Real Talk About the Transition into Motherhood
I’m So Tired: A Mental Health Day for Mom
In a culture that highly values productivity, busyness and results, it’s really hard for many of us to scale back and let it go some days. I absolutely love to feel productive and, in general, I enjoy life more when I’m active and creative. But I also think that many of us forget about the importance and restorative quality of just being.
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How to Be a Good Enough Parent this Holiday Season
This season, as a good enough parent, I’m turing my focus inward towards what the little ones need and wants. I’m finding rituals and activities that bring me joy and calm and we are looking forward to peaceful celebrations with friends and family.
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Parenthood and the Comparison Trap
You’re awake in the middle of the night with your baby for the third time. As you’re feeding her, and scrolling through Facebook or Instagram, what are you thinking when you see that picture of your friend’s baby sleeping peacefully in his crib? Or that video of your other friend’s 10 month old baby walking already?
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A New Mama’s Response to the Election
As a new parent I am working out what this means for myself and my family. As a citizen I am working out what role I want to have in the future of our country. It can be hard to find a balance between parenting very needy children and staying politically engaged, but I feel strongly that I need to do both.
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A Letter to my Oldest Child
The other day, your dad and I were reflecting on how much our life has changed since you were born six-and-a-half years ago. And the change feels bigger than the typical, “you have a baby and everything is different” type of change. You see, you were born with a beautifully strong personality and, from day one, you communicated very clearly with us about what was OK with you and what wasn’t going to work. We tried not to listen at first, because we figured we knew best, and because we were led astray by cultural messages imploring us not to listen to you or to our instincts about what you needed.
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The Loneliness of Motherhood
There is sometimes a loneliness that goes with motherhood. Until I became a mother I really didn’t understand this. I didn’t understand the shift that I would experience going from a coupled adult to a mother. Now I know. I am still surprised though at the moments when motherhood feels most lonely.
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A Smoother Transition Coming Home from the Hospital
So your baby is here. She is healthy and you’re healthy and you’ve been discharged from the hospital. If you’re like me, you’re super excited to get back to the comfort of your home. However, pretty quickly after you return home, you realize this isn’t all it’s cracked up to b
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The Privileged New Mama
I have been deeply troubled this week by two more police shootings of innocent men doing normal activities. Two fathers that will not be there to share in their children’s lives. Two families ripped apart at the seams. I’ve felt the call to action as a... read more
Postpartum Physical Recovery: Listen to Your Body
Sometimes I scroll through online forums where moms chat and ask questions. I’m curious about people’s birth, baby, and postpartum questions. It really helps me get an idea of what people need support with and gives me ideas for what to share here on New Mama Project. Something I see many new moms asking questions about is physical recovery, both immediate healing as well as long term postpartum body changes and adjustment.
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The Single Best Postpartum Preparation Step
Since I’ve been in the thick of the postpartum period, I’ve been thinking a lot about what has made things easier for us. I want to share what I feel like has been our single best postpartum preparation step. I
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