No one gives you a manual for being a parent. There is no guidebook for discipline either. No one tells you that correcting your child can send you on an emotional roller coaster you were never prepared for. One moment you feel confident in your decision, and the next you are questioning everything. Anger. Sadness. Regret. Confusion. Sometimes all at once. My oldest child is a teenager now, and after years of parenting, I am finally learning this. Discipline does … [Read more...]
What Postpartum Doulas Really Do: My First Client Experience Supporting a Mom of Two
Stepping into postpartum doula work has been one of the most rewarding journeys of my life. As a longtime school counselor, nurturing and supporting families has always been at the heart of what I do. Transitioning into postpartum doula support felt like a natural extension of my passion — helping mothers during one of the most sacred, overwhelming seasons of their lives. I'm excited to share what it was like working with my very first official postpartum … [Read more...]
Motherhood in My 40s: Letting Go of Perfection and Embracing What Matters Most
Here’s a grounded and relatable rewrite that fits your tone and stays in line with your reflections on motherhood in your 40s: You know those Saturday mornings when the sunlight spills through the windows and you feel that pull to catch up on everything? The laundry that’s been waiting all week. The dishes in the sink. The floors that somehow always need sweeping. I used to spend hours chasing a clean house. It felt like if I could just get it all done, … [Read more...]
What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Mom of 4
When my husband and I had our son, we thought we were done. We had two girls and our baby boy, so we were content. Our little family of five was everything we had dreamed of. It felt complete, and we were happy with the balance we had. But then, surprise! At 38, God blessed us with #4—another baby. Honestly, it took me a few months to get over the shock. I wasn’t planning for a fourth child, and the timing felt overwhelming. But eventually, I leaned into … [Read more...]
Living on a Farm Makes Me a Different Kind of Doula – Here’s Why
Five years ago, in December 2019, we made the big decision to leave the suburbs and move to the farm. Just a few months later, the world went into lockdown due to the pandemic, but looking back, it couldn’t have been better timing. While the rest of the world was cooped up inside, we were able to roam free on our expansive farm, finding solace in the fresh air and wide-open spaces. For more about how our farm life has shaped us, check out my post on navigating … [Read more...]
C-Section Recovery Tips: How to Heal Your Body and Mind After Surgery
All four of my births were C-sections, but if I knew then what I know now, I would have had four vaginal births (more than likely at home.) If you want to know more about why, check out my post on why I broke up with my OB-GYN and hired a doula. After four C-sections, I’ve learned this the hard way: C-section recovery is not just physical. It’s emotional. It’s mental. And it’s deeply shaped by how much support you have once you’re home. All four of my births … [Read more...]
Why I Became a Postpartum Doula: A Journey of Passion and Purpose
When I found out I was pregnant with my fourth child at 38, I was in shock. I thought my motherhood journey was behind me—my three older children were growing up, and I had finally settled into a routine. But then life had other plans, and I found myself expecting again. I thought I had everything figured out. This time, I researched, I hired a doula, and I was determined to do everything “right.” Despite all my preparation, my birth ended in a … [Read more...]
Why I became a School Counselor
My Journey to Becoming a School Counselor Have you ever read There's a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom by Louis Sachar? That book changed my life. It’s about a boy named Bradley Chalkers who is repeating fifth grade. He’s rude. He disrupts class. No one wants to talk to him or sit by him. He destroys property. But then, a new school counselor starts working at his school. She listens to him. She encourages him. And by the end of the book, Bradley is a model … [Read more...]
Raising Multiracial Teenagers: Challenges, Identity Struggles & How to Help
Raising a teenager is already a challenge, but when your child is multiracial, it adds another layer of complexity. As a mom of four—a teenager, a preteen, an early elementary son, and a toddler daughter—I’ve had my fair share of conversations about race, identity, and belonging. Over the years, my kids have been asked questions that made them pause, sometimes making them feel like they didn’t quite fit in anywhere. Questions like: Then there are the … [Read more...]