More than me

Hello! My name is Kristen Reddinger – I’m a wife to an amazing man and mama to 4 girls in Kennewick, WA. Give me Jesus, a cup of coffee, & some lip gloss and off I go! I am a working mom turned stay-at-home-mom (SAHM), who now also works from home. From the minute my feet hit the floor in the morning until my head hits the pillow at night, I am running around (literally running!) – I’m sneaking in some “me time” early morning, getting my little ladies ready and out the door to school, cleaning the house, working my business, washing & folding the laundry, feeding a toddler, meal planning & actually cooking dinner (confession – I’m horrible at this!), running the girls around to activities, baths, homework & bed… It’s enough to make anyone’s head spin and I’m sure many of you can relate! 

Being a mom can be Hard. Isolating. Overwhelming. Being a SAHM adds new challenges to the task. In all honesty (because that’s what we are about here), I never wanted to be a SAHM. I have a law degree from Seattle University, practiced as a prosecuting attorney at the Milwaukee DA’s Office and I didn’t “choose” to stay home until my husband decided to do another four years of training and I was pregnant with my twins. My family needed me home so I decided to put my ambitions, my dreams, my hard work aside for my family. This was a tough decision for me – I lost a piece of myself during this time and it took me a lot of years to fill that void.

The Lord is so good though… He has walked alongside me these past 6 years as a SAHM and gently showed me His purpose for me, His dreams for me and opened new doors for me – I’ve taken the fire in me for advocacy in the courtroom to now advocating for safer beauty on Capital Hill. The priceless friends the Lord brought into my life during the past 6 years have strengthened me, encouraged me, and cried with me when I didn’t think I had what it took or I’d changed my thirtieth diaper of the day (literally had three in diapers at one time!) or folded my sixth load of laundry that a toddler just knocked over. I’ve learned over the years just how much I need my tribe of ladies – iron sharpens iron.

So today, I’m a woman, just like you, who wears many hats on the daily and is learning how to feel confident, worthy, and thankful for this crazy, messy, yet beautiful life I’ve been given. I’m that friend who will sit and have cups of coffee with you (or a glass of wine after a long day with toddlers!) and give you nothing but the truth when it comes to what I’ve learned about marriage, life as a mom to littles and how to make safer, healthier swaps in your daily life. Trust me, you will find NO judgment here, just love. 

about kristen

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

Kennewick, WA

WHAT LED YOU TO DO THE WORK YOU CURRENTLY DO?

After practicing law for many years and deciding to leave my job to stay home with my four little girls, I felt a small piece of me was missing for many years. I loved being a mom, but I missed the connection and conversation with other people and I missed learning and growing as a professional. I was approached with numerous job opportunities, but nothing felt “right.” When a friend educated me on the harmful ingredients in our products and the lack of regulation in our industry, I was intrigued with this company that was “counter” to the beauty industry and actually affecting change. There was a desire in me to educate others on what I didn’t know before, because I truly feel that knowledge is power – when we know better, we do better. I’m now part of a mission that’s changing our industry so that we can all have access to information and the ability to make safer choices for ourselves and our families. I went from an advocate in the courtroom to an advocate for myself, and the people I love. I get to work from home, on my own time, contribute to my family financially, and still be available for my family, all while making a significant social impact. There’s nothing better!

IF YOU HAD ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR WOMEN, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Don’t doubt your abilities by comparing yourself to other women. Trust in who YOU are and who God made YOU to be.

WHAT IS THE GREATEST ADVICE YOU HAVE RECEIVED?

Never break a promise to yourself.

WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND AS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE AS A WOMAN NAVIGATING ALL THE ROLES WE PLAY?

Making sure to take care of myself in the process of wearing the many hats that I wear. As a mom, we always put others before ourselves which can often times mean I don’t make it to the gym or I’m not in the Word, the two things that make me the best version of myself.

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE SUPERSTAR?

This might be embarrassing to admit, but since kids, I don’t keep up with Hollywood, superstars, the fads, etc.I don’t know if I have a favorite female superstar… I do however respect and appreciate stars who use their status for good, like Emma Watson.

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM/VISION FOR WOMEN IN THE FUTURE?

That we can all wear our many hats and succeed at them all WHILE being cheered on by our family and friends. While I believe that raising our kids and supporting our husbands are two important God-given roles for women, I also think that God made us for more. I can only hope that I am displaying for my four girls that they can be a wife and mom and also do something that they are passionate about.

WHAT IS SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT MOST WOULD NOT KNOW?

That I have a law degree and practiced as a prosecuting attorney.

WHAT IS YOUR SUPERPOWER?

I am very relational. I have an innate ability to relate to people regardless of age, socioeconomic status, race, etc. and with that, the ability to connect other people whether it be for friendship or professional reasons.

WHEN YOU’RE FEELING DOWN OR LOW ON MOTIVATION, WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND THAT HELPS YOU GET BACK UP AND KEEP RUNNING THE RACE?

Podcasts, sermons and worship music are huge for me. I don’t often have time to sit down and read a book, but playing worship music in the morning gets may day off right and when I’m struggling during the day, a sermon or Podcast from Rachel Hollis, Shauna Niequist and many others can change my perspective.

WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE FOR THE FUTURE?

Honestly, the Lord. I feel sometimes like I run myself ragged and no one can feel or see it, but me. In those moments, when I choose to slow down and rest in silence, those are my moments of peace; and I just imagine that Heaven won’t be as crazy hectic as this life is on earth.

HOW HAVE YOU LEARNED TO SCALE UP IN LIFE AND BUSINESS?

My husband and I have not had the most simple of circumstances since we got together; but through it all I learned to adapt and become resilient when it came to change or obstacles, simply because I had to. Our relationship started out in college with Brandon being drafted to play minor league baseball; and, from there, I started law school, which was stressful & time consuming and also the year we planned our wedding. Then Brandon started dental school and moved us across the country to Wisconsin, away from family, away from my current law school and only one year into our marriage. I started a new law school, had to make new friends and get to know a new area. Then came our first daughter, soon-thereafter my pregnancy with twins, and our decision for me to leave my job at the Prosecutor’s Office to be home with my 3 girls. We then began 4 years of oral surgery residency, my husband was gone long hours and during nights and weekends, and towards the end of residency we had our fourth and final daughter. Before moving home, I started working with the company I am with now, even with a 3 month old and 3 other little girls 4 and under. We then finally made a move back across the country to Brandon’s home town here in Tri Cities so we could be near family after 8 years. I say all this to show that although, at the time, all our moves and children and professional endeavors created a lot of work and, sometimes a lot of stress, these opportunities also opened doors for me to meet lifelong friends, learn to rely on the Lord and my own strength in parenting when my husband wasn’t around, and ultimately made me the woman I am today. These opportunities opened my eyes up to my superpower mentioned above – my ability to relate to and build rapport with people, which is what kept Brandon and I both happy and healthy during all those changes.

SHARE WITH US YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT, ACHIEVEMENT OR SOMETHING THAT YOU DO WELL.

My greatest accomplishment is my family, hands down. Brandon and I have worked hard to put our family first and raise our girls up in faith, love & tenacity.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH YOUR WORST CRITIC, YOURSELF?

I use the phrase “guard your thoughts” a lot. I learned this when Brandon was in residency and I was by myself a majority of the 4 years with lots of little kiddos. If I allow lies to enter my mind, and I entertain those lies, I quickly become defeated and the worse version of myself. I try to replace those lies with truth when I recognize them.

HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE?

Out to dinner with my hubby & a good bottle of wine OR with my family at home – take out and a family movie or game night. Depends on what I’m celebrating but the theme here is I am not the one cooking!