Blog Feed

parenting

This Is Postpartum…

lifechasinglittles

9 months spent anticipating the very moment you meet your little. The day of delivery you are full of so many emotions. Boom. Baby is here. It all happened so fast. You are now in recovery mode. Discharged from the hospital after 2 days. Thrown into a new life that you have to learn to navigate. Whether it’s your first baby or fourth. You are going to have to learn how to manage life with a newborn baby (again). Everything you planned before birth goes out the window.. Why? Let’s be honest; there is NO plan for life with a newborn. You just kind of wing it. And it’s scary.

This is postpartum.

The part of having a baby that you are least prepared for. You don’t think about how much your mental health can be affected when something so beautiful just happened. You brought a life into this world. A new soul. Yet; your emotions are taking control and it feels impossible to live in the moment. Not able to embrace the now.

This is postpartum.

Covered in baby spit up. Raw nipples. Engorged boobs. Stitches. Bleeding. Sore. No sleep. Am I enough? Constantly worried. Scared to be alone. Checking on baby every 5 seconds through the night. Breastfeeding. Researching formula. Is my baby eating enough? Dirty diapers. Pumping. Dishes. Laundry. No time to shower. Do my older kids know how much I love them? No time for sleep. Cooking. Cleaning. Does my partner know how much I miss him? Night sweats. Feeling alone.

This is postpartum.

Emotions. Hormones. Doubt. Fear. Anxiety. Baby blues. Tears. Mood swings.

This is postpartum.

You feel overwhelmed. Not sure how to navigate. You think you are failing and nothing is right. You feel so alone.. That’s the crazy part of it. Because Mama; you are doing it. You feel so small compared to everything around you. Consumed by this new life. But Mama; you are doing it.

This is postpartum.

Your body is still recovering. You jiggle more. You are still bloated. You don’t feel like yourself. Because you are not. Bouncing back doesn’t happen after giving birth. You will never get back to where you were before. Because that’s an old version of yourself. A past memory of you. When your baby was born so were you. A new you.

This is postpartum.

Your baby is growing. A routine is being created. Finally a sign of relief. I can do this. I am doing this.

This is my postpartum.

If you are feeling depressed, sad, unhappy.. Please talk to someone about it. Seek help. Tell your family. Talk to your doctor. You may feel alone but you are not. You do not have to suffer in silence. Advocate for yourself. Scream it outloud until you are heard. My DM’s are always open. You can reach out to me and I will listen. Trust me when I say it will get better. You will be ok.

Because Mama; you are enough.

parenting

3rd Trimester Feelz

lifechasinglittles

All the things that go *unmentioned* during the third trimester of pregnancy. Well…. at least in my case. If you are curious as to what I’m talking about, give this a read!

Welcome back to Life Chasing Littles. I’m just a mama over sharing all aspects of motherhood for those interested. If your new here don’t forget to subscribe for more daily motherhood blog posts! 😉

Where to begin? I don’t even know. Bare with me cause it’s about to be a bumpy ride.

I have ALWAYS been one to see pregnancy as such a beautiful thing woman go through. The beauty of creating, growing, and nurturing a life inside of you is absolutely amazing. Our bodies are incredible.

Being in the third trimester of my last pregnancy I have to admit I’m not enjoying it as much as I did with my first two pregnancies. Maybe that’s because my first two were fairly easier or maybe I just don’t remember the last trimester misery. Either way… I’m just not feeling it this time around. 🥴

Let me make one thing clear before you come for me: I am in noooo way complaining.

I’m currently in the 10 week count down until we welcome our son into the world. In 72 short days I will be a mama to 3 Littles. I’m excited. Nervous. Happy. Anxious. Emotional. & completely terrified all at once.

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again – my last and final pregnancy. I will be tying my tubes after he is born and I’m honestly excited. I am trying so hard to love and enjoy this last pregnancy but the farther along I get the harder it is to feel anything other than uncomfortable and ready to just be done with this chapter of my life….

With that being said let’s hop right into my intentions of this blog post.

1. Heart palpitations

This is by far the worst part of the third trimester for me. Of course I got these throughout my second trimester but for some reason they seem to be constant and I cannot catch a break. It’s a veryyyyyy uncomfortable feeling & nothing seems to help. I took it as far as cutting out beloved coffee in hopes to ease up the palpitations but nope. Problem not solved. I’m over here feeling like I ran a 10 mile marathon after walking from my kitchen to the bathroom. Not fun.

2. Feeling like a whale

This one I’m sure you have heard of. Pregnant woman complain that they feel like a beached whale at the end of their pregnancies. Let me tell youuuuuu… I feel like a freaking whale. Now, don’t get me wrong. I am a plus sized mama. Before I got pregnant I was on a mission to drop some pounds. (I lost 10 out of 30) BAM! Hello pregnancy. I’m not mad at it, I took it as it comes. With 10 weeks remaining I have gained *nine whole pounds*. But in reality I feel like I have gained 30. I waddle around with my bump leading the way. I’ve reached the point where if something drops onto the floor it’s literally dead to me. I feel so uncomfortable I can’t sleep, I can’t bend, I can’t freaking breathe lol. Just call me Whaley from here on out cause that’s exactly how I feel.

3. Wanting to do everything but not able to do ANYTHING

Dishes in the sink? Laundry piles to fold? Floor to mop? Bed to make? FORGET IT. Literally. I have so much to do yet I can’t do anything. This ties into my first 2 reasons: I have heart palpitations & I feel like a whale. Yup. Those two reason make me completely useless in my day to day life. My house is a complete mess, I always have clean piles of laundry waiting for me to fold, dishes take my breath away everytime I do them.. it’s awful. But let me tell you one thing. It’s temporary. Yeah, sure.. the first few weeks or 3 months after you give birth it will still feel impossible to get things done but I promise it’s temporary. Believe me. I am counting down the days + recovery days until I can finally feel useful again. I want to feel like I am doing my part as a stay at home mama. I can’t wait to get back into a some what normal routine after baby. I want to cook dinner without crying about how out of breath I am. Fold laundry as soon as it’s done. Do the dishes without my heart racing.

I promise these are not complaints. This is just me sharing the reality of what the third trimester can look like.

In the end it’s all worth it. All the hormonal crying, weight gain, feeling uncomfortable is worth every single second once you have your little in your arms.❤

If you feel like as miserable as me during the last stretch of pregnancy you are not alone. You may feel guilty for even thinking about how you are “over pregnancy.” Please dont allow yourself to feel that guilt. Its normal to not love your body changing. It’s not easy being pregnant. I am here if you need someone to talk to!

motherhood, parenting, Uncategorized

Plus Size And Pregnant

lifechasinglittles

I have always wanted to love my body through any phase I go through. I have always desired to “look” a certain way in order to be loved by everyone surrounding me. I have always struggled with body dysmorphia since I can even remember.

I’m struggling to love my body as it changes.

I’m showing a lot faster this time around. I feel like I look huge all the time. I’m embarrassed of my growing belly.

This world can be a cruel place for an overweight person. You always feel like you don’t fit in (pun intended). Well for women who are plus size + pregnant it can be even harder. Everyone comments on how “big” you are “already” or make shitty comments like “are you sure there isn’t more than one baby in there?” NO KAREN. I’m just over here growing a whole ass human on top of having a little extra jiggle, is that OK with you??

It’s hard.

I keep saying how temporary this is and that I’ll get my body back soon. But how true is that statement? I don’t think I ever even got my body back since having my first baby. It changed. Grew and Stretched. The way I saw myself changed. And it hasn’t been the same ever since.

I find myself comparing my bump to others who are as far along as I am and it makes me sad that I don’t “look” like them. But the reality of it is that I look like ME. I look how I’m intended to look. Whether or not that’s gaining too much, not enough, bouncing back, not bouncing back.

My body will always be their safe place to hug, lay, and poke at. I grew them. I was meant for them as much as they are meant for me.

As I navigate this new territory I plan to embrace the growth and the change. As hard as it can be, this will be my last pregnancy. The last time I grow and nurture my offspring. Living in the moment from here on out is my ultimate goal.

I am beautiful.

I am strong.

I am enough.

I am a mother.

parenting

Baby M

lifechasinglittles

Baby boy…

You are my first and my last all in one.

My first little boy.

Muddy clothes. Bugs. Trains. Climbing. Race cars.

My last pregnancy.

Growing. Nurturing. Belly kicks. Being your safe place.

Such a bitter sweet moment.

Right now I know your safe. Your favorite sound is my heartbeat.

Soon you will join us earthside.

You will meet your Daddy. Your big sisters.

And when that day comes, our life will feel complete.

Our family will be whole.

We will admire every sound and wiggle.

Watch you grow.

Love you with every ounce of our hearts.

We can’t wait to meet you baby M.

motherhood, parenting

Here We Grow Again…

lifechasinglittles

Hiiiii & Welcome back to another awesome blog post from your favorite messy mama!

It’s been so long since I shared anything new on here with you guys. I figured what better way to catch you up on my life than through some words on my blog.

Let’s start by saying A LOOOOOT has changed. I believe my last post was about adjusting to life with two littles… well fast forward to 2021 & here we are expecting baby number three!

Yep. You read that right… T H R E E!

If I am being honest, this is as much as a surprise to us as it is to you! We always knew we wanted more kids but never knew exactly when. I think we both had different ideas of when we wanted to start trying for another baby… but God decided he had other plans in store for us! We are both very excited yet extremely nervous to add another to the mix. Once baby is born we will officially be out numbered, not going to lie though, we already feel like that LOL.

Baby M is due to arrive May 2022.

Going from 1 to 2 kids was extremely hard, the adjustment was intense for all of us. Sometimes I feel like Sage is still not even use to it. I have a few friends who have 3+ littles and when I ask them… “Was it hard going from 2 kids to 3??” Their response is always: “I’m not going to lie… YES!”

As much as I want all the little babies I’m fearful of not being able to be the best mother I can for each and every child. I fear that I will be so caught up in motherhood that I’ll forget to just live in the now and enjoy my babies while their small. I fear that I won’t be able to soak up every detail of each of their lives the way I was meant to. A part of me questions my ability on the daily. I get so intimidated at the thought that I won’t be sufficient enough for my littles.

But as this baby bean sprouts inside my belly, with all the hunger I feel (believe me when I say I’m forever hungry), the waves of nausea that come and go, all the heartburn, and emotions I feel.. God knew I was capable of being an amazing mama to my babies no matter the size of my fear. He knew that the good in me outweighs the bad, reassured me that through every storm in motherhood there is always a rainbow to follow. Our family was meant to grow at this time.

So here is to new adventures, new beginnings, new blessings, & new struggles. I’m ready to be tested to my limits and to LOVE a whole lot more. I can’t wait to share this journey with everyone. Stay tuned for more news on baby M.❤

Thanks for stopping by!

Much love,

Krissy

parenting

4 Struggles Of Motherhood No One Talks About

lifechasinglittles

I’m going to be real and raw because whether you like it or not that is what being a mom is all about. Of course being a mother has moments that are like rainbows and butterflies. However, if I’m being 100% honest most of the time it can be a circus that you can’t help but love at the end of each day. I mean, being a mom is tough (and of course that is something you are told) but no one tells you about the real life things that go down behind closed doors. I’m not perfect and I don’t want to portray a perfect mom life to anyone. I have my breakdowns. I throw my own little pity parties when no one is looking (or when everyone is looking). Hell, sometimes I feel like I’m the child in distress. That’s the beauty that comes with laying yourself down for someone who isn’t YOU. Entering motherhood you lose yourself a little (sometimes a lot) but whos to say that you won’t find yourself again. And when you do… You will find yourself in love with ALL aspects of motherhood.

1. You will do things that you said you would never do

Remember that huge list of things you told yourself you “wouldn’t” do before becoming a parent? Yeah, you will probably go against your own words and do the complete opposite of what you had planned. The best part about this is that in the middle of letting your kids eat ice cream for breakfast you will remember how you said you wouldn’t be “that” parent yet here you are being that parent. What can you do? Laugh. Laugh until you have tears streaming down your face. Why? Because this is the reality of parenting. Some days you just give in to things you thought you would never allow and that’s ok.

2. You will be tired for the next million years

You will literally NEVER sleep. But coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. Funny thing is before having kids I hated coffee. Never drank it, never craved it. Now I absolutely need a cup of coffee every morning otherwise I will never make it through the day alive. You do the chores, cook, play games, drive to and from school, grocery shop, and even go to work. As tired as you are you push on through each day. And just when you think it’s time for bed you will lay awake until only God knows when thinking about all the things you have to do the next day (or if you’re anything like me anxiety will keep you awake). In the end, it will become something you get use to but I’m not lying when I say; you will always be tired as a mother.

3. You will cry tears of joy and you will cry tears of frustration

Everyday will be full of more emotions than you ever felt in your life. You will find yourself completely happy one minute and the next your wondering where you went wrong cause your child is throwing a fit over wanting the pink cup instead of the blue one. Yeah, who knew that the color of a cup would change the way your water tastes?! All the constant negotiation between you and your littles will get the best of you. And when you break down five times more than you did the day before that’s ok. You are human, which means you are allowed to feel. Motherhood will turn you every which way you could imagine. Yet you will find yourself wondering how so much love could fit into your heart that you will be humbled enough to forget all the little frustrations .

4. You will have days where you want to give up

There will be days that are hard, weeks that are hard, months that are hard. You will tell yourself over and over again that you just can’t take anymore of it. The house constantly feels full of chores and the mess never goes away no matter how much time you put in. Its an uphill battle of constant self doubt feeling like you aren’t doing good enough. Don’t worry though, every mom feels this at some point or another. You are not alone. My advice for you on those want to give up days is hide in the bathroom and cry while eating a piece of chocolate (that chocolate your kids don’t know about). At the end of the day giving up is not a choice because your whole family depends on you more than you know and honestly that feeling alone is pretty damn rewarding.

Motherhood is not a Pinterest board and its not an Instagram account that you follow. Social media will filter out all the bad that comes with the good and make it hard to be happy with how you live your day to day life. Motherhood is a struggle. Everything changes yet you are more “you” than you have ever been. Its beautiful.

Sometimes I feel like a bad mom, but all the time I feel like their mom. I carry their hearts in mine always and forever. You never know how strong you are until the only choice you have is to be strong.

Thank you for stopping by!

Much love,

Krissy

Join 1,606 other followers

Leave a rating!

Rating: 1 out of 5.

parenting, Uncategorized

Mother of two

lifechasinglittles

Becoming a Mom for the first time

Was I ready? No. I had no idea how to take care of a baby, I was 21 years old and could barely take care of myself. I was scared. I knew having a baby took a lot of patience and care. I was unprepared for the drastic change that was about to take place in my life. I wasn’t ready. You can read all the baby books in the world but I promise you that no book can teach you how to be a parent.

Little did I know that this “uh-oh” turned out to be one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me. On June 7th, 2014 I became a mother to a beautiful little girl and my life forever changed. All the things I thought I “knew” about being a mother became non existent because now I was living it. Being a mother is putting someone else before you at all times. Its losing sleep, skipping meals, and no showers. The amount of selflessness it takes to be a mother is astonishing and beautiful. You learn as you go and find what works best for you.

My life was hers, she took lead and I followed

I laid with her during naps and would often fall asleep together. I’d wake up to her little hands touching my face. We would play under the covers or sing songs and laugh. It would end in me covering her in kisses. I never knew what real love was until I became her mama. She has taught me far more than I could ever teach her in return. I got to spend the last five and a half years of my life watching my bestfriend grow into a sensitive, loving little girl.

And then my belly started to grow

I was worried. Not about losing sleep, changing diapers, or my house being dirty. I was worried about us, our relationship would lose that close bond because we are adding another to it. A strange piece of me felt like I was betraying her. The days leading up to delivery were very emotional for me. I kept thinking about how all the time I spent loving her would be split and she wouldn’t understand why mommy no longer has time to be there when she needs me.

Welcoming our newest little girl

I was so happy the second Audrey arrived. I couldn’t believe how perfect and little she was. My heart was full and my life felt complete. But somehow I still felt sad, even when Sage was right next to me I still missed her. Even though everything was perfect I knew that it would never be the same because I have a new tiny person to love and cherish just the way I did with Sage.

Transitioning is hard

Just as hard as I thought it would be if not harder. I was recovering from a c section, trying to breastfeed, and take care of a newborn. Right when baby Audrey would start nursing Sage would need me for something. And everytime I respond with “just a minute, I’m feeding your sister.” Its all new to us; this big change. Now Sage is starting to feel what I feared.

Weeks pass by

We are all still adjusting to being a family of four. Going places is now something I avoid because I just want the comfort of home and everything I need at grasp. Being out and about is no longer relaxed. As badly as Sage wants me to do our normal things together, I want it too. There is nothing more I want than to give her all of me. I just can’t because I have less hands, less time, and worst of all less patience.

But now Sage has a sibling

It’s crazy to think that I felt like I was taking something away from her. In reality I have given her something much more. She has a little sister now and that relationship alone is much deeper than I could have ever I imagined. Bringing home a newborn made it hard to see that eventually they would become bestfriends.

Her everything

I can see their bond already forming. Sage is completely in love with her baby sister. Just as it was part of my journey to have more children, it was part of hers to become a big sister. All that fear I once felt has gone away.

A mother of 2

As I am still getting use to being a mother of two, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Although I didn’t plan on this being my life God knew what he was doing. I was made for motherhood. Without them I am nothing.

Thank you for stopping by!

Much love,

Krissy

parenting

Mommy Must Haves For Newborns

lifechasinglittles

WELCOME back to LIFE CHASING LITTLES

I feel like every mom has a preference as to what they love and works best for them so I felt like sharing all things that are MY favorite must have newborn items I absolutely LOVE. Each item listed has a link where you can purchase them through Amazon.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

The first item on my list of must haves is this beautiful Itzy Ritzy boss diaper bag. It is one of those items that is a bit more pricey, but I promise that every penny spent will be worth it!

All the reasons why I love this product and recommend it to every Mama:

  • Size – The size of this bag is incredible! It has 17 pockets (10 inside / 7 outside). Pockets are a big thing for me cause I love organization, everything has a spot which makes packing neat an clean. It has depth which is perfect for packing all things little and big that you will need to bring along for your baby. If your anything like me; having room for each item you may need on the go is ideal.
  • Backpack – Love this feature! With my first I had an over the shoulder diaper bag and it would always slip off while moving around on the go. The fact that I can just throw this on my back and be hands free is awesome! Not to mention how comfortable it is to wear!
  • Stroller Straps – Each Boss bag includes 2 stroller straps to make long trips in the stroller super easy. The straps are removable which is awesome for when not in use. I love this feature especially when having a newborn! It is a bonus to have easy access to the diaper bag when you need something fast for your babe.
  • Changing pad – Like the stroller straps, each Boss bag comes with a changing pad! The changing pad is labeled at the top and bottom with “head” and “toes.” Perfect for when you are changing and can’t remember where the top or bottom is! This changing pad is also very easy to wipe clean, which is a plus for those messy poo poo changes. It has its own pocket as well, so don’t worry about it being smashed with the things in your bag.
  • Fashionable – Last but not least this bag comes in MANY different colors! For me I have the black one; only because it matches everything and black is life LOL. Itzy Ritzy provides other accessories that you can purchase to make the style of the bag more you. I honestly love all their products and how cute everything is. To go with my bag I purchased the wipe case to hold my wipes. I couldn’t be happier with it!

If you are interested in buying this product or getting more info on all it has to offer here is the link: https://amzn.to/366gePg

The second mommy must have on my list is Copper Pearl swaddles, 5-in-1 multi-use cover, and burp cloths. All of these items are truly amazing. From the quality to the texture and durability; you will not be disappointed!

My reasons for loving these products:

  • Quality – The quality of Copper Pearl products exceeded my expectations. They are so soft, super stretchy, and very durable!
  • Size – The size of the swaddles is perfect! They will be great for newborns and grow with them the first year (even longer). The burp clothes are SO big. I didn’t get any burp clothes at my shower so I went ahead and ordered some and these are big compared to other burp cloths. The 5-in-1 Multi-use cover can fit any car seat, shopping cart, and perfect room for breastfeeding.
  • Stylish – All of these products come in the cutest of patterns! From neutrals to dinos and flowers. So perfect for any gender. You can match each product or even mix n match if you can’t decide on what pattern you love. I ordered matching swaddle and cover, they are so cute!
  • Perfect gift – Each item Copper Pearl offers make such great baby shower gifts! If you know a mama who is having her shower I would definitely order her some products and I guarantee she will LOVE them.

If you are interested in purchasing any Copper Pearl items here are the links:

Swaddle – https://amzn.to/2q9Gfgo

5-in-1 Multi-use Cover – https://amzn.to/2N0lix5

Burp Cloths – https://amzn.to/2q5TChp

The third item I rave about to others is Ryan & Rose pacifiers. When I first came across these I fell in love with how cute they are! Who knew that a pacifier could be so cute? Not only are they cute but the company is AMAZING! Which is a huge plus for me, they truly care about their customers and it shows. For a pacifier they are a little expensive but does that even matter when you will literally have a paci that matches every outfit?!

Some people are against paci’s for many valid reasons and that is fine. If you are like me and plan on using them here are all the reasons why Ryan & Rose pacis are worth it:

  • Colors – There are MANY colors to choose from. That was one selling point for me because of all the outfit choices that I can with match these perfect pacifiers! They also have the cutest clips in many styles that you can purchase so your pacifier doesn’t drop onto the floor. I personally went a little crazy and even bought bows that match each pacifier. Its honestly so much fun!
  • 2-in-1 Pacifier Teether – This pacifier offers a 2-in-1 purpose; on one side there is the nipple for soothing and the other is designed for teething. I thought this was such a cool way to help soothe your baby when fussing and hurting from growing teeth. It is easy for baby to grip and chew on whenever they need comfort. It offers more bang for your buck as well!
  • Models – The pacifier comes in two different models. The first one is the round paci that comes in stage 1 and 2. Stage 1 is perfect for newborns and up, stage 2 is more durable for babies with teeth. They also offer a pacifier that comes flat for babies who prefer a more flat nipple than round! The coolest part is the company has a set of all 3 you can purchase if your not sure which one your baby will love.

Here is the link to purchase R&R pacifiers: https://amzn.to/31ZkWvc

The fourth item I want to share with you is Comotomo Bottles. These bottles are truly amazing, they are designed to mimic the breast which I though is great for Mamas who plan to breastfeed and pump. I personally love how they look as well.

All the reason why I chose to use Comotomo Bottles:

  • Natural Feel – These bottles are made from 100% safe medical grade silicone, so when you touch them they are soft and feel just like a breast. Since I plan on breastfeeding my newborn this feature is a plus because I feel at ease knowing she will be getting fed with a product that won’t cause much nipple confusion.
  • Easy to Clean – These bottles are dishwasher safe! This is so awesome for moms who don’t have enough time to hand wash all the bottles used. Just throw them into the dishwasher and your good to go! They also have a wide neck which makes it easy to clean for moms who prefer to hand wash. Not to mention they can be used in the microwave, boiling water, and sterilizers.
  • Size – They come in both 5 oz and 8 oz bottles. So as baby grows the bottle grows with them. They offer 2 different nipples; slow flow perfect for newborns, and medium flow for when they start drinking faster.
  • Colors – Comotomo offers these bottles in 2 different colors! Pink and green. I personally love both colors and will be using both for my daughter.

Here is the link for Comoto Bottles: https://amzn.to/2qat6TY

These are all products that I am using for my newborn! Each product listed has their own websites as well. So if you are interested in learning more about each company feel free to google them by name! I hope you enjoyed my must have list of products for a newborn.

Thanks for stopping by!

Much love,

Krissy

parenting, Uncategorized

4 Ways To Get Rid Of Mom Guilt

lifechasinglittles

The thing about mom guilt is, well we all have it. Whether you are a young mom, single mom, working mom, stay at home mom, stepmom or whatever mom you are – we are all connected through the highs and lows of motherhood.

In reality a good mom has bad days and great days, normal days and overwhelming days, perfect days and trying days, supermom days and just being a mom days, a whole lot of love days and real crazy motherhood days.

I think this topic isn’t talked about as much as it is felt. At the end of each day I personally sit and reflect on all the ways I went wrong through my day as a mother. I let myself go down a rabbit hole of self doubt. I get so lost in these feelings that I forget all the beauty that also happened that day. All the laughs, smiles, and memories made together. So today; I want to reach out to all the moms out there who go through this and can’t seem to shake the feeling away. I am here to share with you 4 ways that help me lose the mom guilt that weighs me down at the end of my days.

1. No one can be a better mother for my children than I can

Say this to yourself out loud and feel how powerful this sentence sounds. This is very important to remind yourself when you are having major mom guilt. You and only you were made to mother your children. Nothing in the world can come close to the love and affection you provide for your babies. They count on you, confide in you, trust you more than anything on earth. Don’t take that away from yourself. You are exactly who your kids need.

2. I am an amazing mom, even as I work hard on becoming a better one

There are no rules to motherhood, you can be both a good mom and a flawed mom. Everyday you will learn something new about yourself and with that you apply it to becoming a better mom. Your kids don’t need a perfect mom but will appreciate a mom who strives to be a better one is some way. You are amazing even when you don’t feel it. Be gentle with yourself because you are doing the best you can.

3. The way I choose to parent is the best choice for my family

Remember when you found out you were pregnant and thought to yourself “how am I going to do this?” You did. Remember when you had a crying newborn and thought to yourself “how am I going to get through this?” You did. You made it through some of the toughest times as a parent and each time you thought you couldn’t do it but you did. You did this by choosing to parent how you felt is the best for your family. It doesn’t matter if its different from what you see others do, as long as you know that what you are doing will get you through. There are a million ways to be a good mom you are already making the best decisions for your family.

4. I forgive myself for my failures

This one is probably the toughest out of all the ways that help me ease mom guilt. Forgiving myself never comes easy because I feel so deeply that I have made too many mistakes as a mother. But that is wrong. Forgiving yourself is one of the greatest things you can do as a mother. Like I stated above; you are amazing WITH flaws. Once you are aware of your own flaws you can start to pick yourself up one piece at a time. Work on who you are and forgive yourself for anything you think you did “wrong.” Practice self care and know your worth. Don’t fall into a dark place over something that can easily be forgiven. Remember: little by little, a little becomes alot.

You will never have this day with your children again. Tomorrow they will be a little bit older than they were today. So while you are sitting there drowning in mom guilt try to talk yourself out of it by using some of the ways I shared. Take a deep breath, enjoy all the little things because today will be over before you know it. All your children really want is you.

You are mom enough.

Thank you for reading.

Much love,

Krissy.