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: FFFC
The idea of PTing while having a newborn sounds like a personal hell to me. I don't blame you for feeling the pressure to get it done now. Would you have started it now with her if not for daycare working on it?
Lol, right?! I meant to just quote krpt128, but yes, the end result is always a win in my book.
You better be.
I hate seeing ladies put on a full face of makeup in public. There are several women on my train that do this every morning, and it just seems wrong.
Now, I am not talking about touching up lipstick or maybe quickly dusting your face with powder-- I mean the full thing.
This morning I sat across from a woman-- she was probably my age-- early 30s-- and she literally performed her entire grooming routine on the train.
She lotion-ed up her face, tweeze'd a few stray eyebrows, curled her eyelashes and then did a 20 minute makeup application, including a 5 minute session where she drew on, removed and then re- drew on her eyebrows.
I don't know, maybe I am a prude, but that just seems private to me? Like, can you leave a tiny bit of mystery about yourself?
I will say I was impressed by her applications skills on a rocking train car and she did look great after, but I was still sort of appalled.
BFP 1- EDD 2/09/11 Missed MC DX @11 weeks D&C- 7/25/10 BFP 2- EDD 12/22/11 Natural MC @ 5w 2d BFP 3- EDD 1/25/12 DD Josephine born 1/16/12
It's pretty much graded on a Pass or Fail basis.
Wow-- you are a funeral director? I am fascinated!
But-- I get it and congrats on the new job!
BFP 1- EDD 2/09/11 Missed MC DX @11 weeks D&C- 7/25/10 BFP 2- EDD 12/22/11 Natural MC @ 5w 2d BFP 3- EDD 1/25/12 DD Josephine born 1/16/12
AF is wreaking havoc on me this week. I have to poop majorly but can't. Every now and then I pass some foul gas which gives me relief for about 5 minutes but geesh, it's brutal.
Also, I looked such a hot mess when I went grocery shopping yesterday between being sick and bloated/crampy that the SAHMS and probably half of these board would have definitely judged me. I judged myself.
Did you see her on the original 16 and Pregnant? She was all worried and apologetic the hospital staff had to look at her vagina, now she's taking it up the what what for a Mill.
My cat does the exact same thing. I'm 100% sure he isn't bulimic though.
Rachel Ray says so much annoying shiit. She calls her husband "my sweetie." Ugh and stoup ("thicker than a soup, but not as thick as a stew!"). She seems nice enough, but living with her would put me in the nuthouse, I think.
Don't kill yourself. A lot of times LOs who are PTing when a new baby is born regress. It happened with DD1. We weren't hardcoring pushing PT, but she was doing it on her own. Once DD2 was born, she refused for about 8 months more to PT. I would have loved 8 months worth of diaper money still in my pocket. She was the same age as your LO when DD2 was born
I'm just glad you are posting here again.
News Flash: Teenage boys are a'ssholes too. Just in a different way.
You're Welcome!
OMG, I know. It's like perfectly American sounding English for the whole show and then "mozzarella" like the Italian-est Italian that ever lived!
Fleet Enema, if you have 30 minutes to yourself.
If DH offered me a mill, I would take it there. I might even do it for 30 minutes more sleep. It wouldn't be televised.
LAWDAMERCY!! Personal question: Do you shave your kitty? He looks shaved.
Yes, lolly. Do you shave your p.ussy?
You are not alone in this struggle. I went from earlier this week when I couldn't stop going to AF arriving yesterday and my insides inflating like a balloon that I just won't pop - or that lets air escape at very inappropriate moments.
I actually had to leave my girls night early last night because between my stupid shoulder and my gas bubbles I was ball of pain.
*Siggy Warning*
About me 2007: Started TTC. 2008: OB prescribed clomid, went to RE and was Dx with PCOS. 2009: IUI #1 w/follitsim and trigger = BFP. B/G Twins born at 33 weeks. 2012: TTC #3, Round 2 of Letrozole w/TI = BFP, missed m/c at 8 1/2 wks. Currently on the bench as we make plans for a new home. Anxious to start TTC #3 within the next year!
Well, Oliver was not peeing at night for over 6 months and suddenly for the last 2 weeks he has been. So, I don't feel like I can go back to pull-ups at this point. I'm thinking he might be going through a growth spurt or something and sleeping more soundly. Anyway, I didn't think it was flameful, but when I posted earlier this week about it someone commented whether the pedi had approved my plan and said I shouldn't disrupt his sleep to avoid laundry.
Did you have to stand in line at 5 am to get tickets to the recital? A friend of mine who has a 5 year old was just telling me that she couldn't come to our group fitness class on Sunday because she had to go stand in line for tickets for the recital. So that, plus the stuff you mentioned, makes me hope she doesn't want to do dance either.
I could get behind cheering or gymnastics though.
Why am I not surprised someone said this? Sleeping w/out a diaper is overrated. DD1 wakes up TWO HOURS EARLIER now screaming she has to go pee pee, when before she would just pee in her pull up and we all slept better.
I know all the things being said are true. I know I'll love her the instant I see her just like I did my boys. It's just so hard to get my brain around b/c all I know is boys.
HAHA nope! Maybe his fur just rubbed off his belly because it drags on the floor so much?
What? I am confused.
Anyone Netflix cheating?
Anyone fail to return shopping carts lately?
Another confession: I'm scared of the TTGP board. I've heard people say the ladies there are nice, but I've also seen massive flamings for announcing a BFP too soon or something like that. It scares me and I don't want to upset anyone so I stay here.
A third confession: a friend's husband gives me the creeps. I mean, he's a nice guy and I care about him, but I feel uncomfortable and tense around him at the same time. I feel bad bc I am sure he'd be hurt that I don't trust him, but something about him makes me jumpy.
If it does, I need to confess I want to give you a high five.
No, it counts as pure awesomeness
That board needs to be the subject of an anthropological study. There's so many "rules," and the crucifixion that occurs when someone doesn't follow one of them is cringeworthy.
The whole drive-by thing is insane. Just...don't read it or respond...
I once slept with a married man for money.
"Man, be creative. Like the stuff you do. Do nice things. Love respectfully. Laugh a fucking lot. Curse when you feel like it. Life is cool." - Jean Grae
The rules are what scare me. I think one is to hang around and post for a few months before you announce a BFP. We've been trying six months now, so if I start posting and get a BFP in a week, do I get flamed? Or no?
I know you're not supposed to complain about not being pregnant unless you've been trying years, right? I think that's how it is.
The rules scare me.
Wow! I would probably do the same thing. What did you say to him?
Way to step it up.
When was this? How old we're you? How much? What was involved? Is he still married? How'd you meet him?
DD1 had a fever of 103 Monday. I made an appt for 4:15 at the docs got there at 4:05. At 4:45 asked if it was going to be much longer. I had a 14 month old wanting dinner and a 3 yr old laying in my lap crying, after me working all day. The snot behind the desk told me I was next. Ten patients later at 5:15 I asked how much longer, and she said one more new patient before me. I lost it. I told her I was an old patient and how about treating us like a valued patient, and not telling me I am next and then taking 10 (!) more people before me. I also mentioned that DD was burning up in my lap, and she said "Ma'am, all the kids are sick today!" My response, "But not all the receptionist are going to be swallowing their teeth." Well that didn't go over well. We finally left the docs at 6:05.
FFFC: I'm a when my kid isn't feeling well.
I've been debating pulling that one out for awhile.
This was about 9 or 10 years ago, so I was about 22. I met him slugging (ridesharing) home from work. I don't remember how it even came up, but he propositioned me and I told him I would think about it. I was young with a baby to support, and $500 was more than I made in a week, so I called him the next day to set it up. I haven't seen him since but I still feel guilty about it everyday.
"Man, be creative. Like the stuff you do. Do nice things. Love respectfully. Laugh a fucking lot. Curse when you feel like it. Life is cool." - Jean Grae