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: re: Carseats in shopping carts
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Sadly, it happens a lot. I actually saw a cart tip over with the car seat attached a few years ago. i have always wondered what happened to that baby.
We use the Maxi Cosi Mico car seat. The main negative review about it is that you cannot put it in the front cart basket because it will not fit. But this is the reason for that.
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to be over, it's about learning how to dance in the rain." -Unknown
Married 3-1-08 | Nathan 11-24-08 | Kaelyn 11-30-10 | Alicia 8-17-13
It happens a lot. If I need to bring the baby into the store in the carrier, I just put him in the main basket. I did this a lot with 2 kids at the beginning (DS1 in the seat, DS2 in the carseat in the main part of the cart). Another option is using my Ergo for DS2 (which works great for us now).
This! I love my Ergo and wraps.
) Plus, DS ends up falling asleep leaving me a cozy, quiet shopping trip. win win!
Yes, this exactly! And now that he's older I wear him on my back so I have no restricted mobility. He passes out within 5 minutes and sleeps the whole time. He hated being strapped into his carseat anyway.
Get a carrier like a Moby or an Ergo. MUCH safer and you can't turn your back.
Like PPs, I usually wear DS in a wrap. It is so awesome to put him in a high back carry so he can see what's going on and I can still interact with him. If it's a short trip or my back is hurting, I'll let him sit in the basket (but won't let go of the cart, which means he comes out during produce shopping), and I'll bring my ring sling for when he gets fussy. I end up getting tons of comments on how great it is that I wear him!
When he was in the infant seat and I didn't want to wake him, I'd put him in the main basket area and either pile stuff around him or pull a separate cart behind me. I definitely won't endanger my child over a slight convenience. I've heard that it's actually more dangerous for a baby to be in a car seat and tip over than out of one, because car seats aren't meant for that type of impact.
I'm not gonna lie, I do this.
I have tried to push two shopping carts at the same time with them both in the main basket, but I am definately not talented enough to push two carts. I've also tried to bring the double stroller and push that and the cart, definately not skilled enough for that either. I've tried to put one in a wrap and the other in the basket, but they LOATHE the wrap.
I usually take my BFF to the store with me that way I can shop, but sometimes I have to go alone. I don't have another option besides to put one on top and the other in the main basket. I literally never take my hand off the car seat though. I am petrified of this happening but I don't know what else to do.
this. Mine clips in on the back and does not move. if I put it in the main part I do not have enough room to buy all the groceries I need without piling them on top of her!
I don't do it, but that's because our car seat doesn't "click" so it doesn't feel secure.
Our grocery store has carts with infant seats attached (the baby is facing you and there is a strap and buckle to keep them in) so I usually use those if I am on my own--- after wiping them down, of course (*cue shopping cart cover debate*)! Or I wait until DH and I can go together for big shops, and if I need to pick up a few things, I keep her in the stroller and use the basket underneath, plus a hand basket if necessary.
90% of people will believe you if you quote a statistic.
Perhaps safer than the alternatives...?
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