essays

April Fools’ Day & the problem with fake pregnancy announcements

About 6.1 million women in the United States are dealing with infertility.

I wanted to find mom friends so I took the first step

Step one: Leave my house.

How I felt when the doctor told us our baby has Down Syndrome

We wanted to run away—not from her, but from everyone else.

What goes through my mind as I grieve the loss of my mom

There are a million things that change and take on new meanings and shapes. There are a million words that suddenly don't seem so nice anymore. There are a million faces that don't bring comfort like they used to.

My kids and I stopped sticking to a regular schedule—and it has made such a huge difference

I dropped the "shoulds" and started doing what worked best for us.

Erin on surviving crippling panic attacks, paranoia, and suicidal ideation

After my son was born, all I wanted was sleep. But I was scared of closing my eyes for fear of something happening to him during that time. I couldn’t shut my mind off from all the irrational thoughts running through it.

Motherhood is: Needing to be *not* needed just for a little bit

I love my snuggles and I love being the antidote to their fear and sadness. But occasionally, I do wish they understood that they could easily wake their dad for help, or that he is equally capable of putting socks on the correct way.

A letter to my only child on her first birthday

You are all my firsts. And you may also be all my lasts. Whether Daddy and I can give you a little brother or sister is unknown to us. Giving you a sibling would be one of the greatest gifts, but nobody knows if we will be able to have more children.

To my firstborn—thank you for being patient with me as I figure out life with 2 kids

I wish there was a way to clone myself so I could give you each 100% of me all the time.

7 ways to manage your anxiety during pregnancy—from moms who have been there

7. Yoga, working out & meditation

Thank you for being my friend—the one I can go to for anything

We were able to bare our ugliest secrets, our silliest insecurities, our pettiest worries and our darkest fears about life as a mom.

Rebecca on how her friends’ help and support saved her life

"Each day was a battle."

As a mom, I’m ‘Chief Memory Maker’—a job that is equal parts wonderful and hard

But you know what it is? It's worth it. It's so worth it to me.

How to boost your happiness when motherhood feels SO hard

Here are three simple, effective strategies we can do to increase our own happiness levels.

You were someone before you were their mom—and she still matters

I feel like the woman I was before I became a mother is someone I am familiar with, but I don't know her all that well—she's more like an acquaintance. Honestly, I have to think really hard to remember what it was like to be her.

Living close to my sister made such a huge difference when I became a mom

Watching my kids play with her kids—and the bond they share—makes me so proud. They fight and argue like siblings, but they also light up when they see each other and laugh so hard whenever they're together.

I’m done setting unrealistic expectations for myself as a mom

And I'm done doing it.

We don’t use the term ‘half-siblings’ in our family—because they’re 100% whole to us

Half, step or whole siblings it doesn't matter. The love is full no matter what.

An ode to my body—you’ve grown, carried and birthed a baby

Thank you for the gift of health. Thank you for the gift of life. Thank you for the gift of movement.

Dear son, you’ll always be my little boy

I had no idea how my heart would stretch and grow with every day of being your mom.