Hi Mama,
Have you ever felt guilty for spending some time doing something you love while your kid cries for you in the other room? I know I have! It’s so easy to just give up on hobbies as a mom since you don’t ever really get much “free” time. You might feel like in order to be the best mom, all your energy needs to be focused on your kid. That might not be the case.
Today we will be hearing from Everyday Mom, Amy, who talks about her struggle with breastfeeding as well as the importance of keeping her own identity as she transitioned into motherhood.
If this if your first time reading my blog, Everyday Moms is a weekly interview series where I will be sharing experiences from moms all around the world! This series allows moms to express themselves and their feelings, and to also help you feel like you’re not alone as you navigate the ups and downs of motherhood.
I’ve been receiving some wonderful stories from moms all about the world. Every story is unique but the theme is the same: motherhood is the hardest yet most rewarding job there is.
If you wish to be featured on the blog, click here to submit responses to the Everyday Moms interview questions. I look forward to sharing your story with the world!
Everyday Moms: Amy’s Story
I learned that keeping my own identity has to be a conscious decision. It’s easy to just get wrapped in your kid 24/7, but it’s also important to be who you are.
Tell us about your family
I’m a mom to a newly minted 2 year old. Hello terrible twos! My husband and I met in graduate school in Connecticut. He’s from NY and I’m from CA. I work in healthcare analytics while he works in tech. After graduating, we lived and worked in NYC for 5 years before moving to LA last year. We’re both very much big city people who love to travel!
When did you become a mom?
April 2018
What have been your favorite memories/moments from motherhood?
My favorite memory is right now. I think toddlers are so funny and look forward to my daughter talking even more and saying silly things. I’d never been the type to be particularly fond of babies, so toddlerhood has been super fun for me even with the tantrums. My favorite thing she does is when she shakes her finger “no” and also very sternly repeats “no no no” when she doesn’t want to do something like brush her teeth or when I tell her we’re going on a walk and she frantically packs her backpack full of very important things she’ll need on the walk such as markers and slime (spoiler: she doesn’t end up needing these things on the walk).
What has been your biggest struggle as a mom?
My biggest physical and mental struggle was breastfeeding. I didn’t have issues with milk coming in or latching, but it was tough to be glued to someone or a pump 24/7. I thought I would never get a full night’s sleep again. It was nice to feel like my baby’s source of comfort and food, but I also didn’t feel like I needed that nice feeling 8-10 times a day (haha) and just wanted a one day break for myself. I made it to 1 year, but I wish I had been kinder to myself during the process.
What advice do you have for other moms out there, such as something you wish you knew before you became a mom?
I learned that keeping my own identity has to be a conscious decision. It’s easy to just get wrapped in your kid 24/7, but it’s also important to be who you are. As my daughter grows up, I’m getting glimpses of her interests and wonder what she’d like to be when she grows up. If she chooses to be a parent one day, I’d never want her to feel like that meant the end of her own curiosities, hobbies, and career. People have different personalities and so will end up becoming different kinds of moms and dads, but I think it’s really important to make sure it’s something you truly want to do whether it’s becoming a first time parent or adding another kid to the family. Don’t feel pressured by society or anything else around you. I’m so glad I took the time to travel and grow in my career before starting the parenthood journey.
I hope that you enjoyed reading Amy’s story. Even though it feels like our DNA has completely changed after bringing a child into this world, Amy makes a great point that we should all make an effort to maintain our own identities, even when we feel like all our energy should be focused on our children. Someday our babies will grow up and won’t need us all the time, but it doesn’t mean we need to wait until then to have our own hobbies, interests and dreams.
What were some of your favorite hobbies before you had kids? Tell me in the comments. I’ve always loved YouTube, photography, cooking and EATING. I still try to keep doing all of these things(especially eating) despite being busy with my baby girl.
I’ll be sharing more stories each week as I receive them so be sure to join my email list if you want to be notified of new posts. You can also follow me on Instagram where I share my motherhood journey every day. I absolutely love connecting with moms through IG so feel free to leave a comment here or send me a DM if you have questions or just want to chat and become friends!
Thanks for reading! xxx
Read Next:
Why “Don’t Hold Your Baby Too Much” Is Bad Advice
xo
Mother of Fawn