This is a trying time for so many parents and families. We are faced with sacrifices we never knew would exist and there is so much added pressure trying to maintain work and home life. While we are feeling upset and stressed out, there are some things to be grateful for. These will never take away the many struggles we faced, but I wanted to show you that not everything was crap!

I was holding my baby girl, when all I could think about was "How did I fail at this?". I had one job to do and so far, I have failed. I reminded myself of my "mom" group. They were the ones who uplifted me and reminded me that it is not the delivery that defines who we are. The delivery is "just" the exit.

Advice from books is only good advice if your child has read the book. Do what is right for you, what is right for your family. There is no perfect mom, there is only one mom who will make mistakes, who takes breaks, and who finds time for herself. A mom that is happy, is a child that's happy!

I remember having an encounter with another mom at a store. We began talking and I asked her what she does for work and she says to me "I'm JUST a mom!" I told her she couldn't possibly be "JUST" a mom. I shared with her that being a mom requires us to wear multiple hats simultaneously. What I have learned thus far, is that..

Becoming a mother is the most rewarding life change that I have experienced. It completely consumes my attention and emotional well-being. Undoubtedly so, how could it not? I've planned for this time and carried my daughter for 9 months. I was home with her for 1 year and I will now spend the next lifetime being there for her, being her mom. On the flip side, I find being a mom, and being a working mom in today's society, extraordinarily hard.

Leading up to and returning to work, I started doubting my decision. The excitement mixed with fear, anxiety, and nervousness became so surreal. Don't get me wrong, all of these feelings are to be expected. As any new mom would do and with the realization that there isn't another option, I put one foot in front of the other and carried on for days, weeks, and months.

A lot of us know how difficult it is being a mom. I’m not just referring to motherhood in the sense of preparing lunches, picking up your children after school, and juggling schedules. I mean at the very beginning from the time your body is creating this tiny human inside your belly.

Before you were born I always dreamt of what you would be like, who you would become and how your life would be once you were here. Now that you are here, I find myself wishing for so many things for you. Things that I never knew I would ever have to wish for..

From the moment your baby is cradled in your arms, your life instantly changes. You naturally adjust the time you once had all to yourself or with your husband, to now spend caring for and loving the child you both have created.

From the moment you find out you are pregnant, you start to think about all things that come with being pregnant, and after your baby arrives. You spend hours researching from all the foods you can and cannot eat, to nursery decor and baby proofing the house. One of the most important things that you start to think about is your birth plan.