Tag: Motherhood

Even on the Hard Days, Don’t Stop Dreaming

Motherhood is beautiful, captivating, awakening- but absolutely never easy.

There are days when the sink is overflowing, my toddler has thrown four tantrums before lunch and I still have not finished my coffee. It can be second nature to forget who you are, as you are sprinting around the house on empty to fill the needs of your family. But what I have realized, or tried to put into practice, is that life does not stop for anyone or end when you become a mother.

Cliche, but I feel like I was born again. I have found a deeper meaning in my abilities and strengths after becoming a mom. Having to juggle all different roles and hats has brought new revelations. I wanted to change the direction of our life. One where we focus in on what moms can do, not what moms cannot do since they have littles attached to them.

“You have a promising career, loving husband, healthy children and home, what else could you possibly want?” This question haunts me. I felt selfish for wanting more in life. For even entertaining the thought that something might still be missing. I thought for a second, people must be under the impression that my children are not enough for me. When on the contrary, my children have sparked a fire in me I can’t being to explain. They view me as their absolute hero and that in itself, is enough to keep going.

Why wouldn’t I want to show them the traits of being hard working and motivated? I want them to be encouraged in the hard seasons, to set meaningful goals for themselves, and to follow through even when it’s not easy.

Motherhood has a way of making us questioning everything. We question the meals we prepare, the time we spend on screens, our daily routine. Ourselves and our capabilities.

If today feels heavy or the goals feel distant, just take one small step.

Write down your top three goals in life long term- financial, spiritual, realistic

Read or listen to an inspiring podcast.

Share your ideas with the village who supports you.

“In embracing motherhood, we don’t lose ourselves- we unlock who we’re meant to become.”

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In the Garden, We Grow Too

From tiny seeds to tender moments- why the garden is more than just soil and sun.

This spring, we planted our first garden boxes with a few vegetable seed packets, some fresh herbs and a super curious toddler eager to help.

In our daily life, which seems at times rushed and going way too fast; gardening offers us time to be still, patient. We are encouraging our children to wait, observe and trust that their seeds will slowly transform into something beautiful. Gardening gives us time together in an outdoor space for us to connect, without distractions. I’ll ask her questions like “what vegetable do you think this seed will turn into?” “what does this flower smell like?” She stops for a moment and thinks, challenges herself.

These little seeds give her something meaningful to focus on and care for. Helping in the garden has become my daughters favorite thing and I am so grateful to watch her grow alongside the things we plant. I love seeing her face light up with a new growth or running to grab her watering pot to assist beside me. Watching her make this deep connection with the earth so effortlessly reminds me that my own silly worries are pea size compared to this huge world.

I certainly didn’t grow up with a green thumb, acres of land or a manual on how to keep plants alive. Honestly, I used to avoid even looking at plants when I was in stores. I thought I didn’t have space in my life to care for them the way they needed. Well I was wrong. We started small and let nature do what it is meant to do.

I knew I wanted to only plant vegetables or fruit that would not go to waste. Just so happens these were some of the easiest plants to start with: tomatoes, lettuce, basil and strawberries. We even added some cucumbers and jalapeños. Threw a marigold plant inside the box. Since our daughter is flower obsessed, we carved out a space in our yard and sprinkled a variety of wild flowers and zinnias along the fence with the hope they will bloom bright.

Gardening has never felt like one more thing added to my to-do list. This process has become easy, gentle, and fulfilling to my soul. The best part, my daughter fits right into this space. Similar to our motherhood journey, gardening requires us to show up daily with love and hope-even when the results are invisible at first.

Childhood should be slow, simple, and full of curiosity. Gardening offers simply that.

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Nurturing Wellness

The moment we become mothers, our entire understanding of “wellness” shifts. We are no longer just caring for our body, we are responsible in nurturing the mind and bodies of little humans too. Becoming a new mom while also working as a health and wellness nurse changed the way I viewed my own body.

I’ve encouraged rest, balanced living, and seeking emotional care within my patients but found focusing on my own wellbeing draining. After filling everyones cups during the day, I could not possibly think about filling mine. This way of living was not working for our family, so with a strong support system behind me we started making small daily changes to our routine at home.

One of my biggest challenges as a new mom, especially with two children, was the rushed and chaotic mornings. We would all wake up at the exact same time and the day immediately was off to a bad start. I was completely drained before 9AM. Now, the help in having a routine set up and habits formed has transformed our mornings.

Starting the morning off with a grounding routine leads to children feeling secure and balanced. Our family benefits significantly from having consistent routines. This means clothes are laid out the night before, diaper bag has to be packed, breakfast and snacks are prepped and the kitchen is cleaned. When my house wakes up the focus is now on getting ready for the day. There were plenty of days I felt like even changing out of my pajamas was too big of a task. When I started fully getting myself ready, my mood instantly changed. This also showed my three year old that getting dressed and brushing your teeth are fun things to do and never argues, except when she wants to wear her Frozen dress for the third day in a row.

If I do not have food prepped, I simply do not eat. Introducing this task to my toddler has only encouraged her to try more foods. A staple in our home is overnight oats. Quick, easy, and I can make the night before. My toddler has enjoyed helping me meal prep with cutting up fruit and pouring ingredients into the mason jars. You can easily pack in nutrients to these jars like greek yogurt, chia seeds, any type of fruit.

Blueberry Banana Peanut Butter Overnight Oats

  • 1/2 cup oats
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup greek yogurt
  • 1 tbsp peanut or almond butter
  • 1/4 cup blueberries
  • 1/2 banana sliced
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds (optional)

Caring for these two young girls has pushed me into a whole new realm of health and wellness. We aim to prioritize movement every day. My kids thrive on moving their bodies. We take stroller walks to our local parks and playgrounds, ride our scooter/bike through the neighborhood, or play outback. On days that weather keeps us inside, creating an obstacle course with stepping stones or dancing to “Pink Pony Club” on repeat also will do.

One of the best ways we nurture emotional wellness in our home is creating space to reflect on the day. Either my husband or me will ask our three year old simple questions like, “What was your favorite part of today?” “Can you tell me a moment you were happy/sad?” “What do you think mommy/daddy favorite part of the day was?” This meaningful time helps her process those big emotions, feel heard and go to bed without any unanswered questions. Which she has a lot of these days.

You don’t need elaborate strict routines. Just showing up for the day and feeding every one in your house, is enough. If you want to start pouring back into your cup, focus in on the areas in your life you have neglected lately.

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Building Your Own Village

They say It takes a village, but no one really tells you how to find one-especially when you are deep in the trenches of motherhood. In the beginning, staying home was way easier to manage than trying to coordinate the perfect time in between naps, lunches, and meltdowns. But I knew my children and I needed something more, another connection.

What helped me build my own village was having a consistent group of other young moms to start “mom walks” with. Something simple, predictable and a great physical outlet. When you are taking those daily walks you are releasing stress, building connection and nurturing your own mental health. This does not have to be a well though-out plan, just a stroller, your babies and a walking path.

Your village becomes way more than just company- It is a space you go to vent, learn and grow in motherhood. It’s where hard days are heard without judgment and little wins like your child sleeping throughout the night is celebrated. Motherhood friendships help us remember who we are outside the chaos of each day. This connection matters more than we realize. And our children feel the same.

Our children watch us as we make time and space for others, show kindness and develop trust. They learn alongside other children, sometimes keeping us busy with the sharing issues, but we are learning to handle it together. While each play date may be different than the last, they begin to build their own friendships- playing, laughing and learning to walk through life confidently.

Your village doesn’t have to be loud and flashy. These people are supposed to ground you, lift you up, inspire you in motherhood. This might be the other mom at the park you see weekly, a coworker turned family, or a group chat that keeps you laughing out loud.

Motherhood isn’t meant to be done solo. Go to story time. Visit the park. Let the village in.

“The way we love our friends becomes the way our children learn to love theirs.”

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A Gentle Journey through Motherhood

Learning and Growing-Together

Motherhood, like the seasons, comes in waves. Some days bloom with ease. Others stretch me thin. As a mother working from home with a toddler and a baby, our home is rarely ever quiet but always full. In the midst of nap times, deadlines for work, and scattered toys, I’ve found a gentle way forward.

I may not always be available to read a quick book or go outside and play. But I started seeing a difference in myself and my children when presence is prioritized. I moved from one task to another, telling myself I will slow down after- after I submit this email, after the laundry is folded, dinner is cooked. But my children do not live in the “after,” they live in the “now”. I do not want to miss this precious time because I am doing everything else.

This season has challenged me more than I imagined. It’s asked me to be better, be present, keep showing up even when I am exhausted. They are learning the world one moment at a time and I’m learning to guide them through it.

I’ve come to see how much my children are learning not just from what I teach, but from how I live. They are watching, absorbing the environment created around them from their very first breath. The tone I use, the way I handle stress, how I care for our home – It all speaks to them even when I am silent.

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being aware. Every move I make directly impacts them. We are both growing side by side- me, becoming the mother they need; them, becoming exactly who they are meant to be.

“These are the days that shape us- not through perfection, but through presence.”

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