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: UO Thursday - 2/16 Edition
I had my ears pierced when I was 2 weeks old. I think if I have a daughter one day I'll let her make her own ear piercing decisions.
but seriously I wonder if I just got off easy. Dd was so easy, she barely ever cried. I don't think I'm going to be this lucky this time. No way. Especially since this time I have a 4 yr old to take care of too. I expect some evening out is on the way.
Buuuuuut, I'm not a newborn person at all. Here's my UO. The older my daughter gets, the more I'm enjoying motherhood. I do not wish to hang on to every moment, nor do I wish for her to stay little. Don't get me wrong, I want for her to have an amazing childhood, and for her to not be in a hurry to grow up. But I enjoy watching her develop and grow.
I also am in the camp of no reason to go to a strip club if you're in a committed relationship. I feel like it gives your SO the impression that he/she is not enough.
I have a relative from DH's side that goes ALL the time and says 'sometimes you just want to see some tits.' I don't get it, DH isn't that way, DH actually feels the same as @JAGinMI about sex scenes in entertainment so I know he doesn't want to go with this relative, but it kind of cracks me up... I'm like you do you dude...
Don't care if DH goes to a strip club, but he has no desire to go and either do I. We both went for our bachelor/bachelorette parties but I haven't gone since and he's only gone once.
I don't mind being pregnant. As long as I can just skip past the first trimester. I was feeling good with my last two until 38 weeks and so far this one is the same.
We have decided to wait to get the girls ears pierced. 9 is probably the youngest I'd let them do it. But when/if they do I will make a big deal out of it and make it a special day for them.
My UO... I need to work on this...
Mom to Madison- 5 and Lillian 2....and now surprise baby #3!
I told DH that I didn't want him to have a stripper bachelor party because I knew his friends at the time would totally do that, so he didn't have one at all. Neither did I. I stand by my decision. Something about it just strikes me as wrong. However, if we were both at a smutty show together I think that would be ok.
I kind of hate being pregnant. I want my body back! It's super hard and stressful to have to think of someone else for every tiny damn decision you make with what to eat, drink, take for medicine, etc. The only parts I like about pregnancy are 1) baby kicks and 2) no eczema.
Aaaaand spiders must die. The end.
BFP Oct 2011 - DD born July 2012
TTC again since July 2014
First IUI 9/26/16: BFP!
EDD 6/19/2017
It's a girl!
Born 6/26/17, 9lb 5oz
I don't mind strip clubs. My husband doesn't go unless it is a bachelor party or something.
DD got her ears pierced for Christmas this year (she is 3). She asked for earrings the Christmas before and I bought her those play clip ones and never heard the end of it for a year. If I didn't get her ears pierced, I think I would have heard it for another whole year and gone insane. She is great with them at this age so I think this is perfect timing.
Finally, not unpopular, but I am beginning to feel more connected to this group now that I recognize people and can associate certain things to them.
Piercing baby ears is not my style.
I dont mind mind if my DH goes to a strip club for a special occasion but it would bother me if he went alone or a lot. We've been together one time when we were dating and I was not drunk enough for that experience lol.
I think traveling with toddlers is more work than fun and I wouldn't spend thousands of dollars on a far away nice trip for toddlers. It's just not worth it to me. I'm either doing an adults only trip or something short and close to home with babies and toddlers. When they are older I'll be all about big trips! My dad took us to Mexico when my kids were 3 and 1 and it was a fun experience but I don't think I'd spend my own money for that!
Me: 34 DH: 35
Married: July 2009
BFP: November 2012 after 2 years of TTC DS born August 2013
Diagnosed with PCOS April 2016
3 months of trigger shot with timed intercourse BFN x3
First IUI: 9/17/16 BFP: 9/30/16 EDD: 6/11/17
BFP #1 9/1999. DD Born 6/7/2000
BFP #2 10/2011. EDD 7/11/12. MMC discovered 11/2/11. D&C 11/4/11.
DX PCOS 10/2012.
BFP#3 1/11/13. DS Born 9/17/2013
BFP#4 9/30/17. Grow baby grow!
~Everyone Welcome~
We travel at least twice a year and my kids are rock stars. They know the drill. Of course, there can be hiccups but we don't let us stop us, and we teach them.
DS1 - 7/2011, DD 12/2012, DS2 - 4/2014, MMC - 12/2015
My kids aren't bad at all on trips
but it is a lot of work! My husband gets too much anxiety traveling with the kids to make it as fun for me either. I think if he was more into it then I would be. I do love seeing them experience things but if I'm on a limited travel budget I would much rather do an adult trip far away and something close to home but still fun with the little kids. When they are older and not napping I will be more into far away travel. It's one of those things that I know everyone is different on.