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: MAY
A robin built a nest by our front door - waiting to see if there are babies - mostly because I’m not sure when they lay eggs.
We went to the dr today with the 5th ear infection since February. They referred us to an ENT but I am terrified of LO needing surgery
@sgrn18 not tubes for LO - but I ended up with them so many times that if I had needed them again it would have been permanent. If it helps you at all - I don’t remember any of it except the last time when I was about seven and that’s because my aunt (who was a nurse at the hospital) got to take me back to the OR - and that I think I only remember from stories. I think it’s much harder/scarier for parents. I grew out of it and never needed them again and don’t have any issues as an adult. We had to take Maeve to Children’s for a hemangioma on her eye - I just made sure to bring every bit of paperwork I thought they could ask for and some toys to distract her while waiting/talking to the doc. I still love my ENT from all those years ago. Good luck to you! Keep us posted.
@sgrn18 good luck!
The whining is almost unbearable at times. He wants on my lap but he doesn’t but I need to stay sitting even though he doesn’t want me. And now we are starting stranger danger too.
Happy Mother’s Day weekend, friends! Love & hugs to you all
We don't have a lot of whining, but definitely she wants me to be nearby and doing nothing. She will be playing perfectly on her own, but if I get up to go to the bathroom, she whines and follows me. She's really clinging. And she doesn't want dad if I'm in sight, poor guy.
i feel like a bad mom but all I wanted for mother’s day is some time to myself. I sent DH and the kids camping with out me so I can clean, watch movies and have some cocktails. I really needed some time to myself which hasnt happened since January when we went to mexico. So I am laying tile in my bathroom, drinking cocktails and watching girl movies.
Happy Mother’s Day everyone!
Nate also points at everything. If he wants your food or something he points and says this over and over and over until he gets it.
How is everyone doing? Over here we’re on a fairly good schedule. I feel like we’re always going and when there’s a chance to rest or relax LO wants to get into everything. I don’t think I ever realized how much of my day work takes up until now when we have to rush through dinner, brushing teeth, cleaning up all in the hour and a half we’re home before bedtime.
@sgrn18 how did it go with the ENT?
I feel like i havent been on here in a while lol its been super busy and hectic lately!
Poop diaper in the vent sounds....uhh...fun! Lol
We final transitioned three of the four out of our room and Samantha to a pack n play next to the bed. She still wakes up a bunch to nurse, but tonight is the night I tell her to go back to bed without nursing every time. I don’t want to wean her, but that’s the only way my babies usual learn to sleep through the night. They all wanted a slow drip in their mouths until I cut them off cold turkey. If she doesn’t take to my gentle approach I will wean her. With working full time and everything else with my other kids I need sleep. It’s making me not feel well. It’s time.
Here is a cute picture of her at the splash pad...excuse her bruise. Walking is hard.
@megpeg Your mother's day plans sound like they were a dream! Hope you enjoyed.
@sgrn18 No personal experience with tubes, but five ear infections in just a few months sounds so awful for LO. The tubes seem like a crummy experience the day they're put in, but like they could lead to LO feeling a lot better long term. Let us know when you go to the doctor!
@DDRRT1982 Squuuuuueee!!! Good luck!! And I hope you're getting more sleep and feeling well.
All is well here. Nora is still a great big sister, and Murph is a sweet, mellow baby. We're doing pretty well routine-wise, except when it comes to dinnertime: by then, Nora's fussy, it's Murph's witching hour, and I just can't get my act together to get food on the table. Being on maternity leave this time has felt really isolating (I'm chalking it up to being in the 'burbs this time when I was in the city with N), but I finally really spoke to my husband about it and he's been doing a lot to help me feel connected - he even surprised me by contacting two of my best friends last week and working from home so I could go out with them!
I go for my six week check-up on Tuesday, and I'm really hoping my ob will put in my IUD then. He wants to wait a bit longer to make sure my uterus is totally shrunk back to normal, but I have very vocally requested we just do the damn thing. It feels weird to get an IUD when I plan on trying to get pregnant again at the end of next summer, but my body feels like it NEEDS that time. Birth control pill issues + my husband and I being stupid with condoms got us Murph when it did, so the IUD feels like the best choice: I am so grateful that she's here, but I also want to enjoy her and Nora as a duo for more than four minutes. I do feel weirdly... guilty? about wanting the IUD. We tried so hard and it took so long for us to have Nora. We do want more kids. The magical thinking part of me worries. The logical thinking part knows my body and our brains need time to rebound before doing this again.
On another note, I’m leaving Nate over night for 3 days next week and I’m excited for my trip, but dreading leaving him. We’ve never been apart over night or for more than a work day. I know he’ll be better than me but I’m not looking forward to it.
@ashtuesday glad you’re settling in. I find that time hard too - I’m ready for bed and there’s still a million things - hope it gets easier. That was sweet of your husband. Decompression time is so important.
@DDRRT1982 how exciting!! Wishing you a quick two weeks with a positive ending (pun totally intended 😂
@mccurleya enjoy your time!
@DDRRT1982 cant wait to hear!
@megpeg cute haircut!
@ashtuesday so glad to hear everyone is adjusting pretty well.
Well, I believe I am 8 dpo and there is a very faint line. I am so nervous and excited. I need to go get my progesterone tested. The fact that I haven’t had a period since before Sam has me worried about egg quality. Hopefully, everything will be ok.
You know what my main concern is? I feel really bad that I am going to feel like dog shit with morning sickness and worry about ruining my kids summer. Ugh.
I'm sitting in my doctor's office right now for my 6-week appointment and I'm simultaneously hoping they'll give me the IUD today and thinking "Fuck it, should we just go for another one right now?" My brain is the worst.