When things fall apart…

Fuelling Your Teen’s Passion, no matter what the path

If you spend five minutes on your insta feed, most likely you will find something along the lines of the above quote. Passion. We all want to feel passionate about something, someone, about our lives, about what we do daily. If you are in your 40’s or older, you probably grew up with Oprah inspiring you to “Live your Best Life.” And, of course, we should. Follow your passion and it will lead your to your purpose. But what happens when it all falls apart? What happens when the very thing you are MOST passionate about is taken from you? AND what happens if this is one of your children and you are left trying to guide, mentor and console them not really knowing how YOU, a grown ass adult would handle it – never mind an adolescent in the most volatile period in their development.

For the Lunch Box: Cranberry Banana Muffins

Not to quote Oprah or anything but…

I LOVE BREAD

Yup – it’s a fact that if I am craving something, more likely than not, I want a warm cookie, a loaf of sourdough, or pie…hmmmm pie. But I digress. Of course, if I caved all the time to carb longings, my attempt at a healthy example for my kids would be blown. So, instead I spend endless hours trying to think of ways I can make “bread – like” items that fuel the craving and the body appropriately. Healthy muffins are one of my favs for several reasons. They are such a great grab and go for breakfast or snacks. I can sneak in lots of added “goodies” without anyone in my family noticing 🙂 AND they are EASY PEASY to bake – who doesn’t feel like mom of the year with fresh muffins cooling on the counter?

Today It’s ME!

It is our inaugural week here at Mojo and Moxie!  It has been so exciting and really very exhilarating to create something that is all ours and to hear your feedback.  Anyone in our “age bracket” understands how difficult it is to put yourself out there – to take a selfie, to do a live video at 6am with no makeup (!!) or to offer your advice or opinion –  never mind taking these pics for this post 🙂

 

Our number one question this week has been “Which one are you – Mojo or Moxie?”

Well – get to know us and YOU decide!

Today – It’s ME!!

I’m Christine, wife and mom to three teens and I’m passionate first about my family and about making memories with them.  Anyone who knows me will tell you I love to make a holiday special and I love to celebrate big.  Nothing makes me happier than having the family together, creating and planning the moment and enjoying it with them.

I’m a red wine FANATIC – although really, any colour will do.  I enjoy great food, but I’m not a foodie.  I prefer simple, fresh and fun to anything fancy and fussy.   I love to travel and prefer “experiences” to “things” all day long.  I love fashion in the sense that I like to look classy, current and cute – not necessarily avant garde.  AND I am always the girl that gets the phone call, “what are YOU making for dinner tonight?” because I love to cook for my family and try new things.  I am organized and slightly anal.  I COULD be considered a bit of a control freak?

I ALWAYS make time for exercise because I love the feeling when I’m done – not because I’m an athlete.  In fact, any stray ball or puck usually finds its way to my head in the stands, which provides no end of comic relief to my family…

I am the ultimate supporter of our kids.  They are all athletes and I research how to feed them best, train them best and deal with their different personalities.   I honestly can say I am there for anything they decide to do.  I dive in 100%.

Of course, when I write this I realize that it sounds like I’ve got this.  I’m pulled together – I’m sane.  But at times I’m not.  I struggle.  I panic.  I worry.  I feel unworthy.  I feel less than accomplished.

How people see you is often not how you see yourself.  And we can be our worst critic…

I’ve recently struggled with – “what do I want to do when I grow up?”  Our kids are getting older and I am trying to figure out my passion.  HMMMM – can shopping be considered a passion?  Too shallow?  Cooking, working out, healthy living? Creating the perfect dinner party??  Finding the best restaurants for an intimate dinner?  Planning the ultimate vacay?  Couples trip?  Picking the perfect hotel?  Check, check, check, check, check….  then it hit me – really I was passionate about LIFESTYLE.

Danni and I are a good team.  She is sensible where I am a bull in a china shop.  AND we both are knowledgeable in things the other is not.  YET – we both are facing this mid-life stage together and with similar values.

It is my hope that our vulnerability will inspire you to read on.  We are all going through similar challenges.  Challenges with our kids because bigger kids equal bigger problems.  Challenges with changes in our marriage because as the kids grow, we grow and change too and soon it will just be the two of us again.  Challenges in our self worth – hence the question, “what is my passion?”

I’m just slightly terrified, but I hope we tackle the fun, the frivolous and the frightening and that you can relate and enjoy. 

See you on Tuesdays…Christine xx