Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Miller.
We are Darren and Julie, proud parents of a four-year-old little man and a sweet baby girl. Darren and Julie met in Atlanta, GA on Valentine’s Day in 2011 at a bowling alley. Darren messaged Julie on Facebook to get her number and shortly after, they had their first date. Unbeknownst to Darren on their date, Julie walked to the bar in hopes that he would offer her a ride home. She had it all worked out in her mind: he would ask to walk her to her car, but since she didn’t drive, he would offer her a ride home and plant a kiss that would spark fireworks. Well, he was too nervous at the end of the date and he darted off so quickly that she was stuck at the entrance to the bar, all alone. Julie walked the one mile home at midnight in red high heels. She broke the news to him a few months later (this was pre-Uber days). He hasn’t “made” her walk home on a date since.
They fell hard and fast and got engaged nine months later. They married ten months after that and waited two years to have their first child. Their son is a wild child, always on the go and craving adventure. He gives hugs and kisses and then in the next moment he will sprint down the hallway naked and screaming for a toy. If the Miller house is quiet, they start to worry about what he is getting into. Their little girl is taking in the world one day at a time. They pray she will be the “calm” one, but then again, they will take what we get as long as she is healthy.
Julie and Darren are both full-time working parents that share the same laughs and struggles as many parents. Julie is a physical therapist and Darren works in finance. They know that it is hard to work a full day, put dinner on the table, get the kids to bed, run a household, and stay sane. Before the Millers became parents, it was easy for them to do things like go out to eat, travel, put on sunscreen and even take a shower. Now that they are in the thick of it, they understand the struggle. Parenting is hard, it is wearing, it is draining. But, it offers priceless moments that fill their hearts with enough joy to outweigh the times they want to pull out their hair.
So, in 2018, Julie decided to launch a website called All American Parent with the tagline “Make the Most of Your Mess.” She wanted to create something that she could share realistic parenting struggles and a comedic relief through her and blog posts and Instagram word memes.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As we created this website, we had doubts and fears of failure. Would anyone read the posts? Would their posts help parents get a good laugh and make an easy dinner? Was it even worth it? But then Julie began writing – and she didn’t care. She loved researching, writing, and creating posts for the everyday parent. This has been her escape.
It hasn’t been easy for her to find time to write, and Julie states that is the biggest struggle. However, she loves it and it is relaxing and fulfilling to her. Every once in awhile Darren throws in a manly perspective as well.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with All American Parent – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Julie and Darren know there are many other parenting websites out there that offer advice, parenting tips, and how to make the perfect six layer unicorn birthday cake. They needed something that was not idealistic but realistic. When they first became parents, they thought every day would be magical. Baby snuggles and coos would fill their home and easy family dinners at the table would happen every night, right? They imagined those Instagram and Facebook-worthy pictures of the perfect day at the zoo followed by a peaceful drive home, a nap, and healthy toddler dinner. Ya right. That is not their world and they know it is not most.
The Millers may go to the zoo, but it is after the 20-minute car seat struggle and chasing after their kid to not crawl into the gorilla pit so they don’t make the evening news. Dinner then consists of whatever is easily re-heatable from the freezer. Julie found that you pretty much feel alone in your struggles until you connect with others and realize you are not the only one who parents by the survival method.
So, she started All American Parent – the IMperfect parenting blog with accomplishable tips and suggestions that make their life easier, including easy to read and quick family meals without 20 pictures to scroll through and a random story about the writer’s cat before you get to the recipe. They post about things that make their day more manageable in hopes that it will help you too. You may be married or divorced, work two jobs or be a stay at home parent. They state, “every situation varies, but it all boils down to raising our kids and doing our best to stay organized enough to make it to the next wild day.”
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
In the future, Julie would like to post more frequently and connect to other moms and bloggers in the Atlanta area. She has come to find that it is challenging to function without a village – a community. She plans to connect with other bloggers in her niche and grow her website to become the go-to online parenting outlet.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.allamericanparent.com
- Email: allamericanparent1@gmail.com
- Instagram: @allamericanparent
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/allamericanparent
Image Credit:
Personal photo: Jeff Roffman Photography
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
