I was recently invited to Germany to attend IFA, the leading trade show for consumer electronics and appliances, as a brand ambassador for Samsung Home Appliances. I was excited at the idea of a break from moving boxes and a chance to return to Germany, a place I haven’t visited in many years. In the end, though, I didn’t go.
I’m grateful for a creative outlet built around my passion for home life. The work I do supports our family and allows us to invest time and resources in what matters most to us, like our children and our church. I truly love what I get to do every day, and that makes life joyful.
Still, the jobs we do to provide for our family and the everyday household tasks aren’t the legacy we leave. What matters most is our presence, the love, and the attention we give to our people.
This event would have taken me away from home during the first week of school for my son. He was starting at a brand new school where he knew no one, and even though he’s 15 and largely independent, my heart was already a little scattered. I’m his mom, and being nearby on that first day felt important to both of us.
Being present sometimes requires sacrifice — saying no, or “not yet,” to even great opportunities. For me, there was no place I’d rather have been than at home with my family. I feel fortunate to have been able to stay home with my kids, but making the right choice isn’t always easy. Moms balance providing for their families with being there in the moments that matter.
I want to thank Samsung for inviting me and for understanding my decision to put family first. Even though I missed the trip, I was interested to learn about the innovations Samsung showcased. A well-functioning appliance is one of those household necessities that can make daily life run smoothly. We rely on our appliances to handle routine tasks so we can focus on what matters most.
Which brings me to a flustering situation that happened this week at our house. When we moved to Seattle, we chose to sell our reliable six-year-old Samsung washer and dryer to avoid moving them. The new house already had a washer and dryer and a gas hookup, whereas our old set was electric. It seemed sensible at the time—until the dryer in the new house stopped working. We’d only been here a couple of weeks.
Now we’re spending hours researching repair options to see if the dryer can be fixed, or if we’ll need to replace it. This was not part of our plan. In the meantime, laundry piles up on the floor and towels are draped over every surface in hopes of drying. I’m grateful we have a large laundry room—if nothing else, there’s space for the chaos—yet it’s a stark reminder of how frustrating and time-consuming inefficient appliances can be.
Samsung aims to create appliances that enhance daily life by working effortlessly behind the scenes. When appliances don’t perform reliably, it affects our ability to manage the home and be present for family. The function of our home supports how we function as people and as caregivers. We are the heartbeat of the household, and its efficiency impacts our day-to-day well-being.
At the IFA event in Germany, Samsung highlighted how the Internet of Things can transform home life. Smart home systems like Samsung SmartThings let you monitor, control, and secure your home from a phone, giving a measure of peace of mind. For a parent, being able to check on the home and family remotely is reassuring.
Samsung also unveiled practical laundry innovations, such as the WW8500 AddWash, which includes an extra door for adding items mid-cycle without splashing water everywhere. Little features like that can make daily tasks easier, especially when you’re trying to squeeze one more thing into a load.
Another device I found interesting was SLEEPsense, a slim circular sensor that slides under a mattress. It tracks heart rate, respiratory rate, and movement during sleep, then provides a sleep score and suggestions via an app. For tired parents, tools that help improve sleep are a welcome aid.
No one wants to be a sleep-deprived parent dealing with a broken dryer. Small conveniences and reliable appliances help keep homes running smoothly and families healthy and safe.
I am proud to be a brand ambassador for Samsung Home Appliances and created this post as part of that partnership; my experiences and opinions are my own.
What have you changed about your home’s functionality, or what have you had to say ‘no’ to, in order to be more present for what truly matters?