Motherly Stories

5 lies I believed about maternity leave

1. I believed that maternity leave would be a "break."

I am so thankful for this beautiful chaos that is motherhood

Three little kids, a husband, a full time job, a house, a dog, and 1,000 other random things that require my attention—it's a lot. A lot of chaos, a lot of mess, and lot of exhaustion.

I’m raising girls who are ‘includers’ instead of ‘mean girls’

Because this is how we heal the ‘mean girls’ culture—we hold, we include, we love, we empower & we regard our girls.

Homeschooling turned out to be my self-care

For this single mom and her son, homeschooling solved issues they didn't even know were there.

To the mama happy about sending her kids back to school—I’m with you

For me, the end of summer isn't the end of the party—it's the beginning.

To the mama sending her kids back to preschool—your little ones are going to be OK

I'm anxious about post-quarantine preschool—but I'm determined to make it special.

This mama reminds us that becoming a mother is the birth of a human AND a new woman

"You go from the highest your hormones will ever be in your life to the lowest all in one swift moment."

How I let go of anger & anxiety to become a more peaceful parent

In these moments, I was the opposite of the mother I set out to be.  

When I tell you about my difficult birth, here’s what I need you to do

Please don’t say, “At least the baby’s healthy.” 

Please stop telling me how ‘easy’ my baby is

I struggle every single day to love and care for my daughter, more often than not to the point of tears. Being told I have an easy baby invalidates those feelings.

Getting sober saved my motherhood (and my life)

I'm not trying to escape anymore. I'm here.

Want to be a happy parent? Let go of these 15 things to find joy

5. Your need to look perfect. There’s no such thing as a perfect parent. Embrace your imperfections.

This mama nails ALL the emotions of the newborn bubble

"You are allowed to say that it's a lot. It does not mean you are not grateful. It does not mean you do not love your child. It does not make you any less of an incredible mother. All it means is that you are human."

Today I didn’t hold you―not like I should

"How did I forget to take the time today to smell your head? To kiss your cheek another time. To look into your eyes and watch your mouth as you learn to curl it into a smile..."

Quitting social media made me a better parent

I gave up social media to be a better parent. Now my kids and I are happier—and safer.

My birth story: An unplanned epidural and C-section

It wasn't what I planned. It wasn't what I was prepared for.

Dear mama, you were never meant to do it all

Mothers everywhere are suffering from caregiver burnout. It's time to stop.

To the mamas who are ‘touched out’—I see you

If you've ever felt like you couldn't take one more minute of physical contact—even from the people you love most—this one's for you.

A pep talk for pregnant mamas from a doula—you can do this

This is a historic moment. YOU are the women giving birth to babies born during a global pandemic. YOU are superheroes.

My child is nonbinary—and I’m so proud

Our kids are challenging the gender binary. Here's how I supported mine (and grew in the process)