Folks We Love with Dianna Barton from Plum and Sparrow
Tell us a little bit about your journey and how you’ve come to arrive here.
I’m an LA born and raised girl who found herself stuck in a rural small town in high school. After I graduated, I packed up whatever would fit in my little Mitsubishi, kissed that tiny town goodbye, and headed to San Diego. Fate intertwined my life with my husbands 12 years ago and it’s been an adventure filled whirlwind since.
Who’s in your family? Ages? Names?
I have 6 peeps in my little tribe. My husband Josh, [Myself of course] and our littles, Gavin [10], Grady [7], Griffin [4] and Lanie [2]
How did you choose your kids names?
First I must mention that the hubby and I never intended on having our boys be all “G” names, it just happened. That being clarified, I named my oldest Gavin because I have loved that name since high school. My husband named our second child Grady purely because it makes a great name for an athlete. My best friend named our third child [because my husband and I could not agree]. My husband and I chose our daughters name 8 years prior to having her when we were pregnant with our first before we knew his gender. Obviously we really loved Lanie’s name.
Location?
San Diego, California
Occupation?
Stay at home mama and Owner of Plum+Sparrow
What’s on your manifest board?
Pinterest is pretty much my manifest board. It’s filled with beautiful places to travel, adventures to experience and life moments I want to show and share with my kids.
Tell us some of your most loved ways to spend the day with your clan?
I’m not sure how to narrow this down. I’d say my most loved ways to spend the day with my little crew are either at the beach, paddle boarding at the lagoon or playing games together. Being a mama to 3 boys and one very rough and tumble girl, we love to busy. I cherish these days the most because they involve the most laughter and play and the least amount of whining and fighting.
What are some silly/fun things that the kids do or say?
One of the silly/fun things I’m loving right now is the fact that my 3 boys will dress up, act out and sing “Let it go” with their baby sister. It’s pretty funny and cute.
When you were a teenager what did you dream of? Do things look different?
In all honesty, I dreamed of a studio loft in the city and working in the corporate world. I might be to honest in saying that I never really imagined children in my future. My life looks completely different than what I dreamed of and I am so grateful for that. I live in the suburbs, with toys and bikes strewn all over my yard. With constant, never ending, piles of laundry, toys and dirty dishes. I had made the decision to leave the working world after I got pregnant with my first, which for me, was a pretty big and hard decision. I am so grateful that my life took the path and course that it has. I’m now pursuing a little bit of that teenage dream with the launch of my company Plum+Sparrow and know that my life is unfolding the perfectly imperfect way I never imagined.
What are some things you really believe in?
Being kind, forgiving and loving of those around us and in our lives. I think these are a few things that we are seeing less and less of in the world, but need the most.
Where do your passions lie?
In learning and in my family.
Has your relationship with your other half changed since having kids?
Our relationship has definitely changed. It changes with every child we have. It grows, evolves and deepens everyday. My first child was actually a honeymoon baby so we only had 9 months of marriage under our belts. There’s so much to learn and understand about each other with every kid.
What are some of your favorite life lessons you’ve grown to love? (even if learning them at the time was hard)
Forgiveness. I went through some experiences in my childhood that led me on quite a journey, and in the process I’ve come to experience the healing power of true forgiveness.
What do you wish you could’ve told yourself when you were a teenager?
When it comes to getting what you want in life, don’t take no for an answer.
What do you find most challenging about being somebody’s parent?
Patience!
What do you want your kids to learn about the world?
Enjoy it. Love it. And always look for the good in it.
What are 4 things you can’t live without as a parent?
Four things……God, Exercise, Starbucks and of course my Mama Village.