Mothers Day Interview – Tauni

MOTHERS DAY 2014

Introduce yourself! Tell us about yourself/your family.

My name is Tauni. About six years ago I met and fell in love with a wonderful man…and his three kids. Today I help parent three amazing boys, ranging in age from 8 to 14. We may not look like the typical American family, if it ever lived anywhere outside of Norman Rockwell’s famous Thanksgiving canvas, but we couldn’t be happier.

What were your expectations of motherhood before you had kids? Did you think you’d have a whole house full of kids? Did you see yourself as a mother at all?

Growing up I always saw myself as someone who’d be part of the Norman Rockwell tradition – working father, stay-at-home mother, 2.5 kids, etc. It wasn’t until I was older and found out I couldn’t have kids that my eyes were opened to other possibilities. While real life maybe didn’t live up to my little girl dreams, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What has been (was) your biggest surprise about Motherhood?

I think I expected life to be well-planned, laid out and perfect. You know…dinner on the table promptly at six, regular casual parties and get-togethers with friends and with the kids in school loads of time for lunches and book clubs. Turns out, there’s not a whole lot of that. There is a whole lot of laundry, driving to school and lessons and little Legos on the floor. There are also a lot of branded character t-shirts…  

Biggest joy?

There is nothing I love more than watching my boys laugh together. Nothing.  

Best wish for your children?

I hope that they are able to live without fear. That they have the confidence to try, even if they might fail. I hope they accept who they are so they can live with peace.

How do you find time for yourself/what do you do?

I am blessed to be in a situation that I am able to pursue my career and interests on a regular basis.

What do you wish you had more of or less of to make your life easier?

I wish I had more flexibility/time.  I wish I worried about what other people think less.

What do you hope your kids learn from you?

I hope they learn to look to the future, work hard and to live a BIG life.

What are some of the best things you learned from your own mother?

There is nothing more important than being there for your kids. Be present.

Is there any advice you would give to yourself as a new mother, looking back on what you know now?

You are a mother, but that’s not all you are. In raising your children, don’t loose sight of who you are. You matter.

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Tauni is a former public relations executive who spent 12+ years handling communications and events for an array of clients, from the NBA and Olympics to numerous high ranking politicians.  In 2009, life circumstances changed…Tauni refocused her career to spend more time at home in Salt Lake City. Today, she works as a social media consultant, maintains a daily website and hosts SNAP!, an annual social media conference for bloggers, focused on entertaining, crafts and home DIY. Tauni spends more than her fair share of time reading social media studies, wandering the aisles of home improvement and fabric stores and obsessing over reality tv show’s like HGTV’s Design Star.

 

 

 

 

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