Applicant #38: Kristy Burd

Kristy Burd is a mom from Seattle.

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A bit about me:

I have a dance degree (which I now only use to show off to my kiddo), am a certified yoga instructor, make and sell jewelry, have a blog about dance performance in Seattle, but first and foremost, am a full time mama who loves exploring Seattle and learning new things.

My blog post:

What Is Important To Me As A Mom?

Well, hmm…not having poop in my hair is pretty important to me- the threat having increased dramatically since I had my daughter. In fact, I wouldn't even say poop, as a general hazard, was on my radar. This "priority" became clear to me on my way out the door last week. I kept checking my kiddos diaper because I smelled the most inelegant scent, which only my perfect angel skunk can create. Long story short- IN-MY-HAIR! I'll just skip all the obvious musings such as, "How could that possible happen?" and assume many moms are reading this because moms are fully aware that bizarre situations confront us everyday, and we prevail.

Also newly important is spending some time by myself, if only to pick crust off my blouse and try to remember what sleep was like, having a complete conversation with my husband, and, yes, being a bit thinner; all things important due to their recent absence. Funny how motherhood has turned my "priority box" upside down, while on a boat, at sea, in a storm. Okay, empty box, Tabla rasa. Having a blank slate (though it does get rapidly filled) gives us the opportunity to remember to choose what we make important in our life, to make us hyper aware. So even though all of the above are important to me by default, by their mere absence, I have a few other things I have had the opportunity to deliberately value.

1. Out and About
We get out into the community every day. It is important to me that I raise a well-rounded loving and happy person who is good to herself and others, so we go all over, do lots of things and hang out with lots of different kinds of people.

2. Wellness
We eat healthy food. That doesn't mean we don't also stuff our face with birthday cake to celebrate our friends our own wonderful selves. It means we try to eat local fruits and veggies and buy organic whenever possible.

3. Budget? Huh?
This word was not in my vocabulary until recently. Now, it's my captain. I stay home with the little one and that means being resourceful is a huge part of living a rich in substance but light on the checking account kind of lifestyle. I’m still working out the kinks, but it means a lot of sale spotting and writing out finances over a glass of embarrassingly cheap vino, but hey, I just told you I've had poop in my hair, so we've established that I'm in no position to be snooty.

4. Oh, you’re so childish
Enjoying my daughter's childhood along with her will increase the fun all around, and so in ways, I'm a kid again, learning so much every day, and filling up that box with lots of laughing (and some crying too), but tears and all, this experience has made me into a better person with better priorities.

Kristy