Each Wednesday we will be featuring a member of our writing team. We hope to further grow our community by sharing a bit more about the women that make up Rochester MN Moms Blog!
This week…meet Jessica!
Jessica is a Twin Cities native and a stay-at-home mom to her three kids, Theo (born in 2012), Rosie (born in 2013), and TJ (born in 2015). She has lived in Plainview, MN since September of 2014 when her husband, Nick, became the Associate Pastor of a church in Plainview.
Photo credit: Marit Williams Photography
1) What has been most surprising to you as a mother?
Aside from the initial shock of chronic sleep deprivation and the demands and joys of breastfeeding, I think what has surprised me the most is how much motherhood has brought me to deep reflection on my identity. Who am I? What am I called to do? There’s this lie that many of us believe – that being “just a mom” isn’t enough. I know I fight to believe that lie more than I realize. I did not expect to go through such a unique identity crisis. Not only that, but this search for identity in motherhood and womanhood and personhood continues and comes in waves. One day I can feel completely grounded, thankful, and confident in where I’m at in this motherhood journey and in who I am as a person while the next day feel like I have no idea what I’m doing. I’ve come to learn that I need to keep clinging to truths and fight those lies, as well as appreciate that this is a process. This process isn’t easy but it can be full of joy, and this process is shaping me and it’s shaping my family and my children. It’s a journey we’re all on together and it’s okay not to have it all figured out. I need to trust in the truths I know, and not let my feelings distract me from reality or from being present in the day.
2) Favorite way to relax after a long day?
I definitely enjoy watching a few of my favorite YouTuber, or shows on Netflix or Amazon Prime with my husband. Sometimes with a glass of wine or a cup of tea (especially when it’s cold outside).
3) What is your guilty tv pleasure?
I’m not sure what makes it “guilty” but there is a show that I have yet to find another soul who appreciates it as much as I did. It’s kind of a Spanish soap opera but was done SO well. The acting was outstanding and the writing was insane. The show is called “The Grand Hotel” and it is a murder mystery, romance, drama. It is all in Spanish (not regular Spanish, like crazy fast SPAIN Spanish) so you have to read the subtitles, but in my opinion, it was so worth it! I enjoyed listening to the language as well. Once I started this show I could not stop watching it. It’s still on Netflix.
Other than that I have enjoyed The Great British Baking Show, Call the Midwife, Poldark, Downton Abbey, The Paradise, North and South, Sherlock, and The Crown. There’s definitely a trend with British TV going on here.
4) How do you take your coffee?
Typically I brew my own coffee with fresh grounds in my BUNN machine. Otherwise, if I’m stopping for coffee I usually go with a Mocha (but it shouldn’t be too sweet). Sometimes I’ll get a Vanilla Americano with cream and a little sugar or a Vanilla Cappuccino. Just depends on the day, my mood, and what coffee place I’m at!
5) What is something you never feel bad splurging on?
Coffee! I don’t buy fancy coffee drinks very often, but I do feel it’s worth the investment for me to buy the coffee beans I really love and have a high-quality home brewing system. I’m not a Keurig girl, I believe the best coffee flavors are done with a regular brewing machine or espresso machine and always with freshly ground beans.
6) What is something you believe everyone should experience at least once in their life?
Traveling overseas! Experiencing other cultures and exploring new places is something I think everyone should do, and the sooner the better. My first big traveling experience was right after high school when I spent 2 months traveling Europe with a big group of students. You learn so much about history, culture, humanity, and yourself when traveling. I haven’t been able to travel much since becoming a mom but traveling together as a family is a big goal of ours that I can’t wait to share with my kids.
7) What is one thing you are working on changing/ being better at?
Cleaning, organizing, and purging. Seriously, this is a real rough spot for me right now. I am not a good cleaner. I’m slow. I’m forgetful. I have low standards. I want to have higher standards. I want to be more efficient. I want to get rid of more stuff and embrace minimalism a little more. I want to actually for once stay on top of laundry. I know if I was compulsive about it I probably could keep up on laundry, but I’m too laid back and I don’t care enough. I really want to get better at this! I know it’s okay to have your house look “lived in” but I want to find a better balance in keeping order and being tidy.
8) What is an irrational fear you have?
Spiders… I hate them. I will beg my husband to kill them for me if I see them. My kids (all 3 of them even) are braver than I am when it comes to getting rid of bugs. It’s silly but it’s very real to me. I get so mad when I come across a spider in my home.
