The Conley Family
Poolesville, MD
What is your favorite family tradition?
One of our most prized family traditions is Sunday night dinners with our extended families. We are lucky enough to live within 1 mile of both my mom and my husband's parents.
Shortly after we bought our first home together (literally around the corner from my mom and a mile away from my husband's parents) we decided to make Sunday night a family dinner night where our parents join and spend time with us and our kids! My husband and I both like to cook so it's a great time to try out new recipes.
Tell us about your favorite family story.
My husband and I met when we were in middle school, remained friends in high school and college (I even took him to my senior prom haha). It wasn't until many years later we reconnected and realized we were meant to be together. My favorite family story would have to be when Sean proposed.
We live outside of Washington, DC and Christmas is my FAVORITE holiday. He spontaneously decided to take me to see the National Christmas tree one evening. He was acting very strange the entire ride into DC on the metro.
He didn't want me to "snuggle" him claiming he didn't feel well (he just didn't want me to feel the ring box in his pocket). After a nice dinner we walked over to the National tree and finished the night looking at the White House lit up for the holidays. It was completely dark by the gates near the White House.
I love taking pictures and was trying to get a good shot of the White House. Sean (already down on one knee at this point) kept tapping my hip to turn around. I kept saying "one minute, one minute I am trying to get a good picture."
He got impatient, pinched my backside, which caused me to quickly glance over and when I noticed a dark shadow to my lower left side, I thought oh that can't be Sean where did he go. As I started to walk slowly away and slightly became panic-stricken, Sean yells loudly "It's ME down on one knee." Once I realized what was happening, he asked me to marry him and I said yes in an instant!
What is your family's motto?
Treat others like you want to be treated.
Is there anything else you'd like us to know about your family story?
We LOVE Birdrockbaby moccasins! Both little ones wear them almost every day (the baseball ones are so much our favorite that we've ordered a pair each year for our son so far)! My mother in law ordered us our first pair and we literally buy the mocc of the month each month!
Share Your Parenting Wisdom
What's your number one tip for new parents?
It's OKAY (and much needed) to sleep when the baby sleeps. The "oh my gosh what am I doing, how are we responsible for another human being" moments are COMPLETELY normal and do pass! Parenting is one of the best gifts out there. Embrace it!
What has been the most surprising thing you've learned as a parent?
There is no other level of tiredness or exhaustion known to mankind than that of a parent of a newborn/young baby! I am amazed at how well I can function on days when sleep was not my friend the night before.
Tell us about your funniest parenting story (we all have them!)
We are in the process of building a new home. We sold our home and are currently living with my mom (all 5 of us plus our dog!). Our new house faces a park in the new development.
Before this pandemic started we used to enjoy walking to our new house (it's in the same town) and let the kids play on the playground out front. I am a very "always have my eyes on my kids at all times" kind of parent (sometimes too much if you ask my husband haha). Well.... on my watch, my son was walking next to me as we were looking at the newly dug out hole for our new house and we found a giant pile a dirt.
My husband was standing on top of it with the baby girl.We know how much our son LOVES to play in dirt so we tried to encourage him to join my husband. In less than 2 seconds of looking away, our son found a much more exciting area to explore - a GIANT pool of mud.
Needless to say that ended our outing for the evening and we used an entire package of baby wipes cleaning him up as best as possible before sticking him back in our stroller for the walk home lol.