Meet Jenna Gines: Different Needs Mom & Advocate

Jenna is such an amazing woman, and one of my favorite people to follow on social media! She is so refreshingly positive, and her perspective on life is contagious and unique.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR CAREER

Hi y’all! I’m Jenna Gines. Oldest of 5, born & raised in Utah. I’m a wife, momma to a 4 year old, 3 year old and 1 year old. I am a believer, minimalist and a big dreamer. I am an entrepreneur and always have been. Even as a little girl I was always doing something, selling candy bars and soda on the side of the road, Girl Scout cookies, you name it.

I worked at the Utah State bookstore in college and then started working with people with disabilities. I loved it and it became a huge passion of mine. I knew this is what I wanted to do for my career. They brought me so much joy! I wasn’t sure what exactly but I wanted to be an advocate for them. I wanted to teach people how to treat them. I wanted the world to know the about the culture, what’s accepted, what’s okay and what’s not okay, when it comes to disabilities.

And then I started my dream job in 2014 when my son was born and became a stay-at-home momma. I had quite the transition to motherhood but I loved it. It was something I’ve always wanted to do but I missed my other passion.

And then my second son was born at the end of 2015. He was such a good, beautiful baby. We adored him! Right from the very beginning I knew there was something about him. I told my husband, I don’t know what it is but there’s something about this boy. I could feel it. Sure enough on October 5, 2016, when he was 10 months old, we received a diagnosis for our sweet boy. He has a very rare genetic disorder and we still don’t know which one. Our Genetics Doctor can’t find the gene. He’s my middle baby. He can sit up on his own, army crawl, he signs and says a few words, he growls when we ask him what a dinosaur says and he’s just the best!

Do you see what happened there? My two passions combined. I am now a stay-at-home momma who advocates for her son and all people with disabilities. Especially mommas who just receive a diagnosis for their sweet baby or child. I want to offer them hope that this new life will still be amazing and beautiful and wonderful. It’s not sad, it’s not bad, it’s different and it’s okay!

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER WOMEN ADJUSTING TO DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS?

I’ve learned that life doesn’t go how we thought or planned, it goes how our Heavenly Father planned. He really is in the details of our lives. We just need to trust Him. He is molding and shaping us into the women He knows we can become.

Something that has helped me the most in my life, no matter what it was or is… is accepting it! 100% accepting my son, his diagnosis and this new life has given me a freedom to truly enjoy my son and everything about him. It feels my heart with so much joy to watch him learn and grow. I don’t focus at all on what he can’t do, instead I focus on what he’s learning and what he CAN do.

Whatever your circumstances are right now, accept them for what they are. Think “what can I do now that I won’t be able to do or that will change when my circumstances change?” Do those things! Fill your heart with gratitude every single day for what you do have.

WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD GO BACK AND TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF RE: YOUR CAREER ASPIRATIONS?

You can do whatever you set your mind to. The only thing that will get in the way, is you. So get out of the way. You do you and let everyone else, do them. Don’t let anyone else’s opinion of you matter. Dream big and then dream bigger. Do what sets your heart on fire. If you can’t quit thinking about it, there must be a reason. Follow that reason. Solve problems & serve others always. Don’t think “what is in it for me?” think “what’s in it for them?” Never give up. Do it because you want to. Do it because it’s your dream & no one else’s. Dream, do the work and let it happen. Because it will.

WHAT IS YOUR CAREER RELATED MANTRA?

My career right now is a stay-at-home momma. That is my priority while I also build my business. My mantra is, they’re really not little for long… I try to remember that every single day. I try to soak up every minute I have with these babies. Even when there is laundry for days, sink full of dishes, toys everywhere and I feel a little crazy… because I know it’s won’t be like this for long.