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: Are you ready for this? FFFC
Are we talking strangers here? Cause how is a stranger supposed to know how smart your kid is?
HA! That shade looks great on you
I get strangers saying it, but I'm more worried about family and friends saying it.
And Dixee, I always tell her something looks awesome....I am a child of the 80's.
My childs morning naps 9 times outof 10 are on his playmat. one minute he is playing away, the next minute FAST asleep. Do I think I should move him to his crib? Yes, but during that time he will usually wake up and scream bloody murder to the point that he nixes his morning nap and is miserable for the remainder of the day.
I despise my husbands mom and brother. His mother slapped him on our wedding day and his brother punched him in the jaw. Then his mother proceeded to yell profanities toward both of us. Yep, his mom and brother were drunk. When people talk about our wedding, they always bring up his family and how a brawl almost broke out. At. Our. Wedding. Thats how I get to remember the "best" day of our lives. And now they pretend that nothing happened. Pathetic. His brother is also a "recovering" drug addict who likes to cheat on his wife and continue to do drugs. He thinks we know nothing not realizing we know everything. His brother also continually asks for money from us. Ha. No. I hate you.
What else.... Sometimes I feel superior over others because I am Canadian and have Elton John on our bills. Speaking of money, we are in the process of changing our money into plastic bills and I see nothing but troubles with the plastic bills. And Im not kidding when I say sometimes I feel superior because Im Canadian.
I really like this board. But I also think that there are a lot of people with low low low self esteem on this board dying for a compliment any moment they can get. I also find it funny how touchy people get. It is the internet.
I really want to make it past newbie status, but I tend not to post unless I have something to contribute or say. Not just adding a picture or a GIF or a "wow, I agree" just to get my numbers up.
And once again, sometimes I feel superior over others because I am Canadian.
This. And FTR I totally called that this is where this post would go about 10 posts back. I totally understand the sentiment here of not wanting your child to only think she is pretty and not "worth" anything else. But, come on...
Please don't be hard on yourself. You don't know that you c/would have done anything differently even if you had. I know this must be a horrible feeling, but you have to trust you've made the right choices and have done the best you could. Those girls are so lucky to have such an amazing mom. I'm sorry you're dealing with this. ((hugs))
Ok cause I was like what the what??
And really, until recently, I was guilty of it too. She's at an age now where she picks up on SO MUCH that it has started to bug me a bit. I mean, I'm not staying up nights with my worry beads, but ya know, I think about it. And I'm all good if her grandma tells her she the cutest thing in the world followed by being super impressed that she knows the letter A or something. I think it's just a balance that isn't there with a lot of people around us.
1. Idon't understand why the Internet is so much different than real life. Just because someone likes a compliment doesn't mean they have low self esteem
2. I've picked up on that from you. Like a lot.
I think that if I met MikeHoncho IRL we would be the best of friends you snazzy snazzy woman you. And I was waiting for your GIF. You are the Queen of GIF's.
I never make anyone feel bad when they are giving an intended compliment. But, I do try to be subliminal with my messages contained in my non-snarky responses.
I don't think I can change the whole world. But, maybe someone who is reading this right now will tell their friend that their daughter is "so cool" (personality based compliment) instead of "so pretty" (appearence based compliment) because I brought it up here.
Those little tiny things mean so much (on both sides of the coin). Think about it. Someone here mentioned how now, as an adult, they can't fart in front of anyone ever now beause someone made fun of them for accidentally farting as a child. One incident that lasted a second affected that person for life. And now, they might explode from gas.
Also, WOW. If we were on jeopardy I would say, "What are, things that make you look like an a$$hole?"
And I heard you love gifs so..
Maybe it's just your general superiority that makes you feel everyone here has such low self-esteem? I mean, 90% of us are probably in the USA afterall.
I know she is pretty right now. We will see how the smart thing works out and if the pretty thing sticks.
I don't want people telling her she is smart when she isn't. That is a different sort of trouble.
(No matter what, she is perfect to me though).
USA!!! USA!!! USA!!!
Theres a difference between liking a compliment and digging for compliments. Thats what Im saying. Everyone deserves a compliment. But those who continually dig for them are the ones I roll my eyes at. Thats all. And it is not necessarily on JUST this board. On so many boards that I bomb through. But then again, there are days I will make a post practically begging for a compliment. So yes, I do also like to call the kettle black.
I love Urkel. That Laura was such a shallow hose beast.
Our men's gymnastics team is hotter than yours.
'merica
I love Urkel. That Laura was such a shallow hose beast.
I was going to say this post made me really to get an American superiority tude!
I could get down on this idea, but it is just like IRL--some people flucking suck. Some don't. Others are the arnold palmer of suck- half suck and half delicious lemonaid.
Also, I got the "we could be great friends IRL" vibe from you as well. That is what I love about this board
It definitely could be my general superiority that makes me feel EVERYONE here has such low self esteem. Everyone here doesnt have low self esteem, I was just saying some. There are some days where I have low self esteem.
I think shows like Family Matters (and Step by Step and Growing Pains and Boy Meets World) are the only shows I miss because I don't have cable. All the new stuff I'm like eh...
I love Urkel. That Laura was such a shallow hose beast.
[/quote
Did you see him on dancing with the stars? He's got moves.
And technically you are superior, if you go by this definition:
su?pe?ri?or: Located higher than another; upper.
So you kind of have a point.
Hahaha...that's awesome.
I don't watch that. I'm not a big reality fan, especially talent based stuff
My dog threw up the other day while I was nursing. I planned to clean it when I was done feeding. Puck cleaned it up before I could get to it. Oops.
A15 January Siggy Challenge-
HA! See In My Life... you got it. I feel superior. Above everyone else. On the top at all times. I live in Canada... which is ABOVE America.... Superior?
At least someone gets my sense of HA ha ha. MikeHoncho I totally thought it was you that was going to get it first.
This!
I would feel bad for P if I got pregnant right now.
Ehhhhh....I don't think that's what you really meant.
I don't watch that. I'm not a big reality fan, especially talent based stuff
Oh, well he had some decent moves. He also got teary eyed because he had a hard time with everyone always viewing him as a nerd.
It is in fact what I meant. I have "that" kind of sense of humour. Its cool that you dont think thats what I really meant.
I think I'm with Mrs.A on this one. If the comment had been on it's own it might have been viewed differently but bundled together with the others it just came off jerk-ish
I would feel bad for EVERYONE if I got pregnant now. I was not a jolly fat person.
As a side note, I think a mad baker swiped my iPad in the night. Every time I try to type "I" it autocorrects to " PIE" in capitol letters and everything.