Welcome and thank you for coming!
I am a Mom to 3 beautiful daughters, and a wife of almost 23 years to the most supportive husband I could ask for. I am a daughter to amazing parents, sister to 5 incredible siblings, auntie to many nieces and nephews including greats. I am a niece, a friend and most recently I call myself a FoundHer.
Here’s my story:
I was a stay at home Mom for 21 years and whenever I got asked, “So what do you do?” the question would immediately make me shrink. I would answer, “Oh I’m 'Just a Mom’” and quickly turn the conversation away from myself to avoid any probing questions such as, “What do you do all day?”
There were many things I loved about being able to stay at home: being available to drive to school events or other activities, birthday parties, pick up and drop offs, giving my husband peace of mind that everything was taken care of at home so he did not have that added pressure during the day. I also truly appreciated the coffee (not always coffee) visits with other Moms and all the playdates.
Yet, despite all of the great things about being a mom, I also had a lot of guilt that I wasn’t as grateful as I “should” have been. How many women would love the opportunity to stay home like I had. This made me stay small, an inner voice said, “Be grateful Carrie, why do you want more than this? You have a great life!”
That feeling stayed with me for a long time! I was constantly pushing myself down.
Yet I had this nagging feeling that wouldn’t go away…
Your life is not permanent. You are not stuck. You have choices. You are allowed to grow and change.
~L. Hillyer
I call myself a FoundHer because one day I was called to find her.
You know, the one inside that knows what she needs. The one who seeks her own joy and puts herself first. The one who loves to sit in the sun with a good book and a cold bevvie.
I found myself: my needs, my wants, my clarity, my purpose. She/I was under all those to do’s, all those commitments, all the shoulds and shouldn’ts and under all the laundry. :) I know I was never “ just a Mom” and I came to realize that was a story I was telling myself.
Everything began to change when my daughters became more independent and they relied on me less and less. The days were coming for them to head off to University to start their own lives and make their own way. It was becoming clear that I needed to figure out what I was going to do now that one stage of my life was shifting and I didn’t know who I was besides being “just a Mom.” I was excited and scared all at the same time. I somehow knew that it was time to find what made me happy outside of everything and everyone else. I began to see that I needed to take responsibility for my own happiness. So, I got to work on me!
I suspect that you know this feeling.
My calling or ‘purpose” was revealed to me when I started to be me. I explored and became curious of what filled me up! What got me off of autopilot and made me excited about the next stage of my life.
Part of my own journey is sharing my story to help other women. At the start I just needed to find the courage to do it! To be brave enough to explore my calling.
And so it began…..
Things I know for sure.
We all need a space and connection to grow, be supported and have fun along the way.
I gathered a group of women for a focus session to run my idea by. These women were all connected to me in different ways . Some had known me since I was 12 others I had just met. Some were Moms some weren’t. A beautiful group of women ranging in age and professions! I wanted an expanded perspective and women I knew would give me their honest opinions. I am so grateful that they did and encouraged me to continue.
When you have a group of incredible women, amazing speakers, delicious food, activities and the most beautiful setting, great things are bound to happen. Be open and let them happen!
I shared my story a couple more times through JAM Sessions and decided to start planning a Retreat to bring them all together. The experience of hosting a Retreat for 23 women was incredible. One thing leads to another and I now host groups on line, lead 21 Day Challenges, offer one-on-one coaching, curated a FoundHER BOX and launched a 4-week Signature Program that pulls together so much that I know and love.
If you feel like something is missing or there is more to life than this, then you are absolutely right!
As someone who has been “Doing the Work” for many years , I am proud to say that I love the person I have become. I am beyond thankful that I did not stop and settle, that I continued my search, expanded my curiosity and started to dream and imagine my life as it is now. I get uncomfortable, and this is what has lead me to be able to do what I love to do! My hope is to save you a lot of time so we can get you on the path sooner than later and start living the dream. It's possible, it's waiting for you and you deserve it. It’s and honour to be on this journey with you.
It’s time….
