08/25/2026
Wild & Wise: Living Less Out of Habit and More Out of Intent
The algorithm says to write more — so I’m trying my best. 😂 Thank you for being here…
Wild and Wise has been about raising babies and reading books — but deeper than that, it’s about the stories we’re reading, the lives we’re living, and the lessons we’re learning along the way.
These two signs have really dictated my life for a long time now, speaking to the type of mother I want to be for my kids:
Let Go and Let God.
Live Less Out of Habit and More Out of Intent.
As an anxious person, I’m terrible at following that advice consistently. But I was recently selected to participate on the book launch team for Shawn Johnson and Andrew East’s Courage to Commit — yes, I am still freaking out that it’s actually a reality. I’ve followed them for what feels like my entire childhood! 😂
And their book has had me thinking about commitments I’ve needed to make for a long time — for myself, my spouse, and my kids.
So, let me explain…
I’ve talked about intentional motherhood often: choosing what deserves my attention and commitment instead of letting my life pass by out of habit and simply going through the motions.
It’s deciding what matters and making space for it — even in the messy and mundane.
I want to be present for the ordinary moments rather than waiting for the extraordinary ones.
But just as importantly, I’m learning to let go of everything else.
And I don’t mean intentional as in a perfect, aesthetic, curated lifestyle.
I am outnumbered by boys in my house. It’s absolute chaos. 😂
I mean intentionally choosing:
• Books on the shelf
• Creating traditions for my kids
• The way I show up and speak to my kids
• Moments to unplug and be present
• The things I say YES to — and, ideally, learning when everything else needs to be a no 😂
• What deserves my commitment and energy
• The things that belong to me
Because I’ll never have a snack without sharing or go to the bathroom without someone knocking on the door to ask me a question. 😂
I am still a person behind my Mom title — even if most of the time, motherhood feels like my entire personality.
And books have always been my thing.
Most of the books in our house may be for my kids now, yes. But some are for me — count it!
I think it’s important for my kids to catch me reading. I’ve got to practice what I preach in our homeschool routine anyway. And most of the time, my little shadow is already reading beside me.
More than anything, I want my kids to have a mom who is present for the things that matter while still making room for her own interests.
We have stacks of picture books in every room. Library books. School books. Books we’ve read so many times that he can read them to himself. And hopefully, his baby brother will follow his lead.
Books that have become their own traditions.
That’s why reading has become synonymous with my motherhood journey.
It’s something I share with them, but it’s also something I do for myself.
I created Wild and Wise Adventures first. But it wasn’t really for me — it was for my kids and others in our community. And while I loved what I was creating, it just didn’t speak to me in the same way Wild and Wise Reads does.
So, like any small business does, I pivoted and rebuilt.
Still a work in progress. 🫣
But Wild and Wise are both words that have many meanings around here.
Wild
• Because I’m reading thriller books and chasing plot twists past my bedtime.
• Because I’m outnumbered by boys in my house — loud, messy, hilarious, unpredictable chaos.
• Because I love seeking adventures and making memories with my kids.
• Because I’m still growing up and becoming myself alongside my kids, and nothing is figured out or perfect.
Wise
• Because I seek books that make me think and give me other perspectives and experiences.
• Because I’m willing to question what’s considered “normal” in motherhood and homeschool.
• Because I’m learning when and how to let go.
• Because I’m learning to be intentional about what I consume — the books I read, the ideas I entertain, and the things I give my energy to.
Motherhood doesn’t come with an instruction manual.
But it has taught me so much more than any book ever could — about myself, my goals, the people I’ve loved and lost, who I am, and who I’m working to become.
It’s made me see my own childhood differently as I choose how to raise my kids and learn what questions to ask along the way.
And somewhere in all of that, I’m finding the balance between the wild and the wise.
Because I think you need both:
• Reading thrillers AND parenting books.
• Craving structure AND seeking adventure.
• Raising kids with roots AND giving them wings.
So maybe intentional motherhood looks something like this:
Intentional Motherhood: Being present for the life you’re building.
Wild: Making memories and living life fully.
Wise: Learning from the experiences.
Letting Go: Accepting that you can’t — and won’t — understand every season. Let God write the story, too. Sometimes it turns out better than you planned.
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Question for you ➡️
What would change if you lived less out of habit and more out of intent — even just this week?
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