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.
mchupie
member
Re: S/o warning - don't be this dumb
I don't buy into the "eat/drink/do this to induce labor" - I'm betting had she left well enough alone, she probably would have gone into labor anyway.
That being said - I don't know why people would purposely try to induce labor before their EDD. 40 weeks is 40 weeks and unless your doctor says otherwise, you're waiting at least 40 weeks to meet your LO. Not 35.
Right. Can a meal induce labor? Probably not. Does that mean you should give it a whirl anyway in an attempt to have a preemie? Uh, no, captain idiot.
Carina 12.28.2010 | Aurelia 9.23.12 | Chart - Round 3
I dont think I have ever tasted an eggplant before...is it like a squash? As much as I watch the Food Network I dont think I have ever seen anyone cook with one. That being said I had no idea it was an OWT either. I get that people get grumpy and want baby to come soon, especially the VBACer's, but you now, I think its just in the best interest of mom and baby to wait.
Dexter 08/31/2012~Summer 07/25/2011~Jack 10/21/2008~Aaron 08/12/2007
Here too...it's not your baby. Who cares?! Chances are if she's making decisions like this before her baby is even out, she's the kind of parent we'd all be judging later on for posting something stupid on TB.
Aside from that, the recipe does sound really good. However, since I am terrified of the end result of labor, i.e. bringing home a baby, so there's no way I would make it out of sheer fear. This is one that I emailed to my sister though to make for me after baby gets here.
Nancy James 9.1.12
Calvin Donald 8.27.14
I'm also in the camp of labor will happen when it happens but to actually try labor inducing OWTs early with a history of a premature baby in hopes that it works is insane.
I don't believe it at all. I've had eggplant parm from various restraunts while being pregnant and I am still pregnant. No labor has happened. I also agree with all the posts that it's rediculous to be trying so early to go into labor.
It's not stupid to eat it. It's fine. However if you HAPPEN to go into preterm labor don't post a recipe on here and be like "Yayy! My eggplant parm put me in [preterm] labor!" THAT is what's stupid about her post. Enjoy your eggplant. I'm totally craving some with all this eggplant talk! And I won't worry one bit about my baby if I eat it.
That restaurant is just cashing in on the rumor. Who could blame them? Who goes to an italian restaurant to eat a meal alone? Even if they give out a hundred free meal vouchers a week to all the ones who don't go into labor, they're all bringing someone with them to eat there again.
Her eating the eggplant is silly but lots of people eat eggplant and are fine so whatever. Her bragging about inducing labor and how her daughter is "doing great" really bothers me. She doesn't seem to understand the difference between "doing great" and "alive but preterm with a greater risk of problems down the line." Her posts are just really immature and insensitive to those who would have been thrilled that their babies were born after 37 weeks.
Welcome to TB?
Harper Grace 08.31.12 Sibling Expected 08.30.15
Aug 2015 - January Siggy Challenge - Fav mean girl from TV/Film
Ellie from CougarTown
Agreed.
partial molar pregnancy : bfp 6.28.10, d/c 8.17.10, 7 rounds methotrexate, cleared 7.1.11
alexander patrick : bfp 1.16.12, born 9.20.12 @ 39w1d, 7 lbs./11 oz./22 in.
scarlett irene elizabeth : bfp 5.24.13, born 2.3.14 @ 41w2d, 7 lbs./13 oz./19 in.
Emma Rose - 9.14.05 Beckett - 5.26.07 Sawyer - 9.22.12 Lennon Mae - 9.26.14
I agree--that's probably the most irritating part of her post for me too.