My senior year of High School, I decided I was going to pursuit my secret passion of Fashion. Without telling many people I had begun sketching and designing when I was 12 after seeing my first episode of Project Runway and my passion only grew.
I attended high school in a small town in Washington state that didnโt even have a mall. I did not have much of a creative outlet or many others who understood my passion.
During my senior year, I took my first college level Fashion Marketing Course in the next town and never looked back. I had some big dreams to move to Seattle and work for corporate Nordstrom. I knew I had a long way to go to pursuit my dream but I was 18 and determined.
Fast forward, two years and I had been busy. I got my first job, moved to Seattle, started school, got promoted, started working at Nordstrom, got promoted, finished school, got promoted and was so close to leaving the Nordstrom store front and entering the corporate offices. Then, something unexpected happened.
While at work- because I was always either at work or school- I stumbled upon something that I didnโt know was missing- my fiancรฉ. We had a whirl wind romance and after dating a few months, started to try to start a family.
I had no plans to slow down in my career and he was very supportive. I thought I would go on maternity leave and come right back- no problem. I thought I would have it all; family, career, and all the fixings like so many other strong women I looked up to.
After 8 months of trying to get pregnant, I finally had some amazing news! I was going to be a mommy. I worked all through my pregnancy and had no intention of slowing down. Then it was time to meet my son.
My life changed. I never felt anything more fulfilling than holding him in my arms for the first time. There was so much love between the three of us. As the extent of my maternity leave was coming to a close and I felt extremely distressed to leave him.
Shortly after, we found out my son needed weekly physical therapy to help them stretch his neck muscles after being tight in my abdomen during pregnancy.
My heart-sank. I already began to feel like he needed me while I was at work but now it was confirmed. I resigned from Nordstrom and became a full-time mommy.
To my surprise, I got just as many congratulations for becoming a stay at home mommy then getting another promotion. I felt just as fulfilled. My goals and desires had changed because nothing was more important than my son. Physical therapy was successful and he is happy, beautiful and healthy. We have a beautiful bond.
In my journey, that inevitably never goes as planned-lead to me my newest passion. I started a Style and Lifestyle Blog to continue to be a part of the fashion community. Writing about style is rewarding because it is such a huge part of who I am.
I am also a mommy and I have time to be with my son every day. It really is the best of both worlds and I would not change it for the world. This is my journey to my newest Passion.
Lashonya
