Who Is She?
Hello, I'm Debbie Gallagher. Thank you for joining me on The Romantic Mom. You'll soon discover that, like most everyone, I have way too many interests and not enough time to keep up with them all! But my overriding passion is to follow beauty....whenever and wherever she leads me.
If you’re wondering what could be meant by the “romantic mom” let me try to explain. When my twins were only two and my baby was barely one, and our fourth one was yet “a glimmer in our eye,” I longed for a way to put to paper a concept for a budding desire I felt in my heart. It was a desire to describe in a somewhat objective manner how I wanted to live with our children and the kind of mother and wife I truly wanted to be. Was there some way I might begin to analyze my position as a mother from a place of feeling more empowered as opposed to being over-powered? And, if so, what could it be?
Reflecting on this notion, I decided to view myself and my mothering role from a more creative context like that of weaving an intricate tapestry. Once I meandered upon this path, a gradual theme began to emerge. The thoughts and images that dominated this theme seemed to greatly coincide with the idea of “romance.” This rather simplistic form of romance entails a sense of beauty, grace, and the feelings of being cherished, loved, and cared for in a very special way. I also wanted very much to have my children out in the country with animals and a garden and closer to nature with lakes, and mountains, rivers, meadows, and wildflowers. I longed for a change of seasons with beaches and blueberry picking in the summer, apple orchards in the fall, sledding and snow forts in winter, and fresh maple syrup in the spring. I greatly longed for the romantic New England life I had briefly tasted for only eight months when I was single in my twenties.
My husband, Andrew, and I moved to Maine from the suburbs of the Dallas metroplex in 2004 when our fourth baby was only 2 months old. We were searching for a radical lifestyle change...which is what we got! We started with 40 acres and began the very slow process of building our own log home. Not long after our move, we began collecting animals such as bunnies, chickens, a kitty, a duck, turkeys, and horses, including our pony named Babycakes. I could go on and on, but you can learn more about our adventures as a family starting over in Maine under the different topics and links. I'll eventually write something to get it more consolidated, but that's a future project. In the meantime, please peruse my (ever-expanding!) collection of blogs linked on The Romantic Mom Blog.
I was one of those who got started rather late in life. I had our twins first when I was in my mid-thirties (1999) and had our youngest daughter at 41. Although I had an emergency c-section at the hospital with the twins, I had our other two daughters at home with a midwife. I even had our youngest in the outdoor jacuzzi ...which was awesome...and so peaceful!
My theme for The Romantic Mom encourages living with our hearts and savoring the simplicity.of a more self-sufficient, less plugged-in lifestyle...that draws from nature, good food, and beautiful living for our enjoyment and entertainment. I'm intrigued and inspired by the thrift, creativity, resourcefulness, and strength of the pioneering families who settled and farmed the land while raising lots of children and lots of animals. We long to recapture those vanishing arts and traits to pass down to our children...the next generation. Many of these things we're having to learn ourselves...right along with our kiddos!
I must admit, though, that as much as I enjoy the rustic aspects of the great outdoors and al fresco lifestyle, I genuinely crave the finer things in life as well. And I'm compulsively compelled to blend these components...as The Background, below, explains:
If you’re wondering what could be meant by the “romantic mom” let me try to explain. When my twins were only two and my baby was barely one, and our fourth one was yet “a glimmer in our eye,” I longed for a way to put to paper a concept for a budding desire I felt in my heart. It was a desire to describe in a somewhat objective manner how I wanted to live with our children and the kind of mother and wife I truly wanted to be. Was there some way I might begin to analyze my position as a mother from a place of feeling more empowered as opposed to being over-powered? And, if so, what could it be?
Reflecting on this notion, I decided to view myself and my mothering role from a more creative context like that of weaving an intricate tapestry. Once I meandered upon this path, a gradual theme began to emerge. The thoughts and images that dominated this theme seemed to greatly coincide with the idea of “romance.” This rather simplistic form of romance entails a sense of beauty, grace, and the feelings of being cherished, loved, and cared for in a very special way. I also wanted very much to have my children out in the country with animals and a garden and closer to nature with lakes, and mountains, rivers, meadows, and wildflowers. I longed for a change of seasons with beaches and blueberry picking in the summer, apple orchards in the fall, sledding and snow forts in winter, and fresh maple syrup in the spring. I greatly longed for the romantic New England life I had briefly tasted for only eight months when I was single in my twenties.
My husband, Andrew, and I moved to Maine from the suburbs of the Dallas metroplex in 2004 when our fourth baby was only 2 months old. We were searching for a radical lifestyle change...which is what we got! We started with 40 acres and began the very slow process of building our own log home. Not long after our move, we began collecting animals such as bunnies, chickens, a kitty, a duck, turkeys, and horses, including our pony named Babycakes. I could go on and on, but you can learn more about our adventures as a family starting over in Maine under the different topics and links. I'll eventually write something to get it more consolidated, but that's a future project. In the meantime, please peruse my (ever-expanding!) collection of blogs linked on The Romantic Mom Blog.
I was one of those who got started rather late in life. I had our twins first when I was in my mid-thirties (1999) and had our youngest daughter at 41. Although I had an emergency c-section at the hospital with the twins, I had our other two daughters at home with a midwife. I even had our youngest in the outdoor jacuzzi ...which was awesome...and so peaceful!
My theme for The Romantic Mom encourages living with our hearts and savoring the simplicity.of a more self-sufficient, less plugged-in lifestyle...that draws from nature, good food, and beautiful living for our enjoyment and entertainment. I'm intrigued and inspired by the thrift, creativity, resourcefulness, and strength of the pioneering families who settled and farmed the land while raising lots of children and lots of animals. We long to recapture those vanishing arts and traits to pass down to our children...the next generation. Many of these things we're having to learn ourselves...right along with our kiddos!
I must admit, though, that as much as I enjoy the rustic aspects of the great outdoors and al fresco lifestyle, I genuinely crave the finer things in life as well. And I'm compulsively compelled to blend these components...as The Background, below, explains:
Background
Debbie Gallagher has a background in resort and spa management in Vail, Colorado. She has skiied nearly every resort across the nation as well as biked, hiked, and climbed mountains across the Rockies (one 14,000 ft. Mount Sneffles in Telluride, CO). Although naturally athletic and outdoorsy, her rather bohemian lifestyle has taken her to months on a vineyard in Australia, touring Tasmania on a Harley and Rolls Royce, yacht living, and stays in many 5 star resorts and hotels. In other words, she appreciates the finer things in life, but especially relishes juxtaposing remote and rustic with the refined and luxurious.
After moving their family of 4 children from Dallas, Texas, her family has embraced the wild and natural beauty of Maine. Yet with degrees in History and French, Debbie Gallagher offers a unique and soft sophistication that respects, refines, and romances the more rustic elements of Maine.
I would love to hear from you...please share with me your own beautiful stories! Contact
After moving their family of 4 children from Dallas, Texas, her family has embraced the wild and natural beauty of Maine. Yet with degrees in History and French, Debbie Gallagher offers a unique and soft sophistication that respects, refines, and romances the more rustic elements of Maine.
I would love to hear from you...please share with me your own beautiful stories! Contact