Hello, let me introduce myself first..
For the first 30 years of my life, everything was smooth and worry-free. I was my parents’ most beloved child, found my true love in college, and happily married him after graduation.
At work, I was my boss’s most valued employee. Whenever I was in charge of a project, colleagues would inevitably say, “Oh, then I’m totally at ease.” I was constantly named “Employee of the Year,” with generous bonuses every year.
Later, I started my own business. Within just three months, I had broken into the market and started making money. By the fifth month, I was earning twice my previous salary. Growth was steady month after month. Right when the business needed more hands, I serendipitously met an amazing partner, and the company reached a whole new level.
Really, it seemed like at every step, whatever I needed, a pair of hands would always place it right in front of me, just in time.
My Two Girls: Ellie & Mia
Meet Ellie, My Firstborn
In 2020, my husband and I decided to have a child. After trying for over a year, we finally got the news in 2021 that a little one was on the way. In 2022, we welcomed our first child, Ellie. She made me a mother.
She is utterly adorable—big eyes, rosy skin, chubby little hands. Every time I look at her, I can’t help but give her a kiss. She is pure joy, and I love her more each day.
But as a first-time mom, I faced unprecedented difficulties. The postpartum tearing wouldn’t heal, and the pain was excruciating. Clogged milk ducts made my breasts hard as rocks. The severe sleep deprivation… And what was even more crushing was that, with zero parenting experience, I was clueless when faced with her unexplained wailing, night terrors, refusal to nurse, constipation, diarrhea, fevers… I desperately searched online, longing for one accurate, truly useful answer!
It was during this time that I thought, once I make it through this “dark” path, I must leave a light on for other new moms.
And Then Came Mia
Ellie had just turned one when I got pregnant again. In 2024, we welcomed our second daughter, Mia.
Completely different from Ellie, Mia is a great eater and sleeper. Although she had her fussy moments in the first two months, starting almost from month three, she became super easygoing. She feeds on schedule, gradually sleeps through the night, loves her solid foods, and adapted quickly when I had to stop breastfeeding due to mastitis.
This made me realize just how vastly different babies can be! It made me even more determined to write about my experiences.
Why I Had to Start This Blog
The Catalyst: A Life Pivoted
After Mia was born, my business also began to decline sharply. I had no choice but to close it and become a full-time mom. My work no longer involves Excel and Word, but instead revolves around changing diapers, washing bottles, making baby food, and managing household chores…
This has been a monumental challenge for me. All my past achievements seem irrelevant now. Managing two young children has brought me a sense of frustration I’ve never known before.
The Daily Reality
They are always fighting over things. When one is in my arms, the other immediately demands to be held too. When I try to cook, Ellie wants me to read her a book. When I attempt to load the washing machine, Mia has a diaper blowout, and I must drop everything to change her…
By the time I finish all that, I see the cup of hot coffee on the table has gone cold again. And it’s not until evening that I remember, “Oh my goodness, the clothes are still in the hamper, unwashed!”
Of course, being a mom is filled with happiness, but that doesn’t negate how hard it is.
My Promise to You
Because I’ve walked this path myself, I won’t just tell you how joyful motherhood is, like many websites do. I want to share my real, unfiltered experiences so every new mom can find a “companion” here.
I want to tell you: you are not alone. What you’re going through, I’ve been there too. Your breakdowns, your helplessness, your moments of losing control—I’ve had them all. You don’t need to feel guilty. This is just a small, necessary stretch of the journey for every mom.
My Hope for This Space
I really want to share my parenting experiences—not just the warm, glowing moments, but to honestly document the pitfalls I’ve stumbled into, the tears I’ve shed, and the “survival wisdom” I’ve scraped together in utter exhaustion.
The Goal: A Mom’s Toolkit
I hope this blog becomes a “mom’s toolkit,” filled not with vague theories, but with:
- Practical Tips: Like how to quickly figure out why a baby is crying, tried-and-true methods for dealing with clogged ducts, or how to efficiently manage the daily grind with twins (or two under two) solo.
- Pitfall Avoidance Guides: Sharing the baby products I regret buying the most, and those “game-changer” parenting hacks. Letting you know which parenting anxieties you can let go of, and which principles are worth holding onto.
- A Community for Moms: I hope my stories connect me with more moms like you. We can cheer each other on in the comments, share our own tricks, turning the storms we face alone into a journey we walk together.
The Bigger Vision
My previous career taught me to analyze data, solve problems, and optimize processes. Now, I’m applying all those skills to this new “position” of Mom. I want to prove that a mom’s value is absolutely not confined to the home. The mindset, resilience, and creativity we built in our careers can shine just as brightly—perhaps even brighter—in this more complex, long-term “project” of raising humans, and can even be transformed into a force that helps others.
My hope is simple: that every mom who opens this blog can let out a sigh of relief and say, “So it’s not just me.” Then, she can find a bit of practical info, a dose of comforting solidarity, and return to her sweet, chaotic mom-life with a little more confidence and a little less weight on her shoulders.
This road? Let’s walk it together.
FmrAFBrat
member
Re: So lets play a game....
Where did you grow up? Huntington Beach, CA
Where do you live now? Buena Park, CA
How long have you been married or with your S/O? Just over 1 year, together 6
Do you have any kids currently? No, but we did have guardianship of our niece from birth to 3 months so we practiced a bit.
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? Caffeine, the decaf Pumpkin Spice Lattes are just not the same.
June Bugs Blog
Where did you grow up? Born in Salem, Mass., grew up in Lawton/Fort Sill, Oklahoma
Where do you live now? Grand Rapids, Michigan
How long have you been married or with your S/O? We have been married for 2 1/2 years.
Do you have any kids currently? No we don't, just this one that's growing.
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? Mountain Dew. I used to drink one every day because I worked 2 jobs and figured it was like drinking coffee. Now I really miss it.
Where did you grow up? Everywhere, my dad was in the Marines, I was born in North Carolina, but I guess I call Riverside, CA my hometown.
Where do you live now? Rancho Cucamonga, CA
How long have you been married or with your S/O? 1 year and 4 months
Do you have any kids currently? Nope, just two little furbabies
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? I've only known for a few days, but at this point I'd have to say Coffee!! Decaf just isn't doing it for me
Where did you grow up? Central Coast CA
Where do you live now? Southern CA
How long have you been married or with your S/O? 3 years
Do you have any kids currently? No
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? Being able to eat- everything makes me nauseous right now
Where did you grow up? Near Mansfield, OH
Where do you live now? Near Dayton, OH
How long have you been married or with your S/O? Just over 4 years
Do you have any kids currently? This will be our first
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? Not missing much yet - just my occassional mixed drink, wine, or beer.
Where did you grow up? Peru, IL
Where do you live now? Chicago, IL
How long have you been married or with your S/O? 5 months, together 2 years.
Do you have any kids currently? nope, this is our first
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? Sleeping through the night without having to get up to pee!
Grew up: Indiana/Chicago
Live now: Raleigh
We've been together for 5.5 years, married just over 3.
No kids (except our two cats!)
Pumpkin ale during football. At least I made a pumpkin cheesecake today (with gingersnap brown sugar crust) so I'll get my pumpkin fix during the games!
We'll always remember our angel baby: BFP 9/24/10, M/C 10/23/10 8w4d
Where did you grow up? Michigan
Where do you live now? Minnesota
How long have you been married or with your S/O? Married 1.5 years, together 6 years
Do you have any kids currently? Nope, just our son Ziggy (cat)
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? Coffee and just eating whatever I want without having to stop and think if it's "ok" to eat
Where did you grow up? Northern VA
Where do you live now? Northern VA (exciting, I sure get around, dont' I?)
How long have you been married or with your S/O? 1 year as of last Sunday
Do you have any kids currently? Just a furry brown one named Sammy (see profile pic)
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? wine, turkey sandwiches, sleeping through the night
Where did you grow up? I was born in Brooklyn, NY... moved to Staten Island, NY when I was 4. Moved to Central NJ when I was 12.
Where do you live now? Jersey Shore, NJ
How long have you been married or with your S/O? 1 year and a little of 3 months
Do you have any kids currently? No! We just have a yellow lab puppy named Diesel
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? Being a little less carefree. Now I worry about every single pain, stitch, twinge, ache, etc.
Where did you grow up? Boston, MA
Where do you live now? a little south of Boston
How long have you been married or with your S/O? We will be married 3 years on Nov 3.
Do you have any kids currently? Nope, just our 2 year old bulldog
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? Sleeping throught the night, which I never had trouble with before I had to pee twice a night, being able to eat anything or use any kind of product without thinking if it's ok, being able to talk to family and friends without constantly thinking that I have a secret
Where did you grow up? La Pine, OR
Where do you live now? Bend, OR (I only made it 30 miles away from home!)
How long have you been married or with your S/O? Married for 1 yr 2 mo and together for 4
Do you have any kids currently? J.J. our Jack Russell and Dominik our exchange student... why not start off with a teenager huh?
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? TEA! I have read so many mixed reviews on tea during pregnancy. Obviously, I don't want anything with caffiene, but I didn't drink any before either. I can't wait for my appt this week to see what I can and can't drink.
Where did you grow up? Akron, OH
Where do you live now? Akron, OH
How long have you been married or with your S/O? 7+ years
Do you have any kids currently? Nope
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? The occassional adult beverage, iced tea, and not feeling nauseous.
Where do you live now? suburb of Dallas, TX
How long have you been married or with your S/O? newlywed... just this past June
Do you have any kids currently? Nope, just our furbaby, Gibson
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? Wine and coffee
? Kristen & Austin ~ Married 07.04.09 ?
Where did you grow up? Lead, SD
Where do you live now? Spearfish, SD
How long have you been married or with your S/O? Married 3 years, together 5.
Do you have any kids currently? No, just one attention-hogging fur baby named Howie
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? Well, I wasn't missing anything, until last night when I poured a glass of wine for my sis and her husband!! It smelled soooo good!!
Where do you live now? Central Florida
How long have you been married or with your S/O? We've been married for almost 7 months and together for 2 years this month. We've known each other for 5.5 years total (friends first)
Do you have any kids currently? nope
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? going to nightclubs (too much smoke) and I don't have as much energy as I did before so I probably wouldn't feel up to staying out late anyway
Where did you grow up? Deerfield, IL
Where do you live now? Chicago, IL
How long have you been married or with your S/O? Married 7+ years. Together 12 years.
Do you have any kids currently? Yes, a DD named Samantha who is 2 years 3 months old.
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? Having a drink! Today's my birthday and I have to "fake drink" tonight when we go out to dinner with friends! No one knows I'm pg!
Happy Birthday !
June Bugs Blog
Where do you live now? California
How long have you been married or with your S/O? Married 2 years, together 5
Do you have any kids currently? Nope, this will be our first
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? I almost ordered a margarita last week at my favorite mexican joint, out of habit. Other than alcohol, I'm pretty much doing what I've always done.
Where did you grow up? North Plainfield, NJ
Where do you live now? we are actually living back in my home town
How long have you been married or with your S/O? on Nov 3 we will be married for 3 years. together for about 6 years.
Do you have any kids currently? nope this will be our first
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? i actually thought i would miss coffee but since i gave it up while doing IVF it hasn't been so bad.
Where did you grow up? Dallas, Texas area
Where do you live now? Coppell, Texas
How long have you been married or with your S/O? 6 and a half years together, 3 and a half years married
Do you have any kids currently? nope, just our fur baby Fiona
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? caffeine, but it is well worth it!
Where did you grow up? Northern NJ, not far from NYC
Where do you live now? Northern NJ, not far from MYC* (* I did esxcape for @ 10 yearsd, living in & around Boston; I love & miss it!)
How long have you been married or with your S/O? Married 1 year, 5 months
Do you have any kids currently? No, this is our first
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? CARBS! I'm following a more low carb, protein rich diet after consulting with my OB/GYN. I'm hanging in there, though
"5.01.09"
Where did you grow up? A small town in Virginia
Where do you live now? Richmond, VA
How long have you been married or with your S/O? Married for 2 months, together for 1.5 years
Do you have any kids currently? Nope (unless you count our 2 spoiled cats) This is our first
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? The Coke Zero I used to drink with lunch every day.
Where did you grow up? Wooster, OH
Where do you live now? Las Vegas, NV
How long have you been married or with your S/O? Just over a year.
Do you have any kids currently? Hoping that this will be our first! (not counting 2 cats and our pup.)
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? My Kona coffee, but am getting used to the decaf version, and sushi. I knew we should have gone last week--before I even thought to test!
Where did you grow up? Modesto area, CA
Where do you live now? same
How long have you been married or with your S/O? married 4.5 years
Do you have any kids currently? 2 (1 & 3 yr. old) and a stepson (12)
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? my stomach....I've been nauseous day and night for over a week.
Where did you grow up? New Jersey
Where do you live now? Boston (just north of Boston)
How long have you been married or with your S/O? 1 year on Nov. 7th
Do you have any kids currently? 0, except the one in my tummy
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? wine, definitely alcohol.
Where did you grow up? Westport, MA
Where do you live now? Williston, VT
How long have you been married or with your S/O? 3 years, 3months
Do you have any kids currently? no babies, 2 puppers
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? sleep, real food, sushi, wine, seasonal beer...
Where did you grow up? Miami, FL
Where do you live now? Miami, FL
How long have you been married or with your S/O? Married: 4yrs; Together: almost 10
Do you have any kids currently? No, this will be our first LO
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? Coffee, I'm not a big coffee drinker but ever since I found out I'm pregnant I seem to want some everyday!
October Siggy: Then & Now
At The Pumpkin Patch
Where did you grow up? Williamsburg, Va
Where do you live now? Charlotte, NC
How long have you been married or with your S/O? Married for 11 months, together 5 years
Do you have any kids currently? None
What are you missing the most since you found out you were pregnant? Coffee-I've switched to Decaf but it isn't the same.