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.
mothernorth
member
Re: 11 Month Check-In
August 27th
Standing and taking steps!
Tell us about sleep, nighttime and naps-
The last week, he has been waking up every night at midnight
Weight and length?
I don't know right now.
How are YOU feeling?
Stressed out. I just started working the week before last, FI and I are both in school now, and FI just found out that he was laid off today and has been off the books at his job for over a week and his gutless boss didn't tell him... He didn't find out until yesterday when he got on the paycom website to view his check and he was delted from the system. He called HR and THEY told him. It was confirmed today. So now I'm the breadwinner until he either dinds something else or gets unemployment. I'm so mad at his biss I hope he gets unemployment and rides it out as long as he can out of spite!
Questions or concerns?
I was concerned about Johnny's legs and development that way, but he's doing great now
Picture!
His former boss paid him yesterday. If he would have tried any funny business we definitely would have taken legal action.
Also, he did all the paperwork for unemployment yesterday afternoon as well, but it takes 4 weeks to process.
On the plus side,
I was offered two new clients yesterday, and my school offered me a paid mentor position today (thank you universe and higher power!) Fate?
Speaking of fate (hopefully), I saw an open position within my company that is somewhat similar in nature to what I'm currently doing but has more potential for growth. I'm in a place now where I'm not ready for something that requires a ton of work but can eventually lead to other things when I'm ready. I think this will be that type of position. I applied yesterday but I'm also worried if I get it the training will be overwhelming. Not that it will be hard, but just learning something new can be mentally draining. I already feel exhausted and don't know how it'll be with an infant. But I'd be happy to get out of this dept with the way things have been going.
When did LO turn 11 months? on the 6th of Sept
Tell us about sleep, nighttime and naps- Jet leg was AWFUL for us for about a week. Thankfully she's doing better. And now we are mostly down to 1 or 2 wake ups a night! (Instead of 5-6!)
Weight and length? 8.3 kg (just over 18 lbs?) I cant remember her inches
How are YOU feeling? Tired. Abigail is exhausting. But I am so happy to be home in TZ. My MIL and other in laws are SOOOO helpful with her. Especially because I am going to be starting a new job, I have comfort knowing that Abigail can stay with my MIL and will be well taken care of.
Questions or concerns? I am just so happy Abigail's recovery has been so dramatic! At her check up last week she had gone from the 1% for weight to around the 35%!
Picture! I havent had time to take any good pictures recently, so this is Abigail with her dad two weeks ago when we got back from America.
EDIT:
here it is!
Sept 23
Waving and clapping constantly. So close to walking but not quite yet. She'll jump down off the couch and start going but if I weren't holding onto her she would fall.
Tell us about sleep, nighttime and naps-
Was good until we had to send her to daycare and she got sick. Hopefully after this last week of daycare we can get her back on schedule. Anyone's LO down to 1 nap yet? We aren't but just wondering how that transition works.
Weight and length?
17.5 lbs and about 28 in
How are YOU feeling?
Better now that I'm not as sick anymore. Feel like I don't have time for much of anything. Or more like I don't feel like doing much of anything.
Questions or concerns?
S isn't saying any real words yet. Just a lot of babble like 'dadada' and 'Bababa'. She doesn't really babble 'mamama' anymore. That stopped around 7 months. She seems to understand a few works though.
Also this week V has completely weaned from the boob. It's bittersweet but she was only comfort nursing 1-2x a day the past few months anyways. She has been getting most her calories from formula and solids. Going to start mixing whole milk in her routine come October so I guess it's time for us anyway.