Meet Ashley! One of the most reflective parents we know and one of our most supportive Plinkit champions (thank you!). She is the soulful inner voice that teaches her children to confidently weather life’s challenges and a passionate advocate for functional nutrition and wellness. We love how she gracefully takes the long view on relationships with her children and her support system. It’s a delight to share her thoughtful perspective on wellness, adventure and connection. Inspired food for thought.

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Biggest parenting challenge right now:

• Last month we moved from San Francisco to Portland, Oregon. Moving a family of four was exhausting, hard and messy. And yet it was such a privilege to be able to live it, do it and reflect upon it. There were plenty of moments to celebrate and a few I hope to forget. We cried more as a family in the last few months than in the last few years combined. Yet, we had a deeper sense of excitement and growth mindset in the last few months than we’ve had in years.
• For me, it has been challenging to show up for the full range of emotions my daughters are feeling while making sure I have my own life mask on. With this big change have come challenges and a chance for us to grow and reimagine our lives together.

What do you wish you would do more/less of as a parent?

• More: Be present with my children.
• Less: Review the never ending to-do list in my mind. Less of the endless verbal cues and monitoring of manners and behaviors, like, “Can you use your napkin instead of your sleeve?” or “Can you take your socks off when you run around outside without shoes?”

Surprising things about parenting:

• On our children’s learning: It is fascinating to me that two children in the same environment can have vastly different interests and different approaches to learning. It is a treat to be able to witness how it unfolds as they keep getting older.
• On toys: From an early age, I noticed that my children rarely interacted with the toys we had in our home. Instead, they often found joy in many of the items that weren’t traditionally labeled “toys.” This inspires us to be more thoughtful and somewhat minimalist about what comes into our home.
• On food: Feeding kids healthy food in this modern world is not easy and is a parenting skill that we work hard to cultivate in our family. I see firsthand (on @vibrantlyhealthykids) the food challenges modern day parents are up against; the learning curve is steep when navigating busy schedules and weeding through our current food system. I help my children understand that the food choices they make can sustain their growth, create healing and maintain their ability to live. Preparing food, eating it and talking about it are moments of connection and joy in our family.
• On childcare: The amazing people who have helped grow and raise my children occupy a special place in my heart. Up until this year, we had a wonderful caregiver who supported our family. We also feel lucky to have been a part of two part-time preschool communities that brought countless teachers who shared their love, wisdom and knowledge with our entire family. This year marks a new chapter for our family as my daughters are both at our neighborhood elementary school and will spend their late afternoons with my partner and me getting to know our new city.

What are your children’s 3 favorite books?

• Right now, our eldest is enthralled with Blended and The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise.
• Our youngest would prefer to read her preschool yearbook most days, but has been enjoying Dear Girl.

Rainy days – What do you do?!

• We are eagerly making plans for our new Pacific Northwest winters. Our few drizzly days so far have meant indoor dance parties, playing with modeling clay, painting with watercolors, making jewelry and listening to audio books.
• We are not afraid to play outside, rain or shine. We have one of the largest urban parks in the United States within steps of our house. The trees provide the perfect canopy so that it can be enjoyed regardless of the weather. We are also looking forward to enjoying the snowy adventures of Mount Hood, which is less than two hours away.

Favorite part of your day?

• Walking to and from school with the girls. I love those little moments for connection.

What’s something you say to your children each night?

• “I love you!” Those words are so simple, but meaningful to me.
• There was a period in my adolescence where those words were hard for my own parents to use and hard for me to share. We held them a little too closely during challenging times and I want to be sure my daughters understand that regardless of how challenging our relationship becomes, love is limitless.

*Plinkit is proud to share these parent profiles as they authentically represent the diverse voices of our Plinkit readership. The views and opinions expressed in these parent profiles are those of the authors and may not necessarily reflect those of Plinkit Pte. Ltd.