I’m a mom of three boys; Benjamin (4), Jack (2) and David (3 months), and a wife to Kirk St Johns, a business architect. I am the founder of Joyful Messes, a blog that dives deep into the messiness of motherhood and emerges with joy. I write about the candid, funny and personal moments that teach me to be a better mom and person. I am also a contributor for Thrive Global, Boombaloo and Huffington Post. I enjoy writing, running, photography, fashion, fitness, dogs and horseback riding
Quote.
Motherhood is a choice you make every day, to put someone else’s happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you’re not sure what the right thing is…and to forgive yourself, over and over again, for doing everything wrong.
― Donna Ball, At Home on Ladybug Farm
What I do well as a mom.
I do silly well. I do joyful outbursts of songs, dances, and chases in multitudes and it transforms our day. I also do make-believe well. One day I am Captain Hook from Peter Pan, and the next I am the Simba from the Lion King.
What I learned from another mom.
I watched a mom explain delicately how her feelings were hurt by her child’s behavior, rather than scold them. I tried that method with my sassy three-year-old, and it softened his heart so quickly and brought empathy into our relationship.
Lesson from my child.
There are no boundaries to loving life. Everything is exciting, and we can find passion in the simplest things because that is what being truly joyful is all about.
Successful motherhood moment.
On a long-awaited date night with my husband, we brought our two-month-old baby with us. After I struggled to comfort him, a mom who was watching from another table walked over and offered to help me. I accepted her help. She also shared how she struggled as a mom. I learned that I can’t, and don’t need to, do it all on my own and it’s okay to embrace help or advice from other parents.
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Mother I admire.
My mom, Judy Pickett. She embodies selfless love in such a perfect way, that I strive to be like her every day. Motherhood is truly cleaning up messes and putting others first, and she has given me that example every day that I’ve needed her to clean me up and help me out.
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About Hogan Hilling
Hogan Hilling is a nationally recognized author of 12 published books. Hilling is also the author of the DADLY book series and first of its kind coffee table books to feature dads and moms. “DADLY Dads: Parents of the 21st Century” and “Amazing Moms: Parents of the 21st Century.”
He is also the owner of Dad Marketing, a first of its kind consultation firm on how to market to dads. Hilling is the father of three children and lives in southern California. Contact him at [email protected]
