essays

Thank you for loving the good *and* the bad sides of me

You know me all too well, my love.

An ode to my first pair of mom underwear

Every time I go to throw them away, I feel a pang of guilt. This underwear saved my life. Okay, maybe it wasn't that extreme, but it did bring me comfort. This package of underwear was the first step towards regaining some semblance of dignity and normalcy after giving birth. This underwear propelled me into motherhood.

Angela on realizing her anxiety and sadness weren’t normal

I was sad, anxious, stressed and falling apart.

I don’t post photos of my child on social media

But it doesn't mean I'm "better" than other parents.

Brianne on being terrified to be home alone with her baby

I was definitely not feeling too great myself, and I was supposed to keep an eye on this little thing 24/7? Everything felt so overwhelming.

To the mama whose entire family is sick (including herself)

If Mom goes down, you have to call for reinforcements. Heck, even if Mom doesn't go down, call for reinforcements.

Bonnie on postpartum depression and sleep-training

I believed that if I just did this one thing, like the sleep coach or the sleep expert in the books said, and if I could just get him on this schedule, then it would fix everything.

Mama, you’re beautiful

Home has a new meaning. You are someone's home.

To the mama who has to cram in work after bedtime

In a perfect world, we would be applauded for our commitment to our families and discouraged from logging on after hours.

Stepping back from work to take care of my son was the right choice for me

But the guilt didn't go away.

Being a SAHM can be a thankless job—and yes, it’s real work

I am the always-on-call parent. And if I miss any of it, if I slip up, that's all on me, too.

A love note to the exhausted single mama

The labor requirements of a single mother are uniquely intense. Sometimes when I break it down for myself I feel like a superhero and sometimes I feel even more tired.

How I figured out what my child’s tantrum was *really* about

He was crying about chicken nuggets, but it wasn't about the chicken nuggets at all.

My mom taught me how to create the perfect Thanksgiving—and I miss her every year

I spent the morning of Thanksgiving, or sometimes the night before, picking bread for stuffing. It was a ritual I started helping mom with at a very young age.

I have a 2-year-old—and here’s everything I’ve learned so far

Strangely, the longer I'm a mother, the less I seem to know, but I'm certain the last two years have taught me five valuable lessons that I'll keep with me long after my babies are grown.

In case you need it today, mama: You are more than enough

Mama, that you are not alone. We're all in it with you and sometimes we just need a little reminder that we are enough.

I had to return my adopted baby when the birth parents changed their mind (twice)

I was heartbroken and my hopes were shattered.

My child brought the magic back to my life

Sometimes magic is a really great piece of pizza or the sixth ride down the waterslide. It's laughing with abandon and skipping down the sidewalk without caring who sees you.

How I adopted my son—and fought to become his mama

We traveled by air and past oil rigs to visit the right offices. We sat in an intense courtroom proceeding with a magistrate and lawyer, nervously answering the court's questions.

I’m defined by motherhood right now, and that’s okay

I spent many years longing to be here at this moment. To have my family. To be my children's mama.