essays

5 lies I believed about maternity leave

1. I believed that maternity leave would be a "break."

Pregnancy loss leave must be included in our parental leave conversation

And first, we need to de-stigmatize it.

I miss you already, my baby—even though you’re right here

How can I miss you? You're not gone. Oh, but it's coming. I know it.

Mom begs people to take COVID seriously as her 9-year-old fights for her life

"Look at my child!" she wrote on Facebook. "THIS is why people are afraid. THIS is why people beg for you to wear a mask."

To the new mama of two: My one piece of advice

Staying present took more work this time around, but I still tried to relish the moments of joy between those long, lonely nights.

To the mama sending her kids back to preschool—your little ones are going to be OK

I'm anxious about post-quarantine preschool—but I'm determined to make it special.

When I tell you about my difficult birth, here’s what I need you to do

Please don’t say, “At least the baby’s healthy.” 

I had two breastfeeding journeys in my lifetime—neither was a bit like the other

Nothing's ever made me feel so lost, yet so proud. There is truly nothing in the world like it.

This mama perfectly explains how time changes when you become a mother

"He is only 9 weeks old, but I feel like I am already yearning for the past and for things that haven't even happened yet."

Getting sober saved my motherhood (and my life)

I'm not trying to escape anymore. I'm here.

Want to be a happy parent? Let go of these 15 things to find joy

5. Your need to look perfect. There’s no such thing as a perfect parent. Embrace your imperfections.

This mama’s Facebook post on time flying by is going viral because, well, she’s right

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Postpartum during the summer: When your emotions don’t match the season

Summertime is typically a bright, happy time. When you're postpartum, it can feel dark and isolating.

This mama nails ALL the emotions of the newborn bubble

"You are allowed to say that it's a lot. It does not mean you are not grateful. It does not mean you do not love your child. It does not make you any less of an incredible mother. All it means is that you are human."

Breastfeeding: it’s wanting to stop & it’s not wanting to stop

... all at the same time.

Today I didn’t hold you―not like I should

"How did I forget to take the time today to smell your head? To kiss your cheek another time. To look into your eyes and watch your mouth as you learn to curl it into a smile..."

Quitting social media made me a better parent

I gave up social media to be a better parent. Now my kids and I are happier—and safer.

Moms are living in an extraordinary era of burnout

93% of moms say they're burned out. Let that sink in.

The early weeks of breastfeeding are exhausting—but fleeting

One day you'll need more than breastmilk to comfort you. One day I'll need to carry snacks and water everywhere we go. One day you'll toss and turn at night and for whatever reason, nursing you to sleep won't work its magic as it does now.

I have no idea how to make mom friends—but I need them

One thing became abundantly clear: my introverted lifestyle needed to be seriously made over, and my only chance at surviving these childhood years would come in the form of a cross-body-bag-wearing, sleep-deprived carrier of small humans: another mom.