essays

I hate sex when I’m trying to conceive

Sex becomes so mechanical and monotonous when it's demoted to just one sole purpose.

Dear mother-in-law, thank you for raising an incredible man

The boy you raised grew into a strong, loving man. A supportive, equal partner. And a next-level dad.

Caitlin on how therapy gave her the tools to cope with postpartum rage and anxiety

"I wasn't a bad mother, just one that needed help."

To the mom who feels invisible in motherhood, I see you

Hi, my name is mom. Some days I forget what my given name is.

Lauren on not allowing mental illness and postpartum depression to define her

My mental illness does not define me.

Allison on having scary, intrusive thoughts and postpartum rage

"The crying didn't worry me as much as the rage. Having struggled with depression before, I knew the crying pretty well. I knew to let it out. I knew to take care of myself. But I had never experienced anything like the rage before."

I’ll continue to carry you as you grow, my baby

I know you won't be little for much longer.

I’m holding onto that sweet spot between baby and becoming a child

This is two.

Kourtney on breastfeeding struggles triggering postpartum depression

"I’ve been through this. How am I struggling so much with my second baby? Shouldn’t I have more control of the outcome?"

Yasmin on spending months fighting to find help for postpartum depression

"'I’m sorry, it sounds like you may just have the baby blues,' were the words that came out of the nurse’s mouth at my OB’s office when I called every day for a week begging for help at one-week postpartum."

Why we moved our entire family in the middle of the pandemic

We quickly realized that the life we had held onto so tightly, the one we thought we wanted and needed was not compatible with our new lives as parents of three under 3.

Healing from birth trauma: My journey to being heard and understood

"I thought as a mental health professional myself, I would be more aware of what I was going though and of the impact it had on me, but I was so lost, so sucked into the pain and loneliness and suffering, that I couldn't see through the fog."

To the mama whose kid is having a tantrum during a conference call, I see you

My own daughter's tantrum taught me an extremely valuable lesson.

I never thought an oil cleanser would work for me–until I tried this one

It's pregnancy-safe, vegan, cruelty-free and packaged in a 100% recyclable amber glass bottle that preserves freshness.

Kelsi on being bipolar and having postpartum depression during COVID-19

"I have always been a hypochondriac with an obsessive fear of dying. I used to get blood work quarterly just to make sure I was OK. If you know anything about depression, you know obsessing over death is a major symptom. Covid knocked the wind out of me."

Getting a puppy made me realize that we’re definitely done having kids

I'd expected that my new puppy would fill a baby-shaped hole in my life, but instead, she gently revealed that perhaps, babyhood wasn't all that appealing to me anymore.

My baby is no longer a baby

When my son finally stopped using his pacifier I knew I was saying goodbye to his last bits of babyhood.

This is breastfeeding: Living your life in 3-hour increments

I amaze myself at what I can accomplish while the clock is ticking.

As a mother, I’m asking, can you please wear a mask?

My 4-year-old has adapted. It's time for grown-ups to do it, too.

How I’m working through my PPD during quarantine

Am I still a great mother because I am sad? Yes, I am. And so are you.