Introducing Jasmine: A Farmington Hills Mom

Introducing Jasmine!

 :: Down with Detroit ::

I grew up on the east side of Detroit, Michigan born and raised until the age of 8 years old. I enjoyed frequent trips to Belle Isle, Sunday treats of Faygo Root beer Floats, and Saturday visits to the Better Made potato factory just around the corner from our modest home during the mid-80’s. My grandparents were married 1 month shy of 50 years raising 18 biological children all born and raised in Detroit. Coming from a huge family my childhood memories consisted of cookouts, listening to clean music, games, and regular laughter. Detroit laid the foundation for my grandparents and parents to instill the value of tradition, family, and community in me. For a little girl whose father emphasized the importance of dreaming larger than what your eyes can see, Detroit was magical to me.

At 8 years old I learned my mother, a NICU & Special Care Nursery coordinator for a local Detroit Hospital, was expecting a set of twins. Our family expanded from two to four and we needed more room and almost overnight I went from a city girl to a suburbanite spending the rest of my upbringing in West Bloomfield, MI. The cultural differences were night and day. I went from an environment of seeing and being around others that looked just like me to become fully aware that “I was different.” There were highlights and growing pains as to be expected with this type of drastic transition but the roots of who I was never wavered. I loved knowing my neighbors and the local business owners by name in the city. I learned to bring that love my neighbor, local business supporter, girl next door vibe everywhere I went in any zip code I lived. It’s a Midwest girl thing sure but there is no doubt in my mind that it is because of the spirit of community and family that was cultivated in Detroit, the D will always feel like home. 

:: My Life ::

The oldest of my parent’s children, I always felt this responsibility to take care of everyone. Partially because of the generic role we play in our family dynamics but mainly because my parents are givers. My father, an entrepreneur of 40+ years, encouraged buying from people that we knew and had relationships with. It was important to him that we understood the meaning of supporting our own and giving back. My mother a “baby whisperer” in her own right spent her personal and professional time (30+ years) as a caregiver for infants & seniors. I found myself somewhere in the middle finding my happy place in volunteering. Connecting with community in non-profit work and in my personal time refilled my cup. At the time I thought this type of work would always keep me balanced. After working for a non-profit for 7 years and looking at the life I created for myself I felt reassured that I was a good person but to be honest I didn’t feel necessarily happy. I felt worn down, unappreciated (intentional or unintentional), and that I spent so much time giving back and focusing on being there for everyone else that I left myself behind.

My health quickly took a downward spiral and an internal alarm went off telling me it was time to make a change. After several doctors visits and specialists appointments I was left with a stack of medical bills and no definitive diagnosis. I was determined to learn as much as I could about my health to alleviate my symptoms. What I knew for certain, I was not taking care of myself and I had to make a change. I studied a lot on my own and followed what I felt was right for my body. After making the decision to just “try” doing the opposite of what I had been doing I saw results. I learned my body was overloaded with toxins and after collaborating with a functional medicine doctor I was able to get to the root cause. This began my health & wellness journey through creating TRUE balance for myself. I live a simple lifestyle, with natural approaches to my self-care and well-being. This path has worked best for me in losing 120 pounds and finding my best self. During this shift in my life I transitioned from a helper to a healer as a health coach for women. I desire this level of self-care and discovery for every mom based on her individual needs, lifestyle, and her own rules.

:: Babies & Beyond ::

Two weeks after I ended an unbalanced relationship with my ex that was no longer serving both of us, I learned I was pregnant. I was terrified and embarrassed to become a single mom. Fast forward 9 months into an emergency c-section and a two-week stay in the NICU I was more than terrified to lose my son. Medical professionals prepared and warned me that I would have to watch for signs of autism and the high probability of a host of medical conditions my son would face. I learned the value of having faith when I became a mother for the first time. Since that day, my son and I together have created a story of doing things our way. He is a healthy 4 year old who understands the life lesson that it is ok to be different.

My hope is that my story of self-care, health, child food allergies, co-parenting with compassion (even when it is not returned), and dating as a single mom will reach the heart of other mamas who can relate. I am a mother who simply made a decision that what I was doing wasn’t working and now I get to consciously choose to try a different approach . . . new mistakes and all.