Welcome to the Super Mama Series! I created this as a way to showcase actual messy-but-beautiful lives of women who are mothers and live creatively. By no means are any of us perfect, but we are striving to do our very best. Super Mamas are women who mother sacrificially, love deeply, and acknowledge their weaknesses gracefully.

Meet Super Mama Geena Harrington. She's a mother to two (one arriving in April). She loves babies, running, education, thrifting, and sleeping in. Geena and her family and live in the Midwest for now; working on getting to Heaven forever. Be sure to click over to her blog, Our Favorite Days, facebook page, and follow her on instagram @geenagabrielle. 

ON MOTHERHOOD

"Even though I grew up in a large family, I never realized just how exhausting motherhood is. I didn’t realize all my mother endured (for all ten of her births and raising us). I wish I could go back to be much more helpful and much less selfish. Motherhood has made me much more compassionate and patient - I see through a much more delicate lens. This also applies to how I see myself. While I accept myself with more forgiveness, I also notice the many ways I want to better myself for my family. 

Besides raising the next generation of humans, [the most rewarding moment] is after her nap, my daughter gives these huge, long, sleepy hugs. They last sometimes for 15-minutes. They fill my cup right up! Best [advice I received about motherhood]: When we serve our children, we serve Christ. The Lord said, "whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” This transformed the way I live my vocation of (wife and) mother. I can’t remember the worst advice, which I suppose is my sanguine showing. 

With our first, my parents gifted us the Britax B-Aigle Stroller and Infant Carrier. We absolutely love it! I can fold it and stow the stroller with one hand and it even works for jogging. We love it!"

ON THE WORK LIFE JUGGLE 

"At first, the newborn days were long. I felt like I might lose my mind! Now my daughter is 20-months and I am six months pregnant with our second. We’ve found a routine that works for us, and we love it. We both try to do all we can to contribute. We don’t have a 50/50 or particular system. We both just give our all and it just works!

During this cold Midwest winter I struggle to get out of the house - it just seems like such an effort. I’d rather stay bundled up inside! Simply getting dressed in the morning really helps me to be more productive and encourages me to get out of the house. This is especially true if I’m off to the gym - just getting dressed gives me the push I need."

"...just getting dressed gives me the push I need."

ON SELF CARE

"My creative outlets are: exercising, blogging, and journaling. A long run is so rejuvenating to me, and so is a long nap! Prayer is my rock. My faith is truly my only constant and what brings me true peace.

A few month back we joined a gym that has childcare. My daily exercise is my rejuvenation! My husband is naturally very receptive to when I need some space - he’s always offering to take our daughter so that I can have some me-time. (I married up!) 

For this Winter I’m quick to throw on a cozy dress, tights, and boots. And, the [top 5 items] in my beauty routine are hair curler, toothbrush, face wash, face oil, and -maybe- lip stain."

ON FAMILY TIME

"While we’ve moved quite a bit over the past few years we don’t travel much (besides visits to our extended family in San Diego or Annapolis). We hope to live abroad (in England) for a few year. Then we’ll have more travel tales to tell! At the top of our list are Italy and Ireland.

[A perfect Saturday] is staying at home all day.. watching movies with my husband.. watching my husband and daughter play... ordering take-out for dinner… never truly getting dressed. (My husband and I are both homebodies.

Sunday Mass is one of my favorite family traditions. My husband has a crazy work schedule but we always are sure to go to Mass together each week. It’s our one constant in a schedule constantly in flux."

SHOP GEENA'S MUST HAVES