Motherhood changes us. Celebrate the ups and downs with these honest, insightful essays about becoming—and being—a mom.

We live in a world where we must learn to navigate the turbulent waters of bigotry and hatred and redirect them towards equality and love.

Having experienced it now for myself, I think something needs to change so that more moms have this same opportunity.

They're an antidote to maternal isolation.

"People are still hung up on these really old-fashioned societal norms."

As someone who doesn’t like music, “musical ear” was not a welcome symptom.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

What happens when things don’t go to plan?

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

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.