It’s easy to lose track of the simple things when you feel like you’re barely keeping your head above water.
For Julie Redmond, that was when she had her twins. Today, nine years later, Redmond is sharing what she learned about getting out of survival mode with other moms through her podcast, Mom Made Plans.
Redmond lives in Frederick with her husband, Cliff, and their twins Hailey and Kyle (9). Between her weekly podcast episodes, she works at ShieldCo, an artistic metal sign company in downtown Frederick.
What do you love about your job?
It’s amazing. Luke Markey is the owner (of ShieldCo), and he’s a really great leader, and it’s a very cool work environment. It’s really fun there. I like that environment where we’re always looking to improve, and do our best and create.
For Mom Made Plans, my favorite thing is to share a variety of insights and encouragement that kind of [covers] all those topics of motherhood and intentional living, and just being able to give those simple things that I can do to help people and have an impact in their lives.
What do you love about being a parent?
It just keeps life more interesting and fun. [Kids] keep you on your toes, and I like that it forces you to always be learning more about yourself, and how to be a better parent and about your kids. It’s just being the best version we can of ourselves and enjoying life, the simple things.
I really like being outside in nature. I’m not a super outdoorsy person, but like just to be able to go for a walk, or just in the backyard and just enjoy the moment.
Why did you start Mom Made Plans?
It just evolved. I had twins and just was finding myself in survival mode for a long time, and I was trying to figure out how to do things better. I’m a very solutions-oriented person, and I just went for it and just started sharing in the hopes of making mom life easier and more intentional.
What does living life intentionally mean to you?
Not just being reactive all the time, and just constantly feeling stressed and jumping from one thing to the next. Slow down a little bit, and be more intentional of how you want to spend your time, and not feeling resentful.
It’s going to be different for everyone, but it’s just the whole point of figuring out what the priorities are for you in this season of life, and just making sure you make plans, and intentions and set expectations that are appropriate for this season—not just letting life kind of happen to you.
What is something you wish you knew when you were a new mom?
To try not to do all the things—that would be the biggest thing—and to realize you can’t do it all, and to communicate with your spouse and your family your needs, and to get on the same page.
How do you balance career time with ‘me’ time and family time?
The “me time” sort of comes a little bit in a habit-stacking form. Those sort of mundane tasks we have to do, and pairing it with something that I do enjoy like listening to a podcast or music.
I personally do not do parenting and work simultaneously—it’s just a recipe for mom guilt and being frustrated. Figuring out ways to have separate times and being willing to walk away from work when it’s really important to be with my kids [is a way to balance]. It’s just finding ways to really split it and knowing when I need to walk away from one or the other to spend time or to get things done.
Family Favorites
Meal: Taco salad. Everyone can be happy and make their own version.
Dessert: Ice cream
Shared Activity: Mario Kart
Vacation Spot: Hershey Park or Bethany Beach
Local Spot: Walkersville Community Park. They have a creek there, and a walking area and a good playground.
*Responses have been edited for length and clarity. Find more from Julie Redmond at mommadeplans.com.
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