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Deciding to grow

The idea of growth is exciting, however, the physical process can be painful.  

Recently my oldest daughter and I brainstormed were for her to make money to cover the cost of her first car, insurance, and other needs as well as some wants she has.

It was important for me to capture her authentic self in her business adventure, but also to grow her skills.

A Doggy Daycare!  She loves animals and has already been dog, cat, and fish sitting for a few families for the past couple of years.  It was just time to make it official, and bring the business home.

This weekend dear friends of ours entrusted their chocolate lab to us, for an all-day and overnight stay.

I’ll spare you the lackluster details, but know this, no matter how many years this girl has flat out begged for a dog, she was not anywhere near prepared to pick up doggy-doo-doo with a plastic bag or spray dog puke off a blanket and out of a kennel (x4).  

-Shout out to the neighbor boy and our oldest son, who came over with a pooper scooper and a 5-gallon pal when they knew she was struggling.-

There were tears, there was doubt.  There was self-inflicted emotional wounds.  That girl can be SO hard on herself, it just tears me apart!

Her little sister told us what she said when she was at her worst: “I’m a horrible dog sitter, and I never want a dog”. Ugh, So.Not.True.  But little hiccups along the way can sure make us feel like we are ill-equipped, can’t they?

Ah yes, the not so glamorous side of owning, and nurturing a dog.  They do poop, they can puke, they need to be walked, and there is hair to deal with too.

When I heard the news of how she was handling this, I let her sulk for a minute, maybe three.  Her father, sweet Mr. Awesome, comforted her and tried to delegate her duties to another sibling.  

Nope.  Not on my watch.

Parenting together, and maintaining a healthy marriage is a tough act to balance, friends.  Tread carefully!

I asked/begged him to let her ride this out.  His “I’ll fix this” attitude that I normally love was getting in the way of her growth.  He had to physically step away while I asked her to fix this herself.  You see, it wasn’t just about the mess at this point, but the attitude and the heart as well.

We supplied her with paper towels and said encouraging words as she got down on the floor and scrubbed up the 2nd and 3rd piles of ick.  That poor puppy was so homesick.

I got into her face and I spoke directly into her heart the words I wished I’d heard during the difficult times of my life.

“Sweetie, I KNOW this is hard.  I know this is gross, and honestly, yeah, this part sucks.  But, I want you to be able to do the hard things in life.  I want you to finish this up, and say to yourself ‘Hey, I can do this, its no big deal.”

It was no surprise to me that she did, in fact, suck it up, and handled it like the doggy daycare boss that I always knew she was destined to be!

When the 4th pile of dog puke hit, she handled it like she’d done it a million times (and only grumbled about it once).

Yeah!  Go Madyson Joanna Maria!  That’s MY girl!

So.Proud.

Sometimes we are pushed to grow through circumstances we absolutely cannot control, and other times we can choose to grow.

I want you to think about where you can grow this week.  

Identify your authentic self by asking yourself these 3 questions:  

  • What am I passionate about?  
  • What am I good at?  
  • What task or place do I leave feeling energized, rather than drained?

 

Go for your dreams, and push yourself to grow.  I promise you it’ll be worth it!

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Hey Friend! I am truly so glad that you’re here today!

At A Slightly Better Wife, I share about faith, homemaking, homeschooling, and marriage—along with my passion for creating a non-toxic, intentional home. Life isn’t about perfection, but I believe in making small, meaningful choices each day to do things slightly better than before.

My love for simple living and homemaking was deeply shaped by my grandparents. I have the best childhood memories of being in the kitchen with my Grandma Edna, learning the beauty of home-cooked meals and a well-tended home. My Grandpa Link’s storytelling and wisdom instilled in me the value of faith, family, and slowing down to listen during the little moments that make life rich. Their influence is woven into who I am today and I’m so grateful for that.

I’m a wife, a momma of 5, and a homemaker at heart. My husband and I met young, just days after my 18th birthday, and we quickly (like within a week) knew that forever was in our plans.

Together, we built our home on the edge of town, where we’re raising and homeschooling our children while embracing a simple, purposeful life in the city.

Here, you’ll find encouragement for your marriage, practical tips for homemaking, and inspiration to cultivate a home filled with faith and love. Whether you’re looking for a recipe, a fresh perspective, or just a place to feel understood, I hope you’ll stay awhile and explore.

Let’s pursue slightly better together!

📩 Interested in working together? Email me at aslightlybetterwife@gmail.com

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