VALERIA HARRIS
Valeria Harris — Mom to Emma, lover of animals and our muse this week. Valeria moved to Florida from Switzerland 6 years ago, where she met her husband and started a little family. We chatted with Valeria to learn more about her day to day rituals, favourite gifts and what womanhood means to her.
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1. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS?
Determined, intuitive and compassionate.
2. DESCRIBE A DAY IN YOUR LIFE — A BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU DO AND THE RITUALS THAT DEFINE YOUR DAY?
I greatly fail at having any rituals or even a routine. Everyday looks different - which can be fun, but, I’m aware that I should establish a routine. I know that kids need routine to drive on, but a day in our lives looks very unplanned. Sometimes its breakfast at 8:30am sometimes it’s 11am. I pretty much plan my day in the moment and depends on how we’re both feeling. If Emma looks too bored we will go to the beach. When she’s entertained that’s great for me as I won’t have to do anything to keep her busy. Around 5pm, Ali comes home from work and we will usually all shower together (actually that is a ritual we have - we do family showers!), get into our pj‘s, eat snacks for dinner as we eat very late lunch and then we just wait till Emma falls asleep. Once she’s in bed and asleep, I have time to study for my school entry exam. Yea that’s my very boring day!
3. HOW HAS MOTHERHOOD SHAPED YOUR LIFE? WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW MOMS?
I have new goals and dreams for myself and I feel more determined than ever to reach them because of my daughter that is looking up to me. My advice would be to not overthink things, not stress yourself and know that everything is going to work out :)
4. CAN YOU SHARE A QUOTE YOU LIVE BY? OR WORDS OF WISDOM SOMEONE SHARED WITH YOU THAT STUCK?
Honestly I have so many that I love. I think the quotes change throughout the year based on my current situation and how I’m feeling. Right now I would say this quote stuck with me. "Your current situation is giving you an opportunity to re-evaluate what you want."
5. WHERE DO YOU GET INSPIRATION FROM? BEING A MOTHER AND CREATOR YOU MUST BE BUSY ALL THE TIME. HOW DO YOU STAY INSPIRED TO CREATE AND BE PRESENT.
I actually don’t force myself to create content anymore, I literally just go through the day with Emma and if there is a moment I’m feeling, I will snap a pic of it (or sometimes Ali will snap a pic of it) and that‘s usually what I will post. Sometimes (or almost always) the most unplanned photos are the ones that I love the most. As for where I get my inspiration from, my goal this year is to be inspired by my surroundings and nature - less by Instagram.
6. WHAT DOES WOMANHOOD MEAN TO YOU?
Becoming Valeria - I think there are lots of different phases that go into becoming a woman. It means to learn from your mistakes, to embrace your body, to have to deal with things only women have to deal with, maybe you’re a mother so you have to take care of another human being etc. etc. I think the most exciting part of womanhood though is always changing, growing and aligning ourselves with who we want to become.
7. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE GIFT YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?
Honestly, I can’t think of anything materialistic, so to answer your question I have to get poetic haha. The best gift is to be able to go after my dreams. That is a privilege and that‘s why I’m so determined to give my all so that I can maybe make a difference in other people‘s lives one day :)
