#MomLife — Motherhood

Parents are so often focused on the needs of those around us that we neglect our own. But self-care for parents is important. To relieve stress, to improve wellness, and that all points back to your ability to care for others. So we talked to some moms out there about their own self-care routines. We asked, what is one thing that they do for themselves every day?

Nervous about parenthood? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Turns out most expecting moms are nervous about something having to do with becoming a new parent. We asked moms to think back about their own apprehensions and fears of becoming a parent, and here’s what they had to say. 

Every child in a family is different, despite having been raised exactly the same way. Behaviors, likes and dislikes, manners, and personalities are solely unique. And while you may not worry so much about certain things with subsequent babies as you did with your first, there are some things that just never change, regardless of how many children you have.

For new moms, adjusting to the new roll (aka motherhood) isn’t always easy. Sometimes it doesn’t happen innately. But it does happen in an instant, and your world changes forever. We spoke with some moms who shared their best pieces of advice for new moms.

One thing first-time moms don’t often get warned about? Breastfeeding is hard. Very hard. But once you get the hang of it (and you will!), consuming nutrient-rich foods to help replenish your body, satisfy your hunger, and support your body’s milk production is essential. Here are 5 breastfeeding superfoods to stock up on the next time you’re at the grocery store.

We all have preconceived notions about parenthood before we actually become parents ourselves. As a mom of four, it’s quite funny to look back at the things I swore I’d do or never do as a parent, before I actually became a parent.

I became a mother when I was 34 years old. I had been married for 11 years and at my current job for nearly five. I had established routines, rhythms to the week, and seasonal activities. Needless to say, that all changed when I had my son. In addition to my full-time job, I added on a 24/7 responsibility. How was I going to make this work? 

The first year of motherhood is often filled with long days, sleepless nights and hormonal adjustments. But there can be other minor, and often very frustrating, physical struggles that occur with little notice. But what I learned in the course of a year was to be gentle with myself and appreciate my body in new ways.

You know you're a mom when it's December and you're scraping the frost off your car windshield with a Lego. Welcome to motherhood! Here are 10 of our favorite hysterical quotes from Instagram accounts we love to follow that remind us we're not alone in this.