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: Baby Sleep Questions
My husband's attitude about it is getting worse with each weekend, not towards Damien but towards me. And heaven forbid Damien is a bit fussy during the 1.5 - 2hrs that he is awake, that again pits him in a bad mood. Damien was great with him this morning and he was still in a foul mood when I got up. He doesn't do tummy time and Damien needs as much tummy time as possible for his physical therapy. On top of that, he isn't giving Damien his meds (Zantac) and when I've brought it up, he rolls his eyes and says he doesn't want to because Damien will associate him with something negative. I tried to explain that doing it twice a week wasn't going to have that effect but he doesn't believe me. It's just frustrating because this was supposed to be a sweet gesture to show his appreciation for everything I do for Damien (that's how he explained it to me) but it sure doesn't feel like it when I'm met with a bad attitude, as if I'm the one that's forcing him to do it.
I can send my 4 yr old to hang out with your little one, he came into my room at 1am and 4am asking if it was time to get up! He's never done that before so it was new.
Married: 11/2013
M: 6/2016 E: 5/2018
I would try naps first. Once he gets used to that for short periods then try at night. That's how we got Preston used to the crib vs our bed.
I might elevate one side of his crib with books or something but I can't really do that with the pack n play.
Baby #2 Due 3/7/20
So after a bad week I bought a swaddle me fleece swaddle and last night she slept 7 hours straight last night! I didn't give her any Tylenol either.
Question is- is anyone else still swaddling? I guess I should add that she's in a bassinet right next to my bed and wears the Owlet at night so I'm not overly concerned about rolling over since I hear every move.
Baby #2 Due 3/7/20
I'm exhausted!
I wonder how much money I will spend on getting her to sleep... my husband may kill me!
Baby #2 Due 3/7/20
I should add that all his naps are always crap these days--never more than 30 min, even with suit yesterday.
@vintagevix2016 maybe you are still partially waking every 2-3 hrs in anticipation? I might take a few days for your brain to relax
I feel like we have the same kid. Lol I did some research and its not a true night terror because those happen when they are older but this is called confusional arousals. At the end of the first sleep cycle (about 60 min after falling asleep) the brain starts to transition into deep sleep. The issue is that the brain is transitioning so it may want to wake up and go into deep sleep at the same time. In mild cases it's when we hear then talking in their sleep or tossing and turning, it's stronger ones they can go into a full cry. All this happens while they are asleep so it seems like they can't be soothed and will suddenly stop and they will either be asleep still or awake but acting as if nothing happened. I'm hoping that it's just happening because their brains are going through a growth spurt in terms of sleep and will pass once they've adjusted to their new sleep cycles.