Back when I started this series…I actually didn’t know I was starting a series. I wanted to bring a little realness back to the internet so I put a little honesty out there. The response from that post was not only incredible but proof that the world does, in fact, need a little more authenticity. When I really sat down and thought about it…I realized the reason I can so freely be my real self is because of the amazing women I have in my corner. The friends who give their unaltered selves and make it OK for me to do that same. And I had this overwhelming need to let the world know that reality exists amongst some truly fantastic females.
As the series sort of took on a life of it’s own I started to think about what the next step would be. And one of the coolest things that has happened has been past #wcw-ers pushing the amazing women in THEIR lives to write a post. Like a ripple of real, authentic women that is seriously endless. When Tami emailed me telling me about Mary and how great she would be for #wcw I knew she had to do it. Because this is what this series is all about. I don’t know Mary personally…but I know she’s someone who gets excited by the chance to put her real self forward and from what I’ve read…one seriously awesome woman.
_______________________
MARY DOUGHERTY
Most days I change out of pajamas into a fancier pair of stretch pants. Or just go back and forth between the two.
I KonMaried my clothes but I’m afraid to do “kimono” or sentimental items because I’m a saver. I did finally throw away the pair of glasses I wore as a kindergartner.
Working from home is incredibly hard with two kids. It’s kind of impossible.
I feel guilty for working. I feel guilty for not working.
My husband has been taking care of the kids for the past year so I could work and is one of the 1% of husbands that could actually do that – he’s amazing.
I feel guilty for working. It’s impossible to get anything done.
We make amazing homemade pizza and I would invite you over to try some if you were free. Why aren’t you ever free? 😉
Sometimes I get confused and think the fake internet points people give me and have to remind myself that when I die no one is going to care how many Instagram followers I have.
We need to move and we haven’t. My husband and I haven’t been able to figure out the next step.
I don’t write back to emails right away but let them age sometimes in my inbox.
I stopped blogging for two months and the world didn’t end.
I really want to be a morning person but I can’t bring myself to fully commit to early bed time, especially when I am getting up in the middle of the night soothing babies to go back to sleep. Can you count me as a morning person?
I get distracted really easily. I should have my phone taken away from me.
We started to become vegans but then ate cheese and runny egg yolks. So we aren’t vegans.
I still consider myself a runner even though I go through month long periods of not running. You should consider yourself a runner, too, if you do the same.
I’m a mix of competitive, laid back, shy and outgoing.
When I started my photography business I was afraid of reaching out to other photographers. I also wasn’t very encouraging to photographers looking for help.
Some of my closest friends are also photographers and I now love having that network of friends to encourage and grow with.
My house is only clean because my husband has a gift, and when you have a gift you should be encouraged to use it.
I probably take advantage of that gift.
We have reached the point in our marriage that we have things that need to be resolved, talked through and worked on.
My daughter dressed up as cookie monster for Halloween and whenever she sees him on sesame street she says “that’s me mom! that’s me!” It’s hilarious.
Having two kids is really hard. Harder than I thought. Living away from family doesn’t help.
Eating sweets makes me feel better. That’s not a healthy relationship with food, but that’s the truth.
I won’t move close to my family. Not because I don’t love them, but because Detroit isn’t the place I dream of living.
I’m not sure if I can give up the life I’ve built to live the life I dream of. I’m working on how to get there.
Writing this post couldn’t have come at a better time. No, it’s not because I’m on top of my game being the mom and #girlboss I dream to be, but quite the opposite. The last year has been the hardest of my marriage. It was the year that I became a mom of two, the year my husband was a stay at home dad, the year we didn’t move. We did a lot of things, but I tend to focus on the things we didn’t do, or the questions we didn’t answer.
The thing about asking questions is that it’s scary. You kind of have to face your choices and face the fear surrounding it. Well, I’m asking lots of questions and I don’t have all the answers. If you have ever been in place of questioning, of self doubt, of fear – then you aren’t alone. We all get to these places, and we all can get out of them but we have to be willing to open up. That comes easily for me – and not so easily for my husband. The thing you actually learn by being married is how to work as a team, to be patient, to help each other through difficult circumstances. It’s not easy, but I think it’s worth it.
.jpg)
by laurenwakefield