Child’s Age: 2 Years Old
Location: New York Metro Area
Fun Fact About You: My left leg is longer than my right!
What has one of your biggest parenting hurdles been?
The hardest part about becoming a mom for me was the loss of identity that I felt (specifically in those first six months postpartum). My first pregnancy and my foray into motherhood consumed me in a way that I didn’t necessarily think it would, and it took me a good 1/2 year before I started to feel more like my “old” self and had an interest in getting back into some personal activities. Having a baby in the wintertime was also tough as the sun would set incredibly early, and I found myself feeling very sad in the evenings. Once the weather changed and my hormones adjusted a bit, I found my groove.
What has one of your proudest parenting moments been?
I’m incredibly proud of the way my husband and I have implemented structured routines into our son’s life. We are flexible whenever we need to be and these routines don’t stop us from traveling, going on adventures, or doing things spontaneously, however, for the most part, our son’s life is incredibly routine-oriented and we believe it helps him thrive. His sleep is organized, his meal times are consistent, and this has made everyone’s lives so much easier. Especially in the beginning, it’s a little easier to have NO routines and to just go with the flow, but we stuck to these routines and have seen the benefits playing out over time.
What’s the parenting advice you wish you got?
I know this is impossible (I think every new parent needs to go through the experience of once), but I wish I had the foresight to raise my first like he was my second or third (in terms of feeling like every little thing was such a big deal and getting stressed out over insignificant details). I don’t have a second child yet, but I’m confident that when I do, my experience will be a lot less stressful since I know that every stage is temporary.
What’s a perfect parenting product you used?
Would highly recommend my Motherhood Superguide: https://itlist.com/i/204/motherhood-superguide –> this digital product has everything inside that I wish a close friend would have given me during my first pregnancy and postpartum period. Here’s what’s inside:
TRYING TO CONCEIVE STAGE: Everything I utilized while trying to get pregnant (every book I read, every podcast I listened to, my favorite ovulation test strips, the free online course I took about how to accurately time sex to conceive, the expanded genetic carrier screening I did with my OBGYN, and more).
PREGNANCY: Maternity clothes, all pregnancy products, supplements, pregnancy-safe skincare, pregnancy & parenting podcasts, books, etc. I even include my entire pregnancy bullet journal e-book for free inside (with OBGYN-approved checklists for each trimester) + the Baby CPR & Infant Choking courses we took during this time.
LABOR, DELIVERY & POSTPARTUM: Everything I used in my hospital bag, how to build a birth plan, doula resources, leak-proof underwear and other postpartum essentials, mental health resources for PPD and PPA, my baby nurse’s info + more.
NURSING & PUMPING: My pumps and milk storage bags, all accessories for cleaning, the best pumping/nursing bras, my lactation consultant’s personal information + more.
ALL BABY PRODUCTS: Everyday items, bathtime favorites, mealtime favorites, travel products, sleep products, diapering/changing, first aid, books, toys, etc. these are (of course) not aLL must-haves, but many are the products we’ve loved on our journey so far!
BABY SLEEP: A deep dive into my favorite baby sleep resources (books, monitors, feeding schedules, online courses, accounts to follow, etc.)
& a lot more!
What new things are happening in your child’s life this month?
Milo just started asking to sleep with a pillow and a blanket! He’s still in a crib, but he loves to be “tucked in” just like he’s in a big boy bed.