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: For Discussion: How do you feel about this?
**Nestie Besties with Deutschefairy**
Diagnosed PCOS '03, TTC #1 Since March '09
BFP - 10/20/10, M/C - 10/29/10
June 2011 - 50mg Clomid = No O
Dieted and exercised my butt off for PCOS = BFP 5/7/2012
Due 12/29/2012
I'm with the others in that this is overboard especially since there isn't a law on the books to cover it there.
In this nanny state, it's insane the laws we've got on the books in regard to this such that we have a house within a mile of DD's school, but because of state law, she isn't allowed to walk to school alone (residential neighborhood - not a lot of traffic, fire hall is on the corner - I'd feel safe allowing her to do so) until she's in at least 6th grade! Same goes for the park that is across the street from that house. It just seems like there isn't a window to allow parents to let kids develop their sense of responsibility anymore.
I grew up in GA where there were a lot more stories about kids getting kidnapped. My mom was strict when I was young and now that I'm a mom, I can't say she was totally off base. I'm not comfortable with it, but at the same time, there isn't a specific law that says she should've been charged with a felony.
It's an interesting concept that her bondsman said that her parents would've been charged all the time with what they did with her as a kid. Times change and it is less and less safe for kids to be alone. I think it's up for the parent to decide that though, not necessarily law enforcement (unless it truly is negligence).
Actually statistically it's safer than it was 25 years ago overall. On mobile but will find the study when I get home.
BFP #1 6.19.11 ~ EDD 2.23.12 ~ CP on 6.22.11
BFP #2 7.23.11 ~ EDD 3.28.12 ~ MC on 8.16.11
BFP #3 11.17.11~ EDD 7.31.12 ~ MC on 1.18.12
BFP #4 4.12.12 ~ EDD 12.25.12~ Born on 12.26.12
ours is K and 1st.
when I was 7 I walked to school with my sister and a couple other kids.
I grew up in a city and not all parks are made equal. There were 2 parks within 10 minutes (walking) of my house. My parents let me go to one all.the.time. The other, I was never allowed to go to. Some places are just where weirdos hang out. I think the cops maybe bringing the kid home and warning her of that would have been fine. An arrest is ridiculous.
I'm not sure at what age I would be comfortable sending a kid to the park alone, it would depend on the kid, area, if other kids were going, etc. Going with a couple kids would make me more comfortable than alone.
I remember walking to a convenience store with my sister to turn in cans and buy candy at maaaaybe 7 and 8. Even then I thought my dad was a little crazy, but we obviously made it
The crosswalks are not manned, kids cross without help, and parents are constantly calling police on cars not stopping, rolling through the stops, nearly hitting walkers, etc. It's written up too often in our school newsletter for me to feel comfortable with it.
I have no hardship walking her to/from school so this may sway my opinion.
Arresting that mother is atrocious and does nothing but her her family
eclaire 9.10.06 diggy 6.2.11
Nope, there are no rules like that at our school and I would say tang more than half the kids walk, maybe more than 3/4. Nobody picks their kid up past 2nd grade for sure, mostly 1st grade.
he other parenting practices need to be looked over as well.
What else was she doing?! How about working? Not everyone is as lucky as we are to work in a field that allows us to leave at a reasonable hour most days. God forbid a parent need to work in an industry that doesn't revolve around a school schedule.
I wouldn't let my kid walk to the park that 1/2 a mile away for several reasons. I also would prefer that a child that age be in some sort of program instead of on his/ her own but I know that my suburban lifestyle provides for that and many others (including the urban high school kids I teach) don't have that luxury.
Seriously. I don't even know how to respond to this. I guess I just don't love my kids that much
DS 3.12.08
DD 7.11.09
DD 8.01.13
DS 3.12.08
DD 7.11.09
DD 8.01.13
You are absolutely ridiculous and completely out if touch with life. If I were to have to wait until my child was 12 to walk somewhere in our safe suburban neighborhood then I would be failing as a parent. I think in that case you should be arrested for raising dependent kids with no life skills. I mean if we are making up laws and reasons to arrest. You need to spend more time learning about real life and less at the gym.
yep statically we are safer now.