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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Shay, Show and Tell ·

Show & Tell Tuesday: When I grow up…


So…today, we’re linking up with Andrea for Show & Tell Tuesdays and sharing what we wanted to be when we grew up.  I started thinking back to when I was younger and this is the list I came up with it…I didn’t have just one thing I wanted to be, it changed over time.  So here you go…this is what young Shay thought she wanted to be when she grew up…
Mrs. Jordan Knight or Mrs. Donnie Wahlberg
I was open to marrying either one of them after I saw New Kids on the Block in concert in 1989 (I was 8).  I knew the other girls all wanted to marry Joey, so I was pretty sure I had a chance with either Jordan or Donnie.
A lunch lady at school
When I was in the second grade, I told my parents I wanted to be a “school cafeteria waitress” (I meant lunch lady).  Even at a small age, I wanted to be near to those yummy brownies and bars they served the kids who ate the hot meals.
Mrs. Mark Paul Gosselaar
From the Saved By the Bell years…sigh.  That smile.  I was smitten. 
A US Senator
In the 8th grade, I wanted to be in politics…preferably a senator.  My 8th grade English teacher (Mrs. Dickson) called me Senator Lowe every single day.  I thought I wanted to go to Tulane at the time.
Mrs. Keanu Reeves
Speed, A Walk in the Clouds…I had three posters of him in my room.  I just knew that I would marry him.
A Radio City Music Hall Rockette
I took dance for 15 years…obviously, I had big dreams of becoming a Rockette…until I realized I was too short.  Darn.
Mrs. Brad Pitt
I have four words for you…Legends of the Fall.
A French Teacher
I had three exceptional French teachers throughout my four years of high school and loved them all.  For a moment, I thought I should be a French teacher.
Mrs. Mark Paul Gosselaar
From the NYPD Blue years.  Sigh.  Still smitten.
Here’s what I didn’t think I wanted to be when I grew up…an insurance agent.  Hello?  That sounds boring and awful, right?  The thing is…I ended up in insurance and while it’s not a fabulous as let’s say…being a Rockette…it has served me well these last 14 years.  The path I took was far from glamorous and exciting but I’m sure glad that I’ve ended up here today…because really and truly, the only thing I ever really knew in my heart that I wanted to be was this…
…a mom.
What did you want to be when you grew up?  I love asking my kids this now!  Kensington wants to be a baker that lives in Paris and Smith wants to play for the Yankees.  I love that they’re dreaming big :).  Let me know what you wanted to be (and what you became).
Next time on Show & Tell Tuesdays, we’re showing our yards!
  And to see posts from the past…
Momfessional Moments
Favorite Party I’ve Hosted
Names
Favorite Vacation Ever
Most Embarrassing Moment
Favorite Room in my House
How I Met My Mate
My Groundhog Day
(I was in China for the first two, so I wasn’t able to participate.)
On my foodie blog today…
…my Mushroom Burgers!

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Comments

  1. Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says

    I can get on board with just about everything in your post. But I'm going to have to draw the line at Mrs. Keanu Reeves. NOT. ALLOWED. And Legends of the Fall? I'm about to cancel all of my plans today just so I can watch it on a loop all day long.

  2. Erika Slaughter says

    This was hilarious!!! I was not a Bradd Pitt-Legends of the Fall kind of girl but in every other movie I'd completely agree. And-Donnie was my favorite NKOTB!

  3. Patty says

    I wanted to be a veterinarian and a pilot.I could never be a veterinarian because while I love animals, I can't stand to see them in pain or sick so I changed my mind and I wanted to be a teacher. I would "teach" my younger brother and sister all the time. lol I ended up working in a doctor's office and God really blessed me while I worked in that office. I was an advocate for the patients and enjoyed helping them; but my favorite thing was being a mom. When I had my children, I quit work and was a stay at home mom. 🙂

  4. Jordan says

    Working in insurance was never my dream as well but here I am! 😉 I always wanted to work in the medical field but am not a science fan!!

  8. Susan H. says

    I totally had a crush on Zach Morris too! I was so jealous of Kelly : ) When I was little, I wanted to be a teacher or a "checker outer" at the grocery store. I ended up being an RN turned stay-at-home Mama. Glad we don't have to choose our life at six years old – ha.

  10. Jessica Sweeney says

    I always wanted to be … and still do .. the person that cleans out a hoarders house {not the person that has to convince the hoarder to get rid of the stuff} just the person that gets to clean all the junk out! – but until "Hoarders – Buried Alive" calls me, I'll be doing marketing/graphic design.

  11. Ruth Poat says

    I really wanted to be Mrs Luke Skywalker….I fell in love with him when I was 7 and watched Star Wars for the first time. Now Im a pre school teacher and have 2 boys….and yes one is called Luke.

  12. klmoore23 says

    I love that you were a NKOTB fan as well! You should see them in concert as an adult. It's a great experience! I knew from a young age that I've wanted to be a teacher and that's what I am today. Now for part 2 hopefully, a wife and a mom!

  13. Gracefully Mama says

    Hilarious! I LOL'd at the Lunch Lady idea! 🙂 I totally agree, I didn't pursue anything I once thought I wanted, but it got me to this point in my life..as a mom! I can't imagine things any different now. Everything happens for a reason, and all pieces eventually fall into place. Fun link party!

  14. Anonymous says

    I have wanted to be a teacher since 2nd grade! I used to teach my dolls all the time. I am currently in school getting a degree in Early Childhood Education!

  15. Leanne says

    super early on… I was going to be a nun… then I was going to live in a brownstone, in Chicago, driving a Volvo, married to my lawyer husband…having been to DePaul, I would have been a Canon Lawyer–working in the Archdiocese of Chicago…. while raising a couple of perfect daughters….
    Instead… I went to Purdue University… in Lafayette, Indiana…became a nurse… married a mechanical engineer, joined a bible church, and now homeschool my 3 boys….and my heart is so happy! God works in mysterious ways 🙂

  17. Laurie S says

    I wanted to be a forensic scientists – I have always had a interst in the human body – the TVshow "Quincy ME" from the 70s (yes I am that old) started me on my hunger for forensics and crime solving. Naturally I also love the CSI and Bones shows (same genre, different generation). Alas I am not in that field. I work in an electrical contractors office.

  18. Angie says

    From the time I can remember anything, I wanted to be a mom. As I grew, I learned that you had to be a wife first. 🙂 I met my husband in 10th grade of highschool and we started dating six months later (yes I married my highschool sweetheart). 🙂 We married in November of 1984, a year and a half after we graduated highschool. I worked at a bank the first five years we were married and then our first daughter was born. Five years after her birth, God blessed us with another beautiful daughter. I have had the blessing of staying home and being a wife, mother, and homemaker for 26+ now. I have been doing my dream job for a long time now, and I wouldn't change anything! God is so gracious, loving, and kind!

  19. Kelly Jean says

    I love this! I wanted to be Mrs Jordan Knight as well!!! And an artist, gymnast, rock star! I ended up becoming a speech therapist and now stay home.with my boys so I pretty much got to be all of those! Except for marrying Jordan 🙂

  22. Renee King says

    So I have an off the wall type question. I have been reading your blogs for quite some time now (and using a ton of your recipes). Way back before I thought blogs were cool, I had one http://kingsinthecuse.blogspot.com/ . A lot has changed since then. I am now a divorced mom. And although it definitely wasn't what I wanted or expected, I didn't have much say in the matter. I was wondering if you have come across any "single mom type" blogs. It might make me feel more sane in my crazy life. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love all your blogs but every know and then it would feel great to know I'm not alone 🙂 I guess I could start my own if I could get my act together! Thanks for any advice.

  23. She's a big star says

    Our similarities are many! 🙂 I can't believe you wanted to be a US Senator… I went through a phase where I wanted to be one as well! I was so fascinated with politics! It sounds like you and I may cross paths when our kids are grown… my Ryan will be playing against Smith when he plays for the Red Sox AND my Emily has French dreams too so I'm sure we'll be frequenting Kensington's bakery! 🙂

  25. Brittany says

    I wanted to be a Rockette too! My "grandmother" was the youngest original Radio City Roxyette in 1942 (I think that was the year). She lied about her age because she was actually too young to audition (at 17). I am in your boat though, I'm only 5'2" so I wouldn't even make it in the door to audition so you're not alone!

  26. Stacy says

    I bet Grace Thomas(American Girl of the year this year) was a dream come true for Kensington! I know we love her in our house!

  27. V @ X-tremely V says

    I am so with you on Mark Paul! He has aged well 🙂 I had high hopes of being a cashier was I was young. lol! Today my husband and I own our own financial planning practice. I have always loved math and business, so I guess it ended up with something that truly suits me. My only dream now is to be a mom of two! We will see if God has that in his plan 🙂

  28. Aubrey says

    I love your childhood aspirations! I wanted to be a writer or a teacher or the president. (One of the three worked out for me.) And I wanted to marry a boy with brown hair and brown eyes because everyone else liked blonde hair and blue eyes. (I figured my odds went up if the competition was thin.) Which is all to say that I was a dumb kid. 🙂

  29. Ashley says

    You had so many celebrity crushes, haha! My celebrity crush growing up was Elijah Wood from when he was in the movies North, Forever Young, and The Adventures of Huck Finn. I watched those movies about 100 times each. 🙂

    Growing up, I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom and either a veterinarian or a teacher. I was an elementary teacher for 7 years and now I work in educational publishing. I'm not a SAHM mom…yet. 😉

  30. Nancy says

    I just knew I was going to be a dolphin trainer at sea world! Haha. Then I wanted to be a pilot or a beautician (I had some seriously life goals) but I always knew I wanted to take care of babies. I'm a mom of two sweet kids and have been a labor and delivery RN for the past 8 years. I seriously love my jobs!!

  31. Nina Fullerton says

    Growing up, I always loved kids and taking care of kiddos (even when I was one!), and I thought what better job than a teacher? I also, like you, was a dancer for 15 years and loved all things dance so I would tell people "combine the two and I want to be a dance teacher!" That's since passed and I'm a social worker and loving every minute of it 🙂

  32. Jessica says

    When I was in elementary school, I wanted to be the U.S. Ambassador to Australia! I'm a far cry from that, I teach Communication Studies at the local university, but I love my job 🙂

  33. Amanda says

    Hahah…..you & I are on the same page!! I TOTALLY wanted to be Mrs. Jordan Knight….didn't even bother with Joey!!! And helllllooooooo…. Brad Pitt….stop!!! Legends of the Fall is my FAVORITE movie AND my ringtone!!! Gets me everytime my phone goes off!!!!!

  38. Leigh says

    I wanted to be an actress, a Grammy winner (Best New Artist of course), Mrs. Jordan Knight, Mrs. Mark-Paul Gosselaar, a lawyer, a teacher. It's funny to think about because I am none of those things. I also wanted to be a Rockette. I am tall enough but not quite the right size. Lol

  39. KellyinPA says

    Since I met and dated my now husband at the age of 14 ( we'll be married 35 years in October) I never had the celebrity crush thing. I always wanted to be a wife and mom and the Lord was gracious to give me the desire of my heart. Well, there was that one summer that I thought I wanted to be a mail deliverer.;)

  40. Anonymous says

    When I was a little girl I wanted to be a laundry woman because I love the smell of laundry detergents. I ended up studying Economics and Psychology. Now I'm a counsellor who loves to do laundry every weekend :-))

    Cheers, Jane from Oz

  41. Frances says

    Sending you a virtual high five for the NKOTB shoutout. I still love them #whosaidthat 🙂 And when I was in kindergarten, I told my parents I wanted to be a witch when I grew up #highasipirations #nomorehashtags

  42. The Rohman Family says

    I've loved reading everyone's responses. So sweet! I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher and mom to 5 boys. Now I'm a doctor and mom of 3 boys. God is good and I count my blessings every day!

  43. Jeanie says

    Waaaaay back in the olden days, when I was little, women were either a nurse, teacher, secretary or housewife. I'm beyond thrilled to see all the options available now. The sky's the limit! I ended up being an executive secretary, and a darn good one. And I wanted a little boy with blond hair and brown eyes, but got one with dark hair and green eyes. Plus a blonde, blue-eyed daughter.

  44. The Paynes says

    When I was in Kindergarten I wanted to be the Cotton Bowl Queen. I have zero idea where that came from, but I assumed I imagined it! Once I hit first grade I decided I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher like my mom. Now I'm not a kindergarten teacher, but I do teach elementary Special Ed and dyslexia.

  45. Kelly Jo says

    I wanted to be a forensic scientist and almost was… But a foam finger (you know, the kind people wear at sporting events) changed my entire life! Epitome of the butterfly effect.

  46. Cassi Jo says

    I have played the piano since I was 4 years old. I used to travel across TX playing in 10-key ensembles, and I always wanted to study at Juilliard and play the piano behind the scenes for famous singers. Then rheumatoid arthritis hit me when I was a teenager, and I struggle to play at all now. Instead, I'm a Christian counselor specializing in marriage and family counseling. I always had a love for psychology as well, so it all worked out just fine 🙂 I can't wait for the day I'm a mom though… That will be one of my greatest achievements in this life!

  47. Alyssa Albany says

    Love this post Shay! I always wanted to grow up to be a babysitter! I ended up becoming a pediatric nurse in Columbus oh. Guess I wasn't too far off from my childhood dream ?

  48. Voni says

    After seeing how much my mother loves being a nurse, I knew I would have a health career. I was not interested in seeing patients each day and immediately fell in love with the laboratory setting. I received a Master's degree in Surgical and Autopsy Pathology from Duke University. As a Pathologist Assistant, I get to see all types of organs from surgery each day and have a major role in patient care!

  50. Jen R says

    haha! I love all the "Mrs…." you were going to be! and saved by the bell… NYPD blue… and did you see his new one – where he's a lawyer?? yep I watch it just because of him – haha.
    I did my show and tell tuesday too! but on a wednesday. Oh well.
    ♥ Jen
    A Splash of Life Blog