Mariah Maddox

Mariah Maddox is Motherly's Essays Editor. She is a passionate storyteller who shares her testimonials of motherhood, marriage and life through words and photos. Mariah is also a self-published author of "Beckoning of the Wind: An Ode to Motherhood." Instagram LinkedIn Website

Children's Health

I’ll be an ‘overprotective’ mama this RSV season—and I’m not sorry for it

So please respect my boundaries.

Community & Friendship

I’m the friend who had kids first. Here’s what I wish my other friends had known

Understand that your mama friend still needs you.

Motherly Stories

What’s it like being a ‘boy mom’? All the things I wish I had known

From wondering how many times is one too many for your son to bump his head in a day to getting an empty tin popcorn bucket slammed onto your head—raising boys is exhausting and fun and extremely unpredictable.

Pregnancy

Sometimes pregnancy is the worst, so let’s stop romanticizing it

Because not every woman has a “perfect” pregnancy.

Parenting

How did sleepovers become the latest battleground for parents?

While the great debate has many questioning if they are safe or harmful, it seems like more parents are opting for the no sleepover rule.

Viral & Trending

This mom’s viral TikTok perfectly sums up ‘default parent resentment’—and yes, it’s REAL

"I am in charge of carrying the mental load simply because I am home more often with them."

Viral & Trending

Mom shares teacher’s powerful message in viral TikTok: ‘I don’t see their milestones, I see who they are’

I advise you to grab your tissues and prepare for the waterworks before you press play—because this one's gonna hit you hard, mama.

Real Sleep Stories from Real Mamas

Sleep training is still the hardest part of parenting for me

It’s the one thing that overwhelms me and brings me to the point of tears at times.

Community & Friendship

Toxic online mom culture is so draining—here’s how to keep your feed healthy for YOU

Understanding that not every mom you come across is going to support your choices will make it easier for you to take those mean comments as a grain of salt and keep it moving.