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: C-section check in and questions
@gingerbride26 I wonder if your husband could go down to recovery? That way he can be there why you wake up and be there with baby. I know in my case they just had my husband do skin to skin right away in my room while i was down in recovery.
UO/confession - totally half joked to a friend today "wonder if they can just do a tummy tuck while they're in there" lol
@TalesOfASocialIntrovert oh good that gives me hope!!
1. Are you definitely having a c-section, considering one, or more likely than average to need one? If already scheduled, when are you having it?
I was for sure having a c/s due to breech presentation, but baby turned. Now I have hypertension and most likely delivering at 37 weeks, which starts on Saturday for me.
2. Why are you having or possibly having a c-section?
Hypertension/AMA
4. How do you feel about having or potentially having a c-section?
I actually feel calmer about a c/s than a vaginal delivery. I was willing to try vagina delivery, but I've always preferred to get a c/s.
QUESTION:Do you guys have a csection recovery band or binder?? How soon can you put one on?
Its sounding like in-hospital alone is (while not ideal) doable and he'd be more helpful at home after so I'm not overdoing it - which I'm sooooo prone to without adult supervision.
My bff had an unplanned c-section in April and her husband wasn’t able to be at the hospital with her much unless it was in the evening and I wasn’t able to be with her hardly at all because I always have my kids and it’s against the rules to have non-siblings in rooms, and she lives across the country from family. Anyways. While she said it was fine to not have him there, she definitelt overdid it a little bit trying to take care of baby right after surgery alone. The nurses are helpful but can’t be with you 100% of the time.
Logically I would want more time with my H at home than I would in the hospital but I would be sad to be alone for several days (minus however long H came to visit) and have a hard time doing it all at the hospital.
I guess all I'm saying it do what works for you. If you need DH there, I'm sure your current LO would be fine with your MIL - even if it's not what your originally planned. And if DH is going to be a better support person at home, then do that. Go with your gut!
If he stays in the hospital with you, how much time would he still get off work and at home with you post-discharge?
Is there someone else that could come stay with you for at least the first day or two? Not during delivery itself, but when he goes back to work. By the time I was discharged I was moving around a lot better. There was a lot more pain and limited movement those first couple days in the hospital.
For those who have had a c-section, when does the swelling go away?