As many of you may know, I had a baby back in May - a sweet little boy named Luke that I'm absolutely in love with. When it was just me and my husband, I had all the time in the world to blog, run my online store and work with design clients. But with a baby in my life now, things have shifted and I've had to make some major changes to accommodate my "new" lifestyle. Working from home and caring for my son full-time (aside from either of the grandmas babysitting once a week), has turned my world upside down, to say the least...not in a bad way, just in a different way. Any sort of routine I had before has gone out the window which has been a struggle for me to accept - especially with me being all "Type A" personality! I have a hard time letting go of control and a hard time asking for help - a combination that has left me in over my head more often than not. But with a baby, you're kind of left with no choice than to let go of some control, unless you're superwoman, which I've learned I am NOT.
In the end, it's time to let the store go...for now at least. I have strong faith in God and feel in my heart He has other plans for me and my family. I'm still going to be working as an interior designer and most importantly, I'll still be blogging :) I actually have plans to re-vamp the blog (can anyone refer me to an amazing person to re-design my current layout?), in addition to bringing you better content and inviting more guest contributors - I want to continue connecting with my fabulous readers by sharing my passion for as long as I am able!
Sorry for the super long post - for those of you who are still reading, thank you! I sincerely appreciate your support and kind words, always. You're the reason I continue doing what I do! Next week I'll be announcing the official date Modern Chic Home will be closing (if you have a current order with me, no need to worry it will ship out as planned). Have any advice or experiences to share? I'd love to hear any and all thoughts on this! Thank you and have a fantastic weekend. xoxo - Julie
The little love of my life :)
*******
Sounds like your onto the next chapter in your life Julie, embrace it with open arms.I'm a great believer that things happen for a reason! I gave up my job when I couldnt find a nursery/childcare for my first son Luke at the time. Never thought I would, but I have really enjoyed looking after him and sister Emma both at home! Now I embrace my own new chapter I'm opening a POWDER GREY shop with the right people around you, wether it be family friends or clients that make you feel special, you can do anything!!! no matter what hits us in our lives. Its a gift Julie when you are able to listen to your instincts and be honest with yourself when you just need to take a step back, before things can get out of control(if that makes sense) Well done you in your write up, you sound like an amazing lady! Enjoy big hug x
ReplyDeleteHe is worth every change and compromise you are making. Raising a person, a human and giving them time to be good people is the most difficult task of all.
ReplyDeleteNothing holds any importance when compared to that.
Enjoy your new way of life.
Hi Jules, I have followed you for a while and although I don't comment much I thought I must this time. I have a 7 month old and had started an online decor store late last year with the thought it would be no problems. I can blog, run my Interior business and run an E-Store thats easy, everyone does it. Well I gave it a good go but something had to give as you mentioned. My little girl and my Mr 4.5 took priority in those other moments I had spare. So the Store was sold and now I can take a breath.
ReplyDeleteAnyway I just wanted to say you never need to apologise within the Blogging community, I think we are all in the same boat in some way or another and we all understand. Even blogging can take a back seat now and then and that's OK. If you are looking for someone to update your blog with something a bit different I use this lovely lady. www.themediamaid.com.au
She went to BLOGHER this year and keeps up to date with all the latest trends in Blogging.
Take care Jules and your little man is just beautiful.
Raising a family is by far a blessing at the end of the day. Sometimes we just have to be realistic with ourselves and do what is best for our sanity.
ReplyDeleteBeing a mom has challenges but the reward is instant!
julie! i completely understand your decision and why you made it. i too have always put my son first and although he is older now, at the time he was young, everything went onto the back burner that wasn't a priority. it's what you do. luke will be happier for it and so will you. i will be a constant viewer of your blog and am cheering for you and what your future holds. have a great weekend!!
ReplyDeleteoh, and luke is beautiful julie, just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHaving a child changes everything, but you don't know it until you have the child. They become the love of your life and your main focus, and rightly so. Letting go is very hard, but ultimately, I think you'll realize that it's the right thing to do.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with your beautiful son and I'll keep reading.
Marie
You will not regret putting Luke first. So many things in life can be put on hold, picked back up later. Children and marriages are not among those. Enjoy your son!
ReplyDeleteI totally understand, and I think any mom would! I don't comment to often, but your little bundle is so beautiful and you should just enjoy every moment with him. Mine are 4 and 2 now, and I'm wondering where the time went. I was an interior designer and never went back to work after maternity leave with my first child. I don't regret it at all! Luckily being a creative means we can work and create from home. Since leaving my 8-5 job, I've started my own children's clothing line and I'm having so much fun! If you want to check it out, it's called Bug & Bell. Here is a link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BugandBell
ReplyDeleteYour a good person,wife and mom Julie for realizing what's most important and what deserves your utmost attention at this point in your life. I can attest to how fast it goes,my daughter is now almost 21 and I miss the days when all she wanted was me and my attention!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dawnajonesdesign.com/
Thank you for sharing your heart with us and being real. It is so encouraging to hear where the Lord has you - to know that you have a strong faith in God and you still have a career, but also have been okay with letting go of control and trusting how God is changing your life with your new little blessing, Luke. Gives me hope that the Lord could do the same in my life one day!
ReplyDeleteMuch love,
B
julie, thanks for the sincere words. I know you've made the right decision, especially if this leads to more family time. hey, you CAN have it all, maybe just not ALL at the same time. shop time may come later, and that's ok. hang in there - you will find balance. love, donna
ReplyDeleteJulie , your little fellow is lovely. I can really relate to what you were saying , I have a one year old and have been feeling a bit overwhelmed lately. I am really glad you shared your heart. I also feel like I need to cut down on work. I really do need to pray more about it and make a decision. I am so glad you are keeping up the blog. I would have really missed it. Hugs and God Bless
ReplyDeleteAnita... a fan from Sunny Sri Lanka
Hi Jules, I can only imagine what a hard and gut-wrenching decision this was for you but as you made the decision with your heart it sounds like it was the right one for you and your family at this time and that is all you can do. I'm sure there will be many opportunities that lay ahead so enjoy this special time with Luke as you won't get these early years with him back again xx
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Jules, for embracing the changes that have come your way in life. After all, all our lives evolve and change as the years pass and we have to remember that it's OK. I'm sending you lots of positive vibes from across the pond for happy times ahead in your new chapter. Will
ReplyDeleteHi! I can imagine you are going through a difficult time deciding to close the store. Maybe, now is not a good time to manage it. But I know God have a great plan for you in the future because you are so talented. This is not the end, you are going to a different direction. So I wish you the best in this new chapter of your life! :)
ReplyDeleteJulie, you are truly blessed to have a beautiful little man. As a mother of adult children, I think you have come to a wise decision. I remember the important days when my children were young - kindergarden plays, trips to the park and teaching them to swim in the pool. I don't remember the days I had to put off clients or postpone meetings. I don't really remember much of the day-to-day work back then. I have much happier memories and I know you will too. Enjoy every second with your precious son - he will be a grown man before you know it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you soooo much for all of your thoughtful comments! It feels so great to be supported and encouraged by such a wonderful group of people. xoxo - Julie
ReplyDeleteJulie, I enjoyed reading this post - life is getting busier & more complicated by the day & it's just not possible to squeeze it all - sometimes you need to let something go in order to stay sane and maintain the quality of life. I am sure you have made the right decision.
ReplyDeletex
Melissah
this almost made me cry. i was once so passionate about photography, and then i had a little man come into my life, and all that went out the window. now that he is almost one and a half, i find the photography passion creeping back in. and i have recently started a photography business. it is sooooo difficult to juggle it with raising my son, but the good thing is that the hours are flexible and i can control the amount of work i take on. i am so happy for you... that you know what you want and have the courage to do it. i think your step is so important. good moms that raise good kids are dwindling. not to say it's wrong if you work over raising a kid. but i think it is very much just as commendable if you stay at home and raise a child. i think that as your son gets older, you will find that balance changes. right now, you are taking steps to balance it the way it has to. as your baby changes, that balance will too. though i never ordered something from modern chic, i always admired your shop and your entrepreneurial spirit. that will not go away, and you will continue to be successful. i wish you the very best. sooooo glad you will keep blogging. i look forward to the changes. and as always, your little guy is absolutely adorable. just precious beyond words. you look so great as a mom.... happy. all the best, julie!
ReplyDeleteDear Julie,
ReplyDeleteI know very well how you fell.
I will quote the words of Michal Sharon, a successful scientist, and a mother of three, that I often remind myself of:
One issue many women scientists have to deal with is a constant feeling of guilt, Sharon says. "If you're not enough at work, you feel guilty about your work. If you're not enough with the children, you have guilt," too, she says. The most important thing, she says, is to maintain a sense of perspective. "Generally, we should be more patient and ... forgive ourselves and accept that there will be times" when the focus is on work and times where the balance swings toward family. Having a family helps her maintain that equanimity, she says. "If something doesn't go well in the lab, at the end of the day, you come back home [and] you have your children."
Your Luke is beautiful. Enjoy your time with him, they grow up so fast.
Sorry about my bad English. The first sentence should be 'how you feel' not 'how you fell' :))
DeleteJulie,
ReplyDeleteI know this was a super tough decision, but it seems like you are in a happy spot! I am super excited about the blog revamp and I wish you the best!
xoxo
Laura
hi julie, really enjoyed reading this post! congratulations on motherhood and making luke first priority. sometimes the hardest decisions to make pay off the most.
ReplyDeletegood luck!
kate
latelierbykate.com
hello julie! it was great to get to know a little bit more that fabulous interior designer that blogs so well!! :-)
ReplyDeleteI can imagine it was difficult to take this decision but I am sure you are going to be sooooo happy and relieved from now on! And as you say, you never know what surprises the future has for you!
All the best!
Feel the same way about my 9 month old. Enjoy your beautiful baby boy!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a mom with 3 grown kids and have a daughter who has a 3 year old and an 8 month old and is also my business partner. Life for her is ruled by squirming, needy, adorable kiddies and everything else comes 2nd! So, yes, kids change everything and it's all good! Look up Nicole at Design Womb. She has designed a bunch of stuff for me and is very talented. Tell her Susan referred you. Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteOh my dear, I totally understand! I have a 2 year old daughter and another one coming! Before my attention was focused on friends and career but they took second place in my life after having my daughter. It is true that you can learn to be more efficient after having a baby, but its also true that in order to pay attention to something new and important in your life you have to leave something.. the day only have 24 hours and you need to sleep 7 so as my mom says: You cant expect to do everything and do it excellent, leave something at least for a while!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your decision!
Hurray for the realization that this new focus is all good and a different blessing in your life, and for the courage to adapt and re-prioritize. Luke is a wonderful and adorable baby and you are blessed indeed.
ReplyDeletePlease watch this video that someone sent me. It is so true. If we don't prioritize we suffer the consequences in our health and it's just not worth it. Just a Little Heart Attack.
I love your strong faith in God's will for you and your family. Being the wonderful person I can tell you are just from reading your blog, I know you can handle all the change going on, and I'll pray for you and your family as you all get used to the new routines and changes! I look to you and your blog for so much inspiration, thank you for being real and honest with your readers.
ReplyDeleteThank you Allison, for your encouraging words and prayers for me and my family!
Deleteooooh soooo CUTE... congratulations... good to hear you are HAPPY! ENJOY every minute... I remember mine that young and NOW they are 14 & 17... GREAT times for YOU!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, so cool the baby is. And I love kids.
ReplyDelete