Today we’d like to introduce you to Tawauna Stafford.
Hi Tawauna, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a child, my fairytale story was to just be a mom and wife. I never really thought about having a career. While others shared their desires to become lawyers, teachers, business owners and etc; mine was set on being a great wife and mother of 10. I grew up in a home with my grandmother, uncle, mom, and siblings. I became a mother at the age of 17. After birthing two children I eventually married my childhood sweetheart. It seemed my fairytale life was coming true. I received devastating news from my doctor that I would not be able to successfully birth anymore children. Years went by and I prayed to God for another opportunity to birth life. I can remember crying so hard and asking God, “Why me”. It seemed so unfair because my dream in life was only to be a wife and mother of many. It felt like God had forgot about me. People would say, “ You did good, you have a son and daughter not knowing my heart desire was to birth more children. After years of praying, I birth a son in 2006 and another in 2007. My fairytale life was quickly fading away, God was giving me the desires of my heart, but I was feeling lost and unappreciated. My happily married after was becoming a nightmare. I went through a divorce which impacted everyone near and close to me. Miscommunications and sometimes no communication led me to feel abandoned. I found peace in a person I never thought I would. Soon after my divorce I married my soulmate. Through our union as one, I birthed two daughters. Through our union I also have a bonus daughter. It seemed my life had swiftly shifted before my eyes and here I was at 40 trying to figure out my “WHY” and how I got here. One day it seemed a light bulb went off and instead of asking, “Why me Lord”, my language changed to “Why not Me, Lord?” I had faced many struggles and disappointments however yet God kept his promises to me. I learned to expect more great things and begun to use my life lessons by sharing my story to inspire women to press their way through. One day, I heard the words, “To whom much is given, much is required of you”. I knew then that God had more in store for me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s started off feeling like a rough journey; Teen mom to married while yet feeling single to divorce and remarrying with a blended family. I went from owning my own business to working in corporate America.A wife and mother working her way up the corporate ladder into leadership roles. I wouldn’t change my life experiences because it helped me become the woman I am today. Through my journey my ministry, XPCTMor was created for me to use my journey to help us press their way through. As of today, I am a happily married woman of 12 years, a mother of seven, grandmother of one granddaughter and a grand baby on the way. God has blessed me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I work in the Financial Industry. I’m passionate about my ministry of using my testimony to inspire, encourage, empower and serve in the community. I’m most proud of my servant leadership and helping others create their personal brand through in person and social media platforms.
What does success mean to you?
I define success as bringing the best version of yourself day after day; understanding that every day will bring about change and it’s okay to ask for help and take care of yourself first so you can help others
