Moms Speak

Lachelle Johnson’s Journey on becoming a MOM

Determined, Driven, Focused and Faithful… those 4 words are foundational in my everyday actions from high school and beyond.  I made sure I stayed on my toes when it came to business and professional growth.  When it came to my physical appearance…. That has never been a concern of mine.  I’m certainly not a conceited person, but very confident.  Head held high, flat stomach and coke bottle figure… what most men would consider to be the “perfect catch”… however, I was an independent woman, so it was difficult for them to catch me.  My credit was perfect and I could afford or obtain credit for whatever my heart desired.

Fast forward 5 years to 2002, now I’m a wife AND a mother of Brendt “BJ” Johnson… while I was a bit shocked that I was pregnant after being on various birth control methods since my teenage years, I was sure that God would work things out in my favor.  Sure I would be able to finish my Bachelor of Science degree, sure I would be able to balance home and work life, sure I’d be able to still hang out and have fun, and most certainly I’d be able to redeem my “coke bottle” figure at the age of 23!  I’m young!
AND YES, I was absolutely right.  I sure did accomplish all of those things by sticking to my foundational motto.  In fact, I was even able to immediately complete my Master of Science degree and successfully run my own business for more than 2 years after that!  Everything was great according to my plan, but of course God had another plan.  A plan that I learned a lot from personally and professionally, however, rocked my world!

In 2008, Brielle Milan was born.  I had to stop working my business to be on maternity leave and it felt like my entire life came to a screeching halt.  Why?  Because I realized that I was afforded the luxury of being able to still focus on ME and all that I wanted to accomplish with one child…. It’s a huge difference with 2!  More of my time now had to go to my family, and not all that I wanted to do.  It was a challenging adjustment emotionally, not because I didn’t want to focus more on my family, but because I started to feel like my lack of focus on them over the last 6 years made me feel like I’d been absent and not there for them as much as I should have been.  At this point I made a commitment to be a Wife and Mother FIRST, striving to achieve the perfect work-life balance.

Now, with 3 children (Brelynn Felicia-Michelle born 2011) trying to maintain the perfect work-life balance is a daily struggle!!  My husband is great at helping when he’s able, but what do you do when his work schedule isn’t flexible??  MAKE IT WORK….. this equals STRESS and CHAOS at times with 3 children.  In a days work at home, I have to prepare 3 children for school/daycare, cook, prepare lunches, complete homework, feed, bathe and tuck my 3 beautiful children in bed, AND prepare myself for work.  WOW, I’m sure there are lots of MOMS who can relate to my world!  With the stress of my work-life balance and the focus off ME and on family … I’ve allowed 30 pounds to creep up on my “coke bottle” figure too!!!  So I present to you my continued working solution:  JOIN M.O.M.S.- a support network with a wealth of information, resources, and events just for mothers!  Leave work on-time to stick to the schedule!  Prepare dinners that will last 2 nights!  Incorporate fitness activity as part of your lunch break! Pray and Stay Faithful that God is always working behind the scenes in your favor!