Today we’d like to introduce you to Alaina Mayes.
Alaina, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
As a single mother of three children (a set of four-year-old twins and a 10-month-old), it may seem as if my life has taken a turn for the worst. While I never imagined I would be a single mother, I am confident that this life I am building with and for my children is exactly where I am supposed to be and I am so thankful.
About five or six years ago, I began blogging through our struggle with infertility & adoption and enjoying the relationships I’d built with other women (online and in person) who were struggling with the same issues. About the time our last adoption attempt failed, I spontaneously got pregnant with my twins and my marriage began crumbling very quickly. It literally imploded. As much as I value and hold marriage in the utmost and highest regard, I chose to build a peaceful, healthy environment where my daughters and I could thrive in a healthy, happy home when they were ten months old. Now, that there is one ten months old at my feet, I have no idea how I managed two on my own.
Four years later, when I think about where I am, the “random” decisions I made and the very intentional choices that were made truly prepared me to be and do the very things I’m doing now. The irony is the very person I was not years ago, I have become and walk in easily. Passions have been birthed out of the domino effect of opportunities taken and relationships built that are continuing to open more doors to empower, lead, and support women.
Last May, a month before delivering Dylan, I left the classroom to build the home-based business that would allow me to work from home and spend time with my baby. I am a big believer in multiple streams of income and working in your strengths! Recently, I began offering Virtual Assistant & writing services which allow me to use gifts, knowledge, and skill set I already have to provide for my family! Never would I have ever considered providing anyone with service under my own name had I not already built the belief in who I was and what I have to offer from the emotional and personal work I’ve done with my company and counseling. I see the value of entrepreneurship and realized that I truly enjoy the community and empowering women.
Years ago, the life and security I knew completely shattered. With two not even walking babies, there was nothing that said we would be the thriving, happy, joyful family we are or that I would be doing the work I am now as a work from home mama except for the belief that we were not forgotten or forsaken. The emotional work and personal development I’ve put in to heal and grow from my experiences, without a doubt, was a part of the path laid out for us to walk down. Everything I’d gone through “just so happened to” bring me to this very space I am in now.
Every season that I’ve journeyed through cried during, and grew from was built on top of the other. And, here we are. Happier than ever, fulfilled, grateful, growing, and enjoying most of the moments we have together! Let’s be real, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows but there is peace and joy and that was the goal!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The last six years have not been a smooth road at all. There has been a disappointment after struggle after hurdle after the storm only to go through it all again. During that time, I’ve experienced failed fertility treatments, failed adoptions, a destroyed marriage, divorce, single motherhood, financial difficulty, and an unexpected pregnancy. Not to mention just the hardship of doing a two-person job alone day in and day out. There are days where just getting through the day with two little kids learning to manage their emotions, an infant, and work that needs to be done. There are lots to juggle daily.
One of the greatest challenges I had was putting the time and emotional & mental effort into addressing the past hurts and growing into a person who helped heal and empower others. The months of counseling, hard conversations, books, and accountability forced me to not only deal with my hurt but my own toxic mindsets and junk that kept me in a broken place. Although the process was difficult, the results have been incredible. I’m so thankful for the time spent working on myself.
This time has been beyond hard, BUT what this near decade (whoa!) has also taught me is that I can do the hardest of thing and endure the most difficult circumstances with grace and joy. Most importantly, I learned that the only person that can limit my life is me. Tethered to each challenge is the opportunity to grow into a kinder, more compassionate, resilient person who refuses to allow life’s awful turns to harden us. That’s not easy, but it certainly is worth it.
Please tell us more about your business, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I have a home-based health and wellness business, Plexus, that has been a gap filler and main source of income for my family for the past ten months. Our clean, plant-based supplements have cleared up and greatly reduced our health issues and have raised the bar in terms of how I now address how we address any health issues we do come across. This company has completely changed my life.
When I left my marriage about four years ago, the income I’d built kept us afloat. The supplements balanced my body and emotions which definitely helped me during that transition, eased much of the parenting solo stress, and helped me to be who I wanted to be as a mama. Plexus is where the passion and leadership growth came from that allows me to support and help mamas/women… anyone… feels their absolute best by addressing everything from chronic issues to energy/fatigue, skin inflammation, stress/anxiety/depression, and weight.
I’m very proud of the fact our company is focused on being servants – from top leadership down. Our company is led by men and women of integrity, who truly care about others, and enjoy celebrating and rewarding us for the hard work we do daily. I’m proud of the fact that I am doing more than helping people feel better physically, this is a work that builds belief in faith and self that shows us that we can do anything we put our minds to. It is a blessing to empower mamas to believe that life change is possible and the choices they’re making daily to do and be better really do matter and will propel their lives forward.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My support system has been incomparable and a lifeline for me. I have friends who are also accountability buddies and mentors on my team and friends who are supportive and have shared an incredible perspective with me through difficult moments. New friends have sprouted up and current friendships have been strengthened with women are in or have walked through some of the same reasons I have gone through. It’s incredible to have such an amazing, understanding, and patient support system.
Support looks different on different days and there are definitely benefits of having friends with different personalities speak into your life. There have been days hard conversations have been needed, accountability, dinners out to distract, and just silent sits where we do nothing but watch a show… they have all been therapeutic. Not all of your friends need to be straight shooters who give tough love; save those phone calls for when you need a kick in the rear to remind you that you can do, be, accomplish, and get over whatever you’re fearful of. Not all of your friends need to be the kind that will show up with a bottle of wine and your favorite meal to comfort you, but there are times you need to be nurtured and cared for. We need both/and.
Contact Info:
- Website: unashamedgrowth.com
- Email: unashamedgrowth@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/amayes
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