, man, at the end of the day, I’m mentally exhausted. I’m emotionally exhausted. I’m probably very much on edge and probably have to apologize to my children. You know? Oh, yes. 

Leah: Um, yeah, 

Kennisha: we Because mommy gets it. 

Leah: Every single one of us knows. Every single one of us is nodding right now.

Leah: I think I, I think what, you know, I love this conversation so much and I hope that what [00:25:00] people will take from it is, first of all, a desire to work on being more comfortable being still. And you know, you go to the Bible and it tells us, like, we be still and know that I am God, right? And like, I think about how we live in a world where, let’s just be honest.

Leah: Stillness is not a popular, um, trait that anybody is celebrating, right? Like, it’s about hustle and go and you’re on and you’re available and you feel guilty if you miss the call. If you don’t answer, if you don’t respond to the text fast enough, if you are, Behind on anything, we’re supposed to be on 24 7, but in actuality and in reality, that’s not how we were made.

Leah: We were not made to run faster than we can walk and, and to be at this pace that is [00:26:00] unsustainable. There’s a reason that there are seasons. There’s a reason that the farmer understands that there’s going to be a period of time Uh, a lot busier because it’s harvest time or it’s planting time, but then there’s times of rest.

Leah: And if we don’t get more comfortable in stillness and feeling good about ourselves in stillness, because I think both you and I could admit that we’ve put some of our value in what we accomplish, in the amount of accolades we’re getting, the amount of opportunities we’re being given, the amount of people who are, um, noticing us and wanting us in their space So, uh, we’re, we’re putting our value in those things when that’s not our true value, right?

Leah: Our true value is nothing about any of those things. It’s about our divine [00:27:00] characteristic and that we are brilliantly and beautifully made. I had this moment when I, uh, we, we took a year in 2000. Sixteen, um, and traveled the world for a year with our kids. And I thought I was going to have this eat, pray, love moment where like, I was going to like figure out everything and it was all going to come in like this, you know, amazing download moment where I would know what I’m supposed to do next and like all the, like, you know, it was all going to happen.

Leah: We get to our very last country that we are going to be in before we’re heading back to the United States. And I just had this moment where I, you guys, I lost it. Like I was alone. I was, I was, we were in Bali. Um, I was in like the little bathing tub and I’m, I’m like, you know, in this bathroom, the door’s locked.

Leah: I’m having a moment by myself, which when you’re traveling all together for a year, you don’t have very many of those. And I’m just sobbing because I’m [00:28:00] like, who? Am I, like, who am I? And I just had this overwhelming feeling of like, I am a mother. That is who I am above everything else. I am a mother. I am a spouse.

Leah: I am a daughter of God. And that’s it. Thinking about that and recognizing that it shifted the way I prioritized everything from that point forward, because beforehand, I think I kept trying to convince other people of my value through my accomplishments so that I could prove to myself my value. And just realizing and needing to understand that.

Leah: So, so number one, this idea of learning how to be comfortable in stillness and teaching our children to be comfortable in stillness because technology is trying to capture our attention 24 seven and they have the best minds. That they are hiring and paying a impressive salary to figure out how to keep us longer.

Leah: We [00:29:00] need to be, you know, very intentional and, um, have our own systems in place on how to protect our time and our energy and our mental health and all the other things. So that’s the first thing. The second thing is Paying attention to spacing because what you said, I can relate to that. I think a lot of other women can relate to that about like, you put all these things in the calendar and then you look and, and it’s funny cause you’re like, you know, I’m not afraid of anything.

Leah: And I, and I feel very much that I’m a similar personality. Right. And I’m like, you know what I’m afraid of? Yeah. I’m afraid of that calendar. When I look down and I have realized that there’s no room to breathe, like, you know, things are landing on top of each other. Like I’m now trying to figure out who do I reschedule on, which one, you know, which one’s going to hurt less, which one is going to be less upset because it’s double booked between the family event and the work event or, you know, whatever it is.

Leah: I did that enough times in the past and I can think back and [00:30:00] I’m like, That is what terrified me. It’s when I would look at that calendar and realize, what have I done? And um, you know, I think, I think you nailed it by, you know, just, you know, Um, talking about and making that point of, um, being present and being all in, in each of our spaces.

Leah: And that’s the way that we’re going to feel good at the end of the day. It really comes down to that. You know, if we’re distracted when we’re with our kids, we lay our heads down at the end of the day and we feel some guilt. And I believe that I, I, I believe that guilt can be a good thing because I think guilt can be a compass for us.

Leah: Like when I feel guilt, I check in and I’m like, all right, what am I doing that is not in alignment with who I’m truly am, like who I’m meant to be, right? And so I look at it and I’m like, Ooh, I’m feeling some guilt right now because I didn’t give the kids what I really should have given them or I didn’t give work what I really should have given it [00:31:00] because I got distracted and I went down, you know, some scroll sessions or whatever that might look like.

Leah: And now shame, there’s no place for shame. Shame is not, right, that’s different. But guilt I think can actually be a beautiful compass that directs us back to who we really are. Right? So, oh, this has been so amazing. Okay. Any other thoughts that you want to share with us? 

Kennisha: Yeah, you know that just that we can do hard things.

Kennisha: Amen. That’s been a thing. Um, that that was my motto. I feel like for last year, but it’s just spilled right on over to this year. So, you know, people think about, hey, what’s my, my model for the year? What’s my theme? I work for the year, things like that. Um, for me, my thought has just been, we can do hard things, you know, we can, it is not easy.

Kennisha: I can’t tell you how many days. A lot of times during the week, when I tell myself, when I ask myself, what am I [00:32:00] doing? When I look at everything, when I feel so overwhelmed because I have all of the kids, you know, asking me something or I have to work from home with the children still. And I’m having almost a panic attack because I’m trying to focus really hard and I have to.

Kennisha: Take a step back and remember, hey, you have little kids that are here with you. You’re not going to have the same level of focus as you would in your office. So just shift gears a little bit, right? Make sure that the kids know you’re present. And just, you know, check in with their work as you can. I just remember to give myself some grace there.

Kennisha: Um, but, but we can do the hard things. We’re built for it. We’re made for it. You know, and, um, and we could overcome whatever challenges, um, that we face. So I try to remind myself of that during the day, whether it’s a work challenge or a family challenge, you know, whatever it is, 

Leah: we 

Kennisha: can do it. I 

Leah: love that. I don’t think I’ve regretted when I’ve slowed down a little bit.

Leah: Even though I wanted to [00:33:00] reach that goal faster, I knew I was capable of reaching the goal faster. Right? Like in my head, I was like, let’s do this in 30 days, you know, and, uh, kind of had to talk myself down. But I don’t think I have ever regretted slowing down, but I can definitely admit that I have regretted going too fast.

Leah: And right. And so just, you know, us as, as women, uh, as mothers, as, um, You know, nurturers just really recognizing and thinking about, like, we need to help each other feel comfortable slowing down and, and celebrating each other instead of, you know, Oh, you see her. She’s like, why is she that? I know 

Kennisha: you’re right about that.

Kennisha: Right. Yeah. And then I’ll have to not look at what other people are doing as competition or [00:34:00] not even with, with envy. Right. But you’re saying, let’s celebrate. What we’re doing and let’s stay in our lanes and stay focused on our mission, right? Our goals, our thing. Let’s celebrate one another and the great things that they have going on too, right?

Kennisha: We’re, it’s a great day. It’s not really a race and there’s space for everyone to find success. You see that as the coffee cup, you know, quote and things that you hear about it. But it’s true. It’s so true. It’s so true. Yes. Oh, 

Leah: so good. Okay. Where can everybody find you? 

Kennisha: Yes. Oh my goodness. Okay. So my company’s website is www.

Kennisha: fayetteandblossomstudios. com, but I am all over the place on my, um, Tik TOK, create and blossom, um, Instagram at Tanisha in Griffin, um, and then we also have, um, Crayon Blossom has an Instagram page too, Crayon Blossom Studios, so all over the 

Leah: internet. Amazing. And we’ll have all the links inside our show notes and [00:35:00] down below.

Leah: So thank you everybody for listening to this episode. We are so excited for the nuggets that you’re going to take. Please send me a DM or an email, share your thoughts with us. And remember, more bliss, less hustle. We can do this together. All right. Thank you.

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