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.
jlw2505
member
Re: Turkey Day
Thanksgiving has sort of morphed into DH's family coming to our house since their parents are gone... we're the default "home for the holidays."
His sister, the nun, can usually get that holiday off since it's not religious and so she always comes down here for a week or so. One of his other brothers usually shows up, too... which is cool because I like him. The other two brothers are ehhh, but we don't see them too often.
Then we'll have a few aunts, uncles and cousins from the area over for the big feast.
I just wish they'd let me get a little more adventurous with the menu. I swear his persnickity aunt had a heart attack when I brined the turkey one year. Won't make that mistake again. (It was delicious!) If it isn't "traditional", everyone gets in a snit. Sigh.
DD -- 5YO
DS -- 3YO
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We're having my mom and her BF over. She ordered a hippy organic, flower fed turkey breast and legs(since there aren't really enough of us for a whole bird) and she'll bring it to my place the day before Thanksgiving.
Along with turkey I'm making gravy, mashed potatoes, bakes green beans, glazed carrots and turnips, and apple cake with caramel sauce. Knowing my history I'd say half of it will be awesome, one or two dishes will be okay and one dish will be an epic disaster.
Oh yeah, and my mom's making stuffing.
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Drive the 3 hours to my parents house Thanksgiving morning (we're usually on the road by 7 since DS is up at 6 every morning). Sombreros start at 10 (mmmm kaluha). We hang out and play with the kids and watch the parade on tv. Dinner is around 1 (so good - turkey, stuffing, homemade gravy...). After dessert my dad and DH leave for the annual hunting trip. My family (dad, his cousins, etc) has a small shack in the middle of the woods and it's been a tradition for over 50 years that all the guys go up Thanksgiving weekend. While the guys are gone the girls eat and eat and eat. And Thanksgiving night we watch Christmas Vacation. The guys get back late Saturday afternoon and we'll decide then whether we drive home Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon.
This year is going to be a little different though because we will have more people that usual. My brother, his wife and their 4 kids will be there. My brother was MIA for a few years due to some family drama. My cousin and her gf may be coming as well. Usually it's my parents, my sister and her 2 kids, me, DH, and DS.
My SIL, who lives 25 miles away (so just a half hour by car) is hosting again. We'll go down early to help her and my nephews (ages 7 and 9) will entertain Aaron.
I'd forgotten Hanukkah is early this year. I am dreading celebrating it. Mostly because of finances, which are super tight this year. But I need to get cracking on the shopping for it! Next week before the craziness begins!
Bronx Zoo: Summer 2013
To read my blog, click on the giraffe pic below!