essays - Page 41 of 60 - Motherly
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essays

epidural birth story photo

My birth story: An unplanned epidural and C-section

It wasn't what I planned. It wasn't what I was prepared for.

siblings playing on the kitchen floor

My child is having a boring summer and he loves it

Mostly he putters around the yard, plays with the hose, finds toads and bugs and locust shells and cool rocks, shimmys up the door frames, attempts to dismantle the house, and, admittedly, has way too much screen time. In other words, the same kind of summers I had as a kid.

woman raising her first while holding her newborn after giving birth

A pep talk for pregnant mamas from a doula—you can do this

This is a historic moment. YOU are the women giving birth to babies born during a global pandemic. YOU are superheroes.

mom holding toddler against her shoulder

Did I love you enough today?

In the moment, the chaos is so real, but when it's over, it's over and I just want to wake you up and say, "HEY! You did good today, kid."

baby feet in father hands

6 tips to REALLY prepare for the first year of fatherhood

From a guy who's been there, here's what I wish I had known before my first baby arrived.

mom holding newborn baby in her palm

I just had my second baby and I miss making mom friends

I know things will go back to normal, eventually, but I feel so cheated out of the postpartum experience I wanted to have.

little girl holding a muffin in front of breakfast food on a table - words that transformed a picky eater

These 6 words transformed my picky eaters

No picky eater stands a chance against "You don't have to eat it."

dad snuggling baby in bed

Fathers don’t get enough credit, either

To my husband, I am strong on my own, but I am so much stronger with you by my side.

dad kissing daughter on the cheek

Thank you for being the best daddy ever

Thank you for throwing me really, really, really high in the air. You make me feel like I can fly. I hope I always feel like that inside.

dad chasing daughter in the house- raising a transgender child

What it’s really like to raise a transgender child

A heartfelt essay by a mom on the journey of raising her transgender child and finding acceptance together.

mom hugging child

What I did when my 4-year-old told me that he’s transgender

Discover how to support trans kids and celebrate their gender identity with love and understanding.

black and white photo of a pregnant belly - essay on prenatal depression

Maggie on having prenatal depression and being afraid to have another baby

I would be sobbing into Robert’s shoulder, “I know I’ll love this baby, but I just don’t feel that way right now.”

baby sleeping in a bassinet

Teaching my baby how to sleep made me a better mom

It might be called sleep 'training,' but you're really just giving your baby sleep skills they'll benefit from forever.

black and white photo of newborn sleeping on moms chest - essay on experiencing postpartum depression and anxiety

Stephanie on her ectopic pregnancy, IVF and experiencing postpartum depression and anxiety

They didn’t tell me I was at an even higher risk for depression and anxiety whenever there was a hormone change in my body. That loss changed everything for me. 

mom comforting daughter

The one phrase I’ll never again say to my daughter

Telling my daughter "it's OK" when things are obviously not only serves to lessen my anxiety, not hers.

crying mom holding her sleeping baby - essay on PNDA and PTSD

Suzanne on postpartum depression, PTSD and waiting to feel something for her son

I went back to work full-time. I was still waiting. I picked up the kids from daycare every day. I was still waiting. I had a birthday. I was still waiting. I stopped going out on weekends. Still waiting. Stopped replying to messages. Still waiting. Stopped seeing my friends. Still waiting. Stopped answering phone calls. Waiting.

two moms sitting at the table together

My wish? For moms to support each other—differences and all

Here's the thing: Every mom I've encountered is simply trying to do the best she can for her children.

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