Welcome!
Hi! I am Kim Dettmer. My husband, Jeff, and I live with our two boys, Alex and Owen in Northeast Ohio.
Here is my story:
Hi! I am Kim Dettmer. My husband, Jeff, and I live with our two boys, Alex and Owen in Northeast Ohio.
Here is my story:It all came to a head on December 31, 2009 . It was the middle of the afternoon and I was trying to enjoy one of my kid-free, moments, perusing the books at Borders, after dropping my two boys off at their grandparents for the night. I should have been blissful and relishing the time alone, but instead I was incredible melancholy and fighting the urge to cry.
The feeling of “Is this really as good as it gets?” saturated my thoughts. For the past five years I had been consumed by motherhood. I had two boys 14 months apart, and I survived the infancy stage, moved through their toddler years and now was successfully navigating preschool. But something just didn’t feel right. I simply wasn’t sure who I was anymore.
I was so confused – my life was everything that I had dreamed of! I had a wonderful husband, two healthy, happy kids, we lived in a great house, and I got to be a stay at home mom! It was perfect…Right? So why wasn’t I more joyful? More happy? More fulfilled? Why did I feel so downhearted?
I plopped myself down in the self-help section and searched. I hoped that somewhere in the stacks of books I would find answers, or at least some inspiration. And then I found The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin. The bits of that book that I read in the bookstore resonated with me so I bought it, and I felt a tiny glimmer of hope. Within the next few I devoured The Happiness Project and quickly decided that I would start my own project.
For my project, happiness was certainly a central theme, but mostly I wanted to rediscover myself. “In Search of Me in Mommy” began. For a year, I focused on me – not the “mommy-me”, the “authentic and whole me”. The Me that was hidden under diapers, baby books, high chairs, stacking cups, PBS Kids, and preschool registration paperwork.
My “In Search of Me in Mommy” evolved throughout the year and I tried many activities – some that were amazingly successful, and others that failed dismally. But, at the end of the year, I knew the “authentic and whole me” much better and I was much happier!
Now, armed with my experience and knowledge, I am passionate about helping others moms find their whole and authentic selves.
In 2004, Kim Dettmer left her twelve year career as a higher education administrator to become a stay at home mom and to focus on her passion - motherhood and family. She received a BA degree in Individual and Family Studies from Kent State University and completed her MEd at Loyola University Chicago. Currently, as she stays home with her two boys (ages 5 and 6 years old), she is in the process of writing "In Search of Me in Mommy Workbook" and is a speaker for moms groups.
Now, armed with my experience and knowledge, I am passionate about helping others moms find their whole and authentic selves.
In 2004, Kim Dettmer left her twelve year career as a higher education administrator to become a stay at home mom and to focus on her passion - motherhood and family. She received a BA degree in Individual and Family Studies from Kent State University and completed her MEd at Loyola University Chicago. Currently, as she stays home with her two boys (ages 5 and 6 years old), she is in the process of writing "In Search of Me in Mommy Workbook" and is a speaker for moms groups.
