All About Mom2MomED: Malea edition

We are taking a little departure today and doing a getting to know us post! Today Malea is answering questions and next week it will be McKenzie’s turn!

What is your favorite food?

I love fresh strawberries, avocados, tomatoes, and salmon (but not all at once!).

What foods do you really hate?

Canned fruit!

Dogs or cats?

DOGS!

What's your favorite color?
I like red, black, and all shades of grey.

Who is the one person you can talk to about almost anything?

At this point, probably McKenzie! Also, my bestie since high school, Casandra.

If you are in a bad mood, do you prefer to be left alone or to have someone cheer you up?
OMG! LEAVE. ME. ALONE!

What is your philosophy in life?

Be kind to others as much as possible because you really have no idea what they are going through. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to let others walk all over you or that you should try to be 100% positive all the time—just that you should recognize that just as you have bad days, so do others. We’re all just doing the best that we can in life, right?

Are you religious or spiritual?

I am more spiritual than religious, although I was raised going to Lutheran and Methodist churches. I don’t believe any religion is better than any other, and I don’t believe lack of religion is any better or worse than having a faith either.

Do you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert?
I’m a total introvert and often shy; however, I know a lot of people don’t believe me. I had to work hard to adapt to social situations or normal interactions at work and at school. I used to be extremely awkward and uncomfortable at work and school and around others. When I first started working in emergency medicine (my day job), I was so terrified and shy and inside my own head that I spent the first week thinking I might have to quit. I finally decided to simply choose a small task every single shift at work that I could work on it. I started with simply saying hello to everyone at work that intimidated me. Over time, it got easier. I am a lot more social and less awkward at work and school now, but I still am an introvert. I can appear outgoing, but I NEED time alone and totally by myself—lots of it—to recharge and feel fulfilled personally, professionally, and spiritually.

What was the best phase in your life?
RIGHT NOW!

What was the worst phase in your life?

I was severely depressed in high school, again in college, and again when I was with my son’s dad. It was most severe when I was with my son’s dad—he was an emotionally, mentally, and verbally abusive and there were times when I felt like I was going crazy.

Is what you’re doing now what you always wanted to do growing up?

Being a mom is great, but it's not actually at all what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be an Emergency Medicine doctor from the age of four when I broke my leg. I still want to do that, but life has kind of knocked me around and off that path more than once. Now I work as a scribe in an emergency department and also as an admitting representative at another hospital.

What makes you feel accomplished?

I do reverse to-do lists. When I feel overwhelmed or like I am getting nothing done, I actually start writing down things I get finished. Over the course of the day, I could potentially have a fairly long list and I have proof that I got stuff done.

What’s an ideal weekend for you?

My ideal weekend is camping at Bodega Bay on the northern coast of California. I love how insulated it is from pretty much everything. It’s quiet, calm, and beautiful. I love to read in my tent or under the trees in a camp chair, walk on the beach, and just relax!

What are you most thankful for?

That I found the courage and strength to leave my abuser and to take the steps necessary to protect my son from our abuser too.

What is the one thing that people always misunderstand about you?

I can come off as cold or stand-off-ish when I first meet people. I am reserved when first meeting people and don’t smile often—even when I’m smiling and happy I can look like I’m not! What I AM doing is watching, listening, and assessing.

What is your idea of a perfect vacation?

It’s a vacation I haven’t taken yet—I want to travel all over Scandinavia. I’d love to make it a driving trip and to immerse myself in Scandinavian life. I’m already learning Swedish.

What’s on your bucket list this year?

Pay off as much debt as possible. Move out of my family member’s house and into an apartment or townhouse of our own. Spend time every other month visiting my mom and alternate months have her visit me. Continue to build Mom2MomEd with McKenzie.

What do you think about when you’re by yourself?

Um...usually all the things I don’t actually need to think about! I can make myself pretty stressed out because I tend to think about huge, existential issues about life, the universe, the nature of being.

What is your favorite post on the Mom2MomEd blog?

I LOVE THIS post from McKenzie--especially the bit about dish soap and toilet paper...read the post to find out what I'm talking about!

Tune in next week for a post all about McKenzie! I can’t wait to read her answers!

Check out our other About Us posts HERE!