If you are not from Wisconsin (or the Midwest) you may not understand. During spring, we have weather that could be sunshine, snow, sleet and rain - and that’s all within a couple hours during one day.
On occasion, we have rare days that bring sunshine. And, if that temperature reaches 50-60s, we are bringing out the grills, sun bathing outside and most likely, wearing shorts.
Luckily, for Brittany and I, we chose one of those beautiful days for our photo shoot in Rib Lake. We planned to have Brittany’s beautiful mother and my aunt, model the new plus size tank top, and a new friend and Simply Confident Clothing loyal customer, Makayla, model all of the other items.
Unexpected friendship
After having my daughter in November 2020, I had been pretty transparent about having a C-section. I was induced on Nov. 18 and spent the next 60 hours in labor. To say I was exhausted was an understatement. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. When it all ended in an impromptu but planned C-section, I was pretty devastated because I had this vision of childbirth in my head and it didn’t go as planned.
On social media, I was pretty transparent about the C-section when I shared Brooklyn’s birth story. I will say, looking back at the experience now. It was Brooklyn’s birth no matter what. She came into this world healthy and I thank God every day for that. We have a smart, funny & spunky little girl because of it.
In early December, Makayla messaged me on Facebook. She was reaching out because she was due to have her daughter in the coming months and there was a chance she would have a C-section. We immediately bonded and the virtual conversations felt natural. I never met her before and we really only knew of each other through her then fiancé, now husband Walter, who Brittany and I went to grade school with and grew up together.
Makayla had her beautiful daughter in January 2021, as both our daughters continue to grow, we would share stories with each other over social media. We would share about sleep schedules, feeding, breastfeeding, milestones, illnesses, mom guilt, you name it. We found out that our two girls had a lot of similarities often - snapping each other cute photos of them.
Women supporting women
As soon as we went live online with Simply Confident Clothing, Makayla has been a No. 1 supporter. The beautiful day of the photo shoot was the first time we had ever met in person.
We had several plans to meet up before that but life always gets in the way.
Just as we connected online, you would’ve thought she grew up and knew Brittany and I well. Makayla looked incredible in the Spring launch, and I can’t wait to have her on some more fun photo shoots.
This is a perfect example of women supporting women. Mothers supporting other mothers.
Instead of being jealous, gossiping or ignoring because of assumed competition. Reach out to someone. Make a new friend.
I give Makayla a lot of credit for just randomly messaging me one day. I am truly thankful for her friendship. We may not hang out every day but she is someone who I know I can go to. That’s so special.
It’s so easy in the world we live in to feel alone. To feel like no one understands what you are going through. I guarantee that someone out there is feeling the same or has felt the way you are feeling in the past.
Let’s break the catty, “real housewives” mentality and build friendships instead.
Stay simply confident,
Kayla