An Insight Into My Thoughts: Finding Myself While Raising 8 (Almost 10!)

Hey there, friend!

Wow, can you believe it’s been over 20 years since I walked those high school halls? Class of 2004… those really were the days, weren’t they? When you’re young, wild, and free, and the world feels like one giant oyster—just waiting for you to crack it open and find your pearl (or maybe that gem of wisdom) that will define who you are.

I remember taking the ACTs, sitting there, staring at my future, wondering what in the world do I want to do with my life? Who do I want to be? Where do I want to go? Sure, we had counselors, but no one really sat me down to work through all these thoughts. So, naturally, my ideas were all over the place and eventually hit a dead end.

And here I am now, 38 years old, a stay-at-home mom of 8—soon to be 10! Life sure didn’t turn out like I imagined back then, but let me tell you, it’s been a wild and wonderful ride. I’ve served in the military, committed my heart to my faith and my husband, and embraced the beautiful chaos of motherhood. But here’s the thing… even with all these blessings, I still have this little spark inside, this yearning to figure out… me.

Is being a stay-at-home mom enough? The answer is yes. Well, sort of. I am happy. I love being a mom. I love being a wife. I love keeping our home cozy, making lunches, and making memories. But if I’m being completely honest, I sometimes miss having personal space and time. I don’t love feeling like the world is moving forward while I’m stuck, watching from the sidelines.

Back in high school, I dreamt of being so many things—a psychologist, a teacher, a writer, a journalist. I haven’t accomplished all of those, but hey, I did accomplish being a wife and a mom, and that’s no small feat, right? 😊

Now, don’t get me wrong—this isn’t a pity party. Life has been full and rich in its own way. I had my fun in the military—traveling to Dubai, France, and Italy, enjoying the carefree days of my 20s. Since then, I’ve given birth to most of my babies naturally at home, earned two associate’s degrees, and picked up a few trade certifications. But still, there’s this part of me that wants to do more. For me.

So, what does "more" mean? Does it mean abandoning my family to “find myself”? Absolutely not. My heart is here, with my husband and my kids. But I also want to remind myself (and maybe you, too) that I’m still me. I still have dreams, hopes, and goals. There are things I want to learn and explore—not just for myself but also to be better for those I love most.

Which leads me to… well, this. Writing has always been my happy place. In high school, I used to write stories and poems, and I even thought about becoming a teacher one day. Some amazing educators inspired me, and I wanted to pay it forward, helping young minds the way they helped me.

And now, here I am, 36 weeks pregnant with babies #9 and #10, and I’ve made the somewhat crazy decision to go back to school to earn my bachelor’s in education. Who knows? Maybe I’ll end up teaching, subbing, or even evaluating homeschool programs. It’s a new adventure.

But I also told my husband I wanted to write again. And do you know what? He was so genuinely supportive—he believes I can do it! So here we are, with this blog. What kind of writer will I be? I’m not sure yet. I have opinions, a bit of sarcasm, and a lot of love to share. For now, I’m just going to start here—sharing bits of life with you.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you! Welcome to Our Humble Nest, a space for moms, wives, women, and anyone navigating faith, family, food (my love language), and everything in between. A blog for me, a blog for you—a blog for us.

I hope you’ll stick around, and I can’t wait to share more with you.

Until next time,

Shaquilla

Our Humble Nest

P.S. Got ideas for topics you’d love to chat about?

Drop me a line at valouredqueen1986@outlook.com!