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: Monday Bitchfest
Picked DS up from exH yesterday. Ask DS how his weekend was, what they did. He was supposed to be on punishment because of another rough week at school. DS tells me he spent both nights at exH's GF's house. I asked if exH stayed (knowing the answer is no), and nope. He went home. Asked DS if he has his own room at GF's house (he shares a room with his dad at his dad's place). Nope. HE SLEEPS IN HER BED. WITH HER.
I'm over this sh!t. But, given the abusive-nature of my former relationship with exH, I'm always hesitant to say anything to him about anything because it gets me nowhere. He spins it around, plays the victim, and DH is more than happy to step in, but I still fall back into our old patterns of cowering to exH and pleasing him to keep the peace. Sadly, behaviors I also see in DS but that are hard to prove to a judge.
TTC since 6/13
Diagnosed w/ PCOS 4/9/15 - R/E recommended lifestyle change
BFP 4/10/16 - DS born 12/16/2016
SURPRISE! BFP 3/8/18
ExH freaked out when DH and I started dating (the ONLY guy that has ever been around my son, for the record. I dated plenty but seriously, there are too many creepers in the world, no one needs to be around my kid unnecessarily. He had DS around his previous girlfriend before our divorce was even final!) and told DS he was never to get in bed with DH. Um...why would he ever be in bed with DH anyway other than on a Saturday morning when we're all being lazy watching cartoons together? DS has always had his own room with me and even if we stayed somewhere else (like, DH's mom's house, my parent's) he has always slept on the couch or had his own room. I've never even left DS alone overnight with ANYONE while he is with me, and rarely even with a sitter. Why is that even necessary when you only have your kid part time?! Especially right now when he only has him on the weekends?
Clearly I need to address this, but I'm trying to decide the best way. He will, undoubtedly, turn this into a pissing contest bringing up irrelevant issues from the past to divert from his failures as a parent.
Driving to work this morning and in my usual right-hand lane since I have to turn right at some point, I notice that the driver in the middle lane starts coming over to my lane. I can't remember if they had their blinking on - nope, since they were RIGHT next to me when they were doing this, so I wouldn't have seen the blinker anyway, and they were already coming to my lane like I wasn't even there. They keep coming, so I blare the horn and pull back some so I don't get hit. I don't know if they heard my horn, or if they finally saw me in the side mirror (oh, and maybe actually looked)... but they moved back. I then slow back again so they can get in front of me, but they take their sweet time doing this even though there is PLENTY of room between me and the car in front of me. They finally move over and what do I see??
The drive is wearing MASSIVE headphones. So, did they even hear me honk or did I just get lucky that they actually looked and saw that a car was already in that lane? No clue, but seriously. I looked it up and so far, it's not illegal to wear headphones (which I am guessing were noise cancelling based on the size) while driving in my state, but they really should be. I was not pleased, and feel lucky that I didn't get side-swiped to start my week.
TTC Since: November 2015
BFP: March 31, 2016
DS: November 21, 2016
I'm not going to lie, there's some legit arguments for driver-less cars and Mr. Headphones is one of them.
My BF - nausea is creeping back into my life. And heartburn. And my body is registering my entire midsection as an injury. On top of all this, the biggest moment so far in my career (testifying as an expert witness in a criminal trial) is coinciding with one of the biggest moments of my parenting life. I'm excited for both and just wish I had some time in between them. Unfortunately I have no control over it.
@Kacie209 that would drive me insane! I'm already ragey because of terribly bad drivers this weekend. On Friday coming home in traffic, I made a move to the next lane when there was a large break between cars; however, apparently the moving van that was way back in that lane chose that moment to hit the gas. The guy almost rear-ended me and decided to flick me off (I returned the gesture of course) when he pulled into the next lane to pass me. Still not satisfied, he pulled right next to me and then made a clear attempt to run me off of the road...in 5pm city traffic. Fortunately I was next to the HOV lane and was able to illegally jump into it and speed far enough ahead in traffic to avoid that psychopath the rest of my ride home.
Another traffic issue I'm dealing with is idiots thinking my street is one-way...you'd think the double-yellow lines would indicate otherwise. I've had to lean on my horn to blast two people driving the wrong way (for no reason...there were no cars in the correct lane) on my street before they hit me this week.
I just feel done with driving in general. When will I be rich enough to afford a chauffeur?
Baby #1
Baby #2
~04/19/16 EDD 12/26/16~
SaveSaveSaveSave
My BF today is DH. Apparently he couldn't sleep last night so he was really grumpy and complaining this morning. I just laughed at him. I've had nightly insomnia for 3+ months now and have gotten no sympathy. He has it for one night and the world is ending.
Formerly known as Kate08young
August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Married: 7/22/14
Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms
Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms
TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017.
Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
@linziloo09 - OMG, that is awful. Of course, it would be the drivers that cause the issues - and then start to cause FURTHER issues - that get mad at the drivers that are actually obeying the traffic laws. I see that around here too, and just shake my head like... why did you flick me off when it was clearly YOU who was driving like an idiot?! I mean, I am no awesome driver, but I'll admit when I was in the wrong.
TTC Since: November 2015
BFP: March 31, 2016
DS: November 21, 2016
Traffic was awful today and made my commute almost an hour. And like @slartybarfast my nausea is creeping back. Oh, and some teachers just decided to switch their schedules and gave me attitude when I explained that they can't just do that because it screws up when I'm able to see my special Ed kids.
Ugh.
Cant just the fact that I'm pregnant be excuse enough to not go?
If it's close to your due date, I'm sure you can get out of it. Can't hurt to call and ask.
I have anxiety issues, and a doctor's note excused me from serving on a jury once.
Guy was swerving behind me, trying to pass me in his Lexus, only to be stuck behind me in my shitty 2001 beater and *gasp* heading to the exact same place for lunch.
Lady at lunch slammed down my food--ok, maybe she was having a bad day.
Go to get groceries, and the cashier was slamming my food into the bags very angrily (not sure what she has against produce). A pack of diapers reaches her, she looks at me, looks at the diapers, and snobbily asks, "Are you having a baby or something?"
I can't TAKE IT ANYMORE so I just deadpan answer, "No, I just like wearing tiny pants." She looks at me with a furrowed eyebrow, I pay and leave. I was not going to give her the satisfaction of knowing I was just kidding.
OR WAS I?!
Second, what is with people at the checkout making comments about the stuff you're buying? I HATE that. Look, checkout person, we don't NEED to make small talk during this, and I know the only common ground we seem to have right now is we both know what products I'm buying, but I don't need to share my dinner plans/explain why I'm buying a shit-ton of donuts/why I use that certain product on my hair.
I think the checkout people hate me now. I shop at a store where you bag your own groceries. The lady was done ringing me up before I even got the pet food into the cart, and while I was still unloading my cart she had to go down and move stuff over so she could finish ringing me up.
But yeah, I'd much prefer we don't talk, unless you're telling me I saved a lot of money, or someone bought my groceries for me (never has happened, but would be cool). I do wish I bought donuts now, though.
I was had a cashier at Target ask me if I lived with DH before we got married. I politely answered, but seriously... what kind of question is that? I think she saw my wedding photo that I have on my phone when she was scanning my Cartwheel (now I just open the app to avoid them seeing and asking questions).
Or another at Target, he started talking to me about Netflix and what shows I like to watch, etc. There was some other gal with weird questions, but I can't remember what it was - which annoys me since it was SO off the wall.
I've done the cashier thing at various jobs (retail and food)... you asked the basic stuff and you rang their stuff up so they could leave. Done and done.
TTC Since: November 2015
BFP: March 31, 2016
DS: November 21, 2016
I hate everything! I am so physically miserable I don't think I will enjoy much of anything from this point on. I either feel somehow sick or in pain constantly. I tried to work out this morning and it was a cruel joke. Tried to relax this afternoon because DH is home and so far the house has basically exploded, the kids are about to need their 3rd bath, DH let them dump out all of my expensive Mary Kay face wash because he doesn't watch out for anything, and then the dog ate frozen grapes so we've had to induce vomiting. I just want this to be over.
1. She helped pack her own lunch, which she had randomly placed on a different table and forgot, just followed other kids to buy lunch.
2. She is lactose intolerant and will now have diarrhea tonight and deathly farts.
Thanks school lunch helpers. For nothing. Now I have to helicopter parent and come back to school lunch tomorrow to make sure my kid gets her own lunch.
I work for a small company and have been there longer than all but one other employee. Boss would be screwed without me, so when I moved to Texas he allowed me to continue my same position as a work from home role. Now I've moved back to the same state but am still about an hour and a half away from the office. So the work from home deal stays, but I agreed to come down for meetings (which we rarely have) and training new employees.
A handful of new people were hired while I was gone and never fully trained correctly. So we scheduled me to come do a boot camp of sorts on Wednesday. Now another new hire is scheduled to start next. Instead of waiting until next week and doing everything all at once, he still wants me to come down Wednesday and then again next week. Which means another day wasted driving and getting no real work done. I'm hoping once a week meeting were not what he expected out of this. I was thinking once a month max...if that.
Why you so obsessed with me, State Farm? I'm a homemaker and I don't even have a job to pay you with if I wanted you.
Seriously though, is there a way I can contact these companies that send me so much garbage mail and have them put me on a non contact list? I don't want your crap and I'm tired of shredding and burning your offers by the dozens.