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.
2brides
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Re: Weekend Plans
My dad is in town this weekend which is both nice and stressful.
Tonight I think we are going to meet him for dinner when I get out of work.
Tomorrow L is going to make the revisions on her proposal while I take the kids to swimming and then I think my dad and I will take the kids to their inaugural Chuck E. Cheese experience. Lord help me. I made reservations for us all to go to a nicer restaurant for dinner.
Sunday we might take the kids to a bounce place that actually has open bounce on a weekend (unheard of around here!) No idea what we'll do the rest of the day.
Monday my dad leaves in the AM and neither L or I have work and the kids are out of school. I think I will take the kids to a skating rink where they let kids ride scooters/bikes/etc while L works on her proposal. We need to make a Costco run in there too.
Tonight - nothing that I know of. I need to get some computer/office time to sort mail, pay bills, etc.
Saturday - I'm going to a Mac & Cheese festival while K works on her dissertation. I'm trying desperately to find a sitter so that I can't go to the Mac & Cheese fest with out DD. I took her last year, she enjoyed it, but it is soooo crowded that it is hard to let her walk and if I wear her on my back, it's hard to feed her the mac & cheese. ::sigh::
Sunday - I'll take DD to a farmer's market and then run errands while K works on her dissertation.
Tonight we're having dinner with Trav's brother and SIL, and their son, who are in town for Gwen's party.
Tomorrow is Gwen 2nds birthday party! Should be a lot of fun.
Sunday, just hanging out with a few people who are sticking around town for a bit post-party. Trav's brother, a good college friend of mine.
Maybe I don't have a heightened sense of smell, but I've never smelled any vagina on my pants. -- TSD
Bloggity Blog - You know you want to...
I wish you were closer to create a Dissertation Widow's Club.
Fri: Picking up Ky and not doing much of anything beyond that. I have been craving some Subway and might pick that up for dinner instead of cooking. I am hoping I can get to the grocery tonight while Ky sleeps....that was so relaxing yesterday.
Sat: Up early to clean. I have to meet the new potential babysitter at noon and then stop by my old office to pick up something from one of my old co-workers. Home for a nap for Ky and more cleaning for me. M is coming back into town that afternoon and if I do not make it to the grocery Friday I am dragging her with me then. Some other friends are coming over for drinks and game noght later in the evening. Our friend K will arrive sometime late and will be staying until Thursday. She is house hunting since she got a job down here and still has no place to live.
Sun: No idea yet but since K will be with us maybe head out somewhere with Ky....Amazing Race starts and I always watch it!
Monday is not a holiday for either of us but since K is going to be in town and has nothig to do but look for houses and call around she is going to watch Ky all week!
My weekend started early thanks to a sick babe that desperately needs a nap but is currently babbling away in her crib...tonight's plans include getting the baby to break her fever and sleep.
tomorrow, more of the same. in the evening my aunt (who, conveniently, is a nurse so we dont have to cancel in the event of still sick baby) is watching the kids so DW and I can go out for Vday. We are going to the melting pot. I'm beyond excited.
sunday, possible playdate depending upon sick child status.
monday the kids dont have daycare/school so DW and I are splitting shifts.
tuesday Sprout still doesnt have school so he and I are having a "Yes Day"!
Blogs: Our Growing Family - CT Working Moms
Tonight: I am going to game night at a friend's place. She has some single friends she wants to introduce me to and I'm not feeling the pressure at all.
Actually, I am very much looking forward to meeting some new ladies and well, who knows... E is staying with her dad tonight so they can have some extra time and I don't have to hurry home.
Tomorrow: I'll pick E up in the morning. No plans for the day really, tomorrow night we'll go to roller derby.
Sunday: E has asked me many times about going ice skating, so I think we may go to a place nearby during their afternoon open skate time. Is it odd that I don't think I've ever been ice skating? Well...I don't live in the northeast so maybe it's not. Anywho...it should be fun...and painful.
Monday: Work is closed and so is E's school! No plans to speak of yet, maybe a movie or something else to get us out of the house.
Tonight: J is sick, so I'm with CT - I'm hoping the fever will break and he will sleep (neither happened last night, which makes for a tired mama at work today).
Tomorrow: Checking out kitchen stores to see if we can come up with a project for the new house. The new house. Gosh, it's really happening.
Sunday: Church, possibly. It's our new pastor's first Sunday. After that, who knows...
Monday: We're both off! Fun day with our kiddo. Yay!
I guess there's not much going on this weekend!
I'd join!
This weekend is going to hopefully be really low-key.
Tonight I am going to veg out and quietly celebrate the end to my workplace drama. Problem people have been effectively removed, and as painful as that was it's for the better and I will finally be able to actually do my job! S has to work on interviews and transcription for her dissertation so I am flying solo with lapdog for company.
Tomorrow the plan is to spend some time together the three of us as a family. We need to go grocery shopping and maybe even to the park or beach if we have the energy.
Sunday I want to get some cleaning done. I HATE cleaning, but no better time than the long weekend when I can take Monday off to recuperate.
Monday hopefully will again be a low-key family day. I feel like we aren't spending that much time together, or when we are that we are both too stressed out to enjoy it, so I want to take advantage of this break in the routine and have a good time!
Knowing what you both are going through...I would offer to babysit so you both could have occasional "spa" days!
Tonight: Hopefully, rest from last night's chain of events. I think the Kiddos will be ready for bed as soon as they hit the door. (Due to a doctor's appt mid-morning they are only going to get about an hours' nap.)
Tomorrow: I think we are planning to get Little Man a haircut and both of them some new shoes. Also, my Mom wants me to replace Peanut's boots (the strap broke) so maybe a JC Penney stop. Also, for some strange reason I have been wanting to go to Walmart...go figure. Hopefully, we can fit that in.
Sunday: Weather might keep us house bound...we will see.
Monday: ... any ideas C?
Today I'm off work, and EV went in late so we were able to grab some pastries at the Bovine Bakery together and have a few morning minutes. Then I wrote a brief 3-4 page paper and took the dogs to the dog park for a run (and to give me some relief for the rest of the afternoon). Now Kira all wet from the shower she needed when we got home smells like damp puppy at my feet.
I have another paper and a bunch of homework to do this weekend, because next weekend we're off to Tucson to visit my parents.
Saturday and Sunday are yet undecided but I have fallen in love with a house and I'm kind of obsessing on it and what the next steps will be. We had the appraisal done last week - so we'll see. It's a total fixer, but built in 1915 and in the cutest neighborhood in our town... With potential rental space that needs some remodeling - but could significantly offset our expenses... We'll see.