Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Simpson.
Samantha, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a 27-year-old stay at home mom of three; soon to be four. I know that most people don’t think “wow, impressive you’re a stay at home mom;” but I knew it was my calling from since before I had kids. I had my first child at 19 so I was pretty young. At that time, I didn’t know what I was doing, but as most moms know, you learn and grow as you go. A couple of things became very important to me after having kids: 1. Being able to stay at home with them; 2. Their diet and health; 3. The environment and Earth’s health in which my children will inherit and 4. Making the most of their young childhood lives. This is what has ventured me into my current lifestyle. I am a stay at home, homeschooling, volunteering, crafty, advocate type of mom. I really started to go full force into learning how to be a more eco-friendly person and live a better life for the planet. Running a family of five was definitely not easy to make the switches; but I had always taught my children to be aware of how to treat the Earth so they were on board. We started making small changes and over a year, they grew into a pretty significant life change. I also created a brand where The Granola Mom comes in. I have a Facebook group called “Earthy Mommas” and an Instagram The.Granola.Mom and I am working on a Blog The Granola Family. This is where I dedicate time to informing families and mothers on how to make more eco-friendly choices. Starting small without being overwhelmed, and how it is possible with kids! I cover topics all the way from switching to bamboo brushes to choosing to have a home birth. I also share a bunch of homeschooling or if you do not homeschool just activities, crafts, and experiments to do with kids of different ages! There is nothing more rewarding than to watch your child learn through exploration and experiment. The last big section is food and exercise! Both so important to mommas health and child’s health. I give lots of different food ideas for family and for kids and will go over work out plans for moms trying to get their mental health back on track and maintaining a strong healthy body.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Of course, life is filled with challenges. Two of my biggest most recent challenges was having to have an emergency c-section and going through an odd disease. The c section crushed my world. I was blessed to have a healthy baby girl, but that doesn’t mean I was ok emotionally, physically or mentally. A c-section was just not an option in my head and sadly I think it could have been avoided in many different ways. It took me about six months to work through my depression and learn from what had taken place. But during that time, everything I was working on and towards didn’t seem to matter, and everything came to a pause or worse I resorted back to my old lifestyle. Getting back to exercising was a huge blessing to my mental and physical health. And being able to talk about my emotions without being judge with my spouse, and other moms with similar experiences really helped me emotionally. Physical health, diet, and a good support team is huge when it comes to battling any type of depression. Now that I am currently pregnant with my fourth I feel some fears starting to creep in but I have an amazing Midwife, Kayti Buehler, and spouse that is working me through everything I need to overcome to have the birth I know I am capable of. Better for me, my body and the Earth. My second obstacle is pretty recent. As I found some lumps on my body. The fear of knowing something is wrong, but not knowing what can really eat at someone. I know it did for me. Anyway, I automatically thought the worst, it was cancer and I am going to die in a week. My little brother, Vinnie Higgins, passed away from cancer at 16, and ever since he was diagnosed, it has always been a fear and trigger for me.
Anyway, after puzzlement from my Dr, I was sent for an ultrasound on the bumps. While getting the ultrasound the Dr walked in and set me up for a biopsy the next morning. The biopsy came back a couple of days later which seemed like an eternity. My primary dr called me and told me that I came back with a disease he doesn’t know much about and will have to see an infectious disease specialist. It was odd, I mean how can a stay at home mom get a crazy disease, but my primary told me it was treatable once they figured out how it could be treated. Lots and lots of testing went by and appointments with the specialist (which I was also pregnant with my 4th) and we just came up with a treatment plan. I believe it to be working but will know for sure in a couple of weeks! This was a huge trial for me as it attacked my belief system and forced me to think about life and death and my children growing without me. It strengthens my belief in God and is strengthened my relationships with the people I love. It also helped me get back to what I was meant to do and that is an attempt to leave to the world better then what it is. Through loving God, people, and loving the Earth.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The Granola Mom story. Tell us more about the business.
I’m known for being a crunchy mom. I have countless moms that will ask me all sorts of questions on the environment, products, advice, health, diet, meal ideas. I think what sets me apart from others is my heart. My heart is in helping people and helping children. I have a lot of love for what I do and would just like to help make mom’s and kid’s life easier while sharing knowledge on protecting the environment. I think that most people have a misconception that being eco-friendly or low waste or zero waste has to be hard, impossible or only possible if you are a single person, not a family. But that is just not true. I am here to show the family how they can better care for the earth and themselves without compromising the things important in their lives.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
If it is something you love doing and feel called to do, then don’t give up. It is your purpose and trials are not there to stop you; they are there to help you grow into the person you have to become.
Contact Info:
- Website: itsthegranolafamily.com
- Email: sammihigg@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.granola.mom/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/775515549469272/
Image Credit:
Mariah with hey girl Friday photography
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