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.
Re: Feeding a 3 month old mashed potatoes?!
lol....
I actually don't mind the whole "giving them a taste" thing. Why not. (as long as it's not peanuts, etc)
But I don't care for propped bottles. I am going to have to site you all for eating at the Cheesecake Factory though. het het.
I made my MIL cry because I would not let her put icing on E's tongue.
I agree, no way on the foods....
And as fas as the propped bottle. I admit, once when a crying fit occurs and we were in the car, I did this and I was consumed with guilt.
I don't know what the heck is wrong with people, or what the hurry is to start solids. It's really not that exciting. Wait as long as you can, people, enjoy the less disgusting poop lol.
Then again, my girls' first taste of anything other than EBM was licking a drop of mint chocolate chip ice cream off my finger at about 5 mo old. I waited until 6 mo for solids like a good Mommy, but did randomly let them try the ice cream lol.
I don't do propped bottles except for propping Charlotte's bottle while I hold her so that I have a free hand to feed Alice her bottle. I only have one hand, so I can't hold both bottles at once. If you only have one kid, and two hands, you don't have an excuse
someone tell me what's the problem with propped bottles?
ok so a propped bottle here and there isn't going to kill a mother/baby bond though. Obviously all the time would be a bad thing.
Also are you talking about ALL kids that drink bottles? or just the ones that can't help hold it up themselves?
I guess I don't see a problem when a child can hold up a bottle on their own, but maybe that isn't considered propped.
It's not propped if the baby is holding it!
I don't really understand why anyone would prop a bottle. I agree that it's not going to kill the bonding to prop it once in awhile, but why would you? Feeding your baby is pretty central to being a mom.
I admitted freely I propped a bottle up once, and I actually agree with those who dislike it. I felt so bad that I was unable to stop (I was at a traffic light and I gave him the bottle) because I needed to pick my husband up. I felt like i was cheating him of the time it would take to stop, give him attention and so on.
It just felt selfish and although I know no lasting damage was done, Jody is right, Feeding him is is basic part of being his Mom. He actually holds his own bottle now (new last week!) but I can't imagine not feeding him anymore.
I'll back you on this Emiannie. We were very much in the "no solids before 6 months" boat (though I understand there are exceptions for reflux, etc.). I certainly wouldn't give whipped cream before a year. Of course, it could have been non-dairy whipped cream, but then I'd be worried about it being full of all kinds of artificial ingredients, which we try to avoid.
And propped bottles =
.
"I have four children. Two are adopted. I forget which two. -Bob Constantine
"All for Love,' a Saviour prayed 'Abba Father have Your way. Though they know not what they do...Let the Cross draw men to You...."
Very true what everyone said. FWIW, she was very proud of herself for finding a way to rig up propping the bottle in his carseat...so it happens a lot. And while we were eating DH said he saw him sucking air several times. BUT you're right, it's their kid, not mine. Perhaps feeding babies a taste of stuff isn't a bad idea, but it's not for me. The bottle propping is not good period in my opinion.
Thanks for the feedback though...sometimes I need to reminded that I need to just worry about myself and my family...not everyone else.