Motherly Stories

Why I hid my pregnancy

Having a child, especially when it’s your first, is an anxious enough time as it is without having the added worry that you could lose your job because of it.

Living life after pregnancy loss: the devastating grief and the joy of hope

It might have been the second glass of wine or having my husband by my side again, but there was a point where I felt like, yes, I could live life after pregnancy loss.

Wearing pink isn’t enough

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their life.

How postpartum pain gave me purpose

Moms are the strongest, bravest group of people I know and it is a group I am so proud to be a part of.

Will she want me when she doesn’t need me?

I hold on to the fact that I still want my mom, more so now than ever, and that hopefully my daughter will want the same.

There’s no such thing as a perfect parent

What if, instead of striving for perfection, we began striving for wholeness? A postpartum doula shares that there’s no such thing as a perfect parent—no matter what those shiny Instagram posts would have you believe.

What I didn’t know about motherhood before I lost my day job

We all know that these are the years we won’t get back—not just of our kids’ lives but of our own too.

Dear mama, you’re doing great

“It’s hard to see now but it gets easier and harder, in different ways, and then, easier again."

A letter to friends who don’t have children

I’ll always love you, but it’s impossible to get it until you’re in it.

My son’s first childhood friend moved away and I was the one to grieve

And though he might not remember the magic of his first real friendship, I would.

I didn’t bond with my baby right away—and that’s OK

I used to believe in love at first sight—until I gave birth.

Be the pier, not the ocean: On taming tantrums

I’m raising a Pisces, which means every emotion mounts like a tidal wave at her back.

11 women on their surprise pregnancies

What happens when things don’t go to plan?

Creating a safe haven for your child: 5 simple, impactful ways to build a cozy home

Having a shelter that is more than just four walls and a roof can be life-changing.

Seasons of change: A letter to my firstborn son

I am surprised by how much I don’t want you to go and how much I do want you to go, all at the same time.

Being asked, ‘Is he yours?’ after gestational surrogacy

Our society has conditioned us so deeply to think about parenthood in one way that we don’t even question our biases.

The dangers of #DivorceGoals

Divorce is tricky. Divorce with kids involved is even trickier.

I just want to sit

From the minute I open my eyes to well after the kids are in bed—I’m doing something, or thinking about doing something.

5 things no one told me about infertility

The mental load of infertility is huge.

I’m learning a second language to connect with my child—here’s why

This is what we do to love our children: We choose to enter their world and remind them of how much they enrich ours.