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
book showers are frowned upon? Meh that's what was planned for mine. I loved it. I thought all of the notes were a sweet touch. We used to worry that number 2 & 3 would feel unloved because all of our books had special notes for Isaac. In hindsight, what a silly thing to worry about.
Given how exhausted we are we probably wouldn't last til later tonight and DD won't nap in her crib so.... Yeah.
I lost my angels 07/2010, 04/2017, 10/2017
Meimsx no more
I lost my angels 07/2010, 04/2017, 10/2017
Meimsx no more
My FFFC: for each of the kids first birthdays we did the book instead of the card.....I loved it and some of my cousins even went back and brought their favourite book from when they were kids.....now to look at all those books and all those messages, it is something really special for my kids! I will do the same for Allie, flame away!!
Karen - 36 DH - 39
I really didn't give a shit about the gifts...we can afford everything and didn't need anyone to get us anything but getting someone's favorite book with an inscription to V in it was MEANINGFUL!
A box of diapers doesn't say...I'm thinking of you and your child and I chose this special box of disposible shit holders to share with you.
Not saying they are not a great gift. Love em. But when V is older he is not going to have a connection with the diapers like he would a book.
L: 7/12/13
C: 5/11/15
E: 3/7/17
Due 11/10/18
I lost my angels 07/2010, 04/2017, 10/2017
Meimsx no more
A shower is about showing love and passing on well wishes...IMO. And at mine people were getting so excited telling me why they chose the book they did (child's fav, their fav). It wasn't offputting. It is sharing culturally as well. We have an Australian friend who got us a popular Australian children's book.
I'm done with this topic but I don't think you understand sentiment and I can't help you relate. Sorry.
We had a book shower for my sister. I'm so jealous. She has so many books and my LO has about 20. Plus, have you seem how expensive cards are these days? So cheap looking and $6! You can buy a book for less.
Baby boy 7.10.13
Baby boy 7.10.13
Also, dollar tree for cards.
All these specific rules to what is/isn't good etiquette for a party make me nuts.. I guarantee the party planners are not trying to single anyone out by having themed parties.. if we want to get super nit picky we can also say themed parties are rude and bad etiquette b/c they are telling us how to dress.. how rude.
Mmm little of both.
I do enjoy her perspective. I like her ability to express herself. And I admire her ability to care about so many topics so much that she takes the time to share her opinion.
Baby boy 7.10.13
Baby boy 7.10.13
In a multi-cultural household the US definitions of etiquette are different than those of my husbands family.
Do I expect them to conform to my norms? No. I used to but that is bullshit on my part. So you just roll with it...you just live and know things will be fine instead of scrutinizing every movement/detail/thing done out of my set of expectations.
That being said things are different in Ohio or New Jersey or DC than they are in the Pacific Northwest. Not everyone has the same norms.
Dang bump...posted before I was ready. But I respect where you are coming from on this.