Dreaming Big Dreams + Raising Kids: On Wanting To Do It All

May 28

Words for the Wanderer

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how the dreams I have in my heart for this community are so real in my head that I can almost reach out and touch them. But in reality, there are so many steps and phases that have to happen between here and there.

Lots of mornings I wake up and I think about how much I would love to throw caution to the wind and just let the kids work on whatever they want to work on and let myself deep dive into creating all the things that are non-stop swirling in my head…but I snap back to reality and remember that our kids' education, being present with them and fully enjoying these days adventuring with them is my greatest gift and privilege. I wouldn’t give it up for anything.

But I know I’m not the only mom who has dreams that just seem to never come to fruition because I’m choosing to devote most of my time to raising our kids and to fully be present in these fleeting years I have with them.

It’s almost painful, choosing one dream over another, but I truly believe the quote that says “you CAN have it all…just not all at the same time.” So I still show up in the little windows of my day. I still beat myself up a bit when I don’t stay up late enough or get up early enough to complete the tasks I promised myself I’d do. And I still feel that buzz of energy rise up when I do manage to click send on a newsletter, publish a podcast episode or blog post, or even just get up a dang reel, ya know?

I’m sharing this here as a testament to the dreams we parents move so much more slowly on because we’re prioritizing our greatest calling.

One of the biggest things I’ve learned during our 18 months of full-time travel is that everything is a tradeoff. Literally everything. And finding peace in that is the first step to actually formulating a plan/strategy that allows us to keep chasing those dreams and keeping them alive despite focusing most of our attention on a greater priority.

Some of my dreams for The Great Wanderlust and the She, Who Wanders community are…

To continue featuring/highlighting women who are taking risks and living life outside the box, but not getting any credit or high fives for it. We don’t do it for the high fives, but it sure feels so damn encouraging when we get them, amen? I’m thinking podcast, blog, book and/or some kind of periodical that publishes quarterly….still in the idea phase…

To form a collection of The Great Wanderlust properties around the world, that (first and foremost) support the local culture and communities in a meaningful and tangible way, but also provide a chance for families to come and experience the kind of travel that has changed us at our core and given us a broader worldview and connection with people who are both different than us and the same. This kind of travel has been life-changing for us, and we want to pay it forward

To host in person retreats for the She, Who Wanders community, especially retreats for moms/daughters to come together and bond over shared values and meaningful experiences

There are so many more, but these are the main ones that get to live rent free in my head, so I now count them worthy to live rent free here as well ha!

I don’t want to be a person who is never satisfied, but I’m wired to dream and become obsessive about bringing my dreams to reality. It’s who I am, and the older I get the more I am trying to choose to honor that in this season rather than berate myself for never doing enough.

Do you relate at all? Are you also a parent in a season of trying to chase your own dreams while also devoting most of yourself to your kids? I’d love to hear what dreams you’re moving slowly on these days….