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.
PSUBecky23
member
Re: Car seat safety
BFP: 8/11/18 Due: 4/26/18
It's going to depend on your car seat and that will be in your manual. We have a Chicco Keyfit and it doesn't matter whether it's up or down, as long as it's locked.
For or those of you that aren't sure/confident about your knowledge, Car Seats For The Littles is a great group on Facebook. They have tons of graphics like the one above and you can post pictures/ask for help as needed. I've learned so much just by reading responses to others' questions!
I will say that nothing bugs me more than seeing a baby/child who is strapped in the car seat with the chest clip around their stomach and loose straps. I feel like I strap my kids down like we are in a rocket going to the moon.
This website is a GREAT resource: https://csftl.org/
and they even have a facebook group. They have helped me many times with installing my car seat (i prefer to do it so I know it's done right)...you can also take pictures of your the install or your LO to confirm everything is correct. I recommend just writing a direct message to the group instead of posting on the board so you know for sure you are getting advice from a certified car tech.
@Thscary anything like that that didn't come with the car seat is considered an aftermarket product and isn't considered safe. They can affect the harness placement and the baby's positioning making the car seat unsafe. Rolled up receiving blankets like in the photo above are OK. The head support that came with our car seat was adequate for my daughter.
Article from Car Seats for the Littles that explains it better: https://csftl.org/non-regulated-products/
A good test is to grab the seat at the belt path using your non-dominant hand and give it a shake. If there's less than one inch movement in either direction, it's secure.
And yes, you use either the latch or seat belt, not both.
FORMER USERNAME: @runningisrad
FORMER USERNAME: @runningisrad
Carseat blog has their own set of videos this is the one I used- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzYYd_6Lh8U
BFP: 8/11/18 Due: 4/26/18
@ansley0319 Firefighter said it doesn't matter. I put mine behind the passenger seat because I couldn't put my seat any farther forward to drive safely if it was behind my seat. My car also didn't have the latch clips in the middle backseat, so he recommended doing them on the outside seats.
Does it need to be done like this with any car seat? My seat is the Maxi Cosi mico max 30.
PCOS, Hypothyroidism.
Miscarriage at 8 weeks
First saw
It's a boy!
Or are the receiving blankets the way to go?
ETA this was totally already answered lol don't mind me
Edit - insert comes out at 11 pounds. Head support comes out when straps are in upper slots but can come out sooner when baby has good enough head control.
PCOS, Hypothyroidism.
Miscarriage at 8 weeks
First saw
It's a boy!
Just wanted to share the car seat lady. This lady knows. What's. up.
You our will find answers to ANY car seat question there. She even has a ranking about buying vehicles and which are easiest with a variety of car seats.