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.
aisleofviewtwo
member
Re: TTGP w/o March 24
After hosting a 2nd baby shower in January (hosted one over Christmas) because my 2 closest friends both just had their 3rd babies, I was feeling pretty down. Then a couple weeks later our other close friend announced her pregnancy at her son"s 2nd bday party with a "big brother" shirt. And while I was happy for her too, it just felt like "are you kidding me?? Literally all my friends around me are getting pregnant with their 2nd and 3rd babies and I'm over here like the last Mohican" 😭 and they all know I've been trying so there's sort of this underlying "poor you" energy, though that could just be my own perception. Anyway, I just needed to give myself and my husband a break and step away from TTC for a bit. But now I'm ready to start again this cycle feeling renewed. I'm sorry for all I've missed over the past couple months but I hope you're all doing well!
@aisleofviewtwo Yeah, I hear you. This is a really busy time of year for us - and I'm also in a wedding this weekend across the country - so I was a little relieved, I guess is the word - to know that I could have a drink, etc. I'm in another wedding in February and am thinking similarly about if I'll be pregnant/how far along I'll be. The mental gymnastics are so taxing.
@aloha_mama thank you ❤️ why are you hesitant to let your 9yr old stay with your in laws? Are they out of state? I would not want to send my son out of state. But I remember spending summers at my grandparents, usually with a couple other cousins in tow, and those are some of my best memories. Of course they lived in the same city so I wasn't too far away. I feel fortunate I was able to have that time with my grandparents. I wish my son could have a similar experience but everyone is in a different state and his grandparents are older and would definitely not take him for a summer 😅
@aisleofviewtwo thank you ❤️ I definitely don't deal well with feeling like I'm being pitied, but I know they just care about me. It's hard to navigate knowing the right thing to say, even I don't know. And the bombardment of pregnancy announcements I chalk up to the fact that myself and friend group are all just in that phase of life of growing our families, so it makes sense, it just sucks. Anyway, it sounds like the hormones are doing their thing so that's good but too bad about the side effects 🫤 I understand your hesitation about making plans but plans change and plans can be canceled. I vote you make the plans and if you conceive or need to do treatments and have to change plans, people will understand. Just maybe see if you can get any deposits back if some of those plans require upfront payments.
@britters314 how exciting you found a match! Hope the clinic accepts soon 🙏🏻 your backyard projects sound exciting. A lot of work, but will be so nice to have your little oasis when it's done.
@fifilala516 travel is never fun but it will be worth it! Weddings are almost always a good time and I'm sure you and your husband will enjoy yourselves!
@emeraldcity603 I see, glad it's nothing super abnormal for you then! I've never been able to use a cup. I don't even like using tampons so I usual use pads 🫣 Maybe I'll try the flex cup!
@britters314 I'm sorry this match isn't working out. 3rd times the charm! Do you mind me asking why are clinic would deny an embryo? Does it have to do with liklihood of sticking or something else? Just curious how the process works.
@aisleofviewtwo your mom is a wise woman!