motherhood emotions

A letter to my babies on our first Mother’s Day

You have been surprising me from the very start.

Mother’s Day isn’t canceled

Yes, we should celebrate Mother's Day this year. Without a doubt. In fact, we should go all out—whatever that means to you.

When did you first feel like a mother?

When I heard them say, "Mama" for the first time.

To the women who taught me how to be a mother—thank you

These women, open and generous, were unaware that their input was shaping my views on what it meant to be a mother. Their example, their work schedules, their parenting styles and reflections, helped me develop my own expectations and desires around motherhood. I listened to their advice and tucked it away, hoping that one day I would have the experience to understand what being someone's mom really felt like.

My baby, I loved you before you were even born

I love you today, I love you tomorrow, I love you forever.

My first year of motherhood taught me the most important lesson of all

For the first time ever, everything shifted and I had to pour my whole self into one person, the one person who needed me the most.

The one question I ask myself when I feel my anger rising

I commonly ask myself this when the control freak inside me began to get agitated.

No one will ever underestimate the work of a SAHM again

The secret is out.

My baby, you make me a better person

And thank you for forgiving me when I'm not.

When you ask me what the pandemic was like, here’s what I’ll say

Today, I am writing to you to talk about the part when we decided to change the world.

I let myself cry, but then I keep going

We cry because it's all too much. It's overwhelming. It's fast and furious. It's all so brand new. But, then, after we cry, we dry our eyes. We keep going.

I don’t like to admit it, but sometimes I yell at my kids

I was halfway through lunch preparations and the water for pasta was…

Mothering during coronavirus is the ultimate test—but you’re already succeeding

Mama, you were made for this moment.

The world feels scary, my baby—but being with you is exactly what I need

I can't tell you when you'll get to play on the jungle gym again, but what I can tell you is you will see me every day. Because we will be together.

It’s okay if all you did was watch ‘Paw Patrol’ today

For the next several weeks I am embracing imperfect parenting, loosening up about screen time and giving myself a high-five for every day we get simply get through.

It’s okay to say that it’s really hard right now

This coronavirus quarantine life may be our "new normal"—but it definitely doesn't feel "normal."

Nothing could prepare me for the sleeplessness of new motherhood

Until I found what helped.

I stopped feeling bad about saying ‘no’ to toys

We have plenty of beautiful, useful toys in our home already. I have eliminated the guilt of needing more toys to please them because I know they have more than enough.

My anxiety is at its peak when my child is sick

Tonight—right now—the only thing I can do is remind myself that this will pass. The fog will lift eventually, and the fear will slip away.

To my firstborn: You will always be my baby

After having you, I was terrified of having another kid because I didn't think I could love someone else as much as you.