Hi, I’m Tabitha.
Wife to Jason, mama to Leo and Pearl, and founder of The Mama Matters. Born and raised in Alaska, I’m addicted to bulletproof coffee and self-help books and obsessed with establishing routines and habits that stick.
I rarely manage to consume an entire meal without spilling something on myself. Seriously though … my husband even created a verb for it! Whenever someone spills something on themselves he says, “Dang! You just Tabbed it!”
We’re told to expect that the mom-life is the exhausted-and-struggling-life, the selfless-life, the hard-and crazy-life. And don’t get me wrong, mom-life IS challenging, but it’s a mindset choice to feel mom-guilt, martyrdom, and servitude.
How we talk and think about motherhood matters. If we think it’s only hard and frustrating, it will always feel that way. I’m passionate about eliminating the myth that motherhood dooms us to a joyless life! Let’s stop striving to make motherhood look perfect and instead enjoy what’s real.
I want a simpler life so I can be fully present and create memories of each sweet moment with my family. I systematize the little things so that I’m not distracted and can enjoy the important things. I know I’m not going to change everything in my life overnight, and that’s okay. I’ve learned to appreciate the process, because we’ll never be fully “done”. We’ll never achieve perfection in motherhood, so focusing on an endpoint that will never arrive only robs us of the joy of now.
Life can be overwhelming and stressful, so I’ll help you streamline as much as possible by putting the regular day-to-day activities and chores into efficient, effective routines with helpful tips along the way. It may take a little effort to get a habit started, but once you do, the energy you save will pay off in spades. If we are going to achieve happiness in big things, we must also develop the habit in little matters.
Happiness is not a spontaneous occasion; it is a prevailing attitude. When the essentials practically take care of themselves, you have more time to savor the bliss of motherhood. Good habits are not only a gift to our lives now, but will serve as an example for our children for the rest of their lives.
As Aristotle observed, “Good habits formed in youth make all the difference.“
No pressure, haha!
I used to wish I had the “perfect life” with no worries, a gigantic beautiful home, and frequent exotic family vacations. But these are notthe things we need for smoother, more enjoyable days. Real life can be made easier by merely establishing routines, making checklists, and building small habits. Consciously create your habits, because they unconsciously dictate your life.
Now, I’m not against gigantic beautiful homes and exotic travel. I just believe that happiness does not lie in having what you want, but rather in wanting what you have. I’m passionate about focusing on what brings us joy in life and systematizing essential tasks will help us to do just that.
These days it is easy to get buried in a never-ending avalanche of information. I’ve sifted through mountains of practical advice on motherhood and tested many tips and methods, so this blog is a way to share what actually WORKS! Together, we’ll keep it real, support, and encourage each other. We’ll connect to create a tribe engaged in our hopes and struggles together. So be sure to join the adventure over on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram! No mom guilt allowed.
As Maya Angelou noted, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
Let’s design a motherhood we love! We’ll do less sitting on the couch thinking about cleaning or laundry and more initiating family tickle fights. Let’s do less worrying about what’s for dinner and more cranking up the music for dance parties. Then we can revel in the sound of the deep belly laughs of our babies. You can start ditching the overwhelm with any small win and a happy mama heart is all yours.
Always remember what Jill Churchill said, “there’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.”
Welcome to the tribe! Cheers, Tab
Cheers,
Tab
10 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Me
- When it comes to food, I’ll try about anything once. Pig stomach was as disgusting as it sounds, but goat intestine wasn’t bad, as long as the texture doesn’t bother you.
- Top Weaknesses: I hate running, I’m not a good cook, and I’m a terrible gardener.
- How do I take my coffee? Seriously, very seriously.
- I read at least one book every month; almost always in the personal development genre.
- I have two Bachelor Degrees, one in psychology and the other in Spanish. My master’s degree is in business – how is that for randomness?! I just followed my interests as they evolved.
- Volleyball is my all-time favorite sport, and in addition to playing competitively in high school, it’s a longtime family tradition. (Every family reunion event involves volleyball!)
- My first date with my husband was at a lecture about the Northern Lights. #TalkNerdyToMe
- I lived abroad in Spain for one academic year.
- I don’t have any tattoos.
- I’ve been a Wish Granting volunteer for the Make a Wish Foundation since 2008.