My favorite things about your posts is the incredible genuine honesty. I literally don’t know how you last an hour with 2 kids alone let alone 730-530. My 18 month old kicks my butt every single day, and I too often think I’m failing just because I’m utterly exhausted. But like you said it’s a universal struggle and we’re good parents because we’re concerned about these things. Anyways, thank you for being so honest and seriously you are crushing it. 💗
I love this letter as always, Tricia. I’m thinking so much about the postpartum period, and I know I’ll be referencing your honesty and the ways you’ve moved through it during that time. ❤️
Wow we had very similar experiences. Had PPD both times & remember the huckleberry days.. so hazy and disguised as “fine”. I’m so glad you shared this. This topic has raised so many conversations in my inner circle recently. Keep sharing ♥️
I remember telling my husband I was going to be breezy and casual with all the tracking for our second, but then he almost needed to be readmitted for jaundice and all my breeziness immediately left the building. Thanks for being here 🩷
I have been following this case like a true Reddit detective. Maternal health is so 👏 important 👏 and needs to be taken seriously 👏
Thank you for speaking on this topic and sharing your story. As a society we need to be talking about this courageously and continuously. Thank you for being so brave.
Having this much time on my hands while the trial is occurring is probably not great, I have to remind myself to take breaks. Thanks for reading and sharing, I appreciate you so 🩵
I’m so glad you’re here and for your writing. What an important topic and you approached it so perfectly. I struggled with post partum anxiety with my first and even as a family nurse practitioner had NO idea how to handle it. I’m no longer post partum but that anxiety is still there, although less and I’ve learned how to manage it. I’ve learned prioritizing our own self care is the best thing we can do as parents.
Sometimes I feel as though other practitioners (even well-meaning ones) can take our experience and training as a reason to believe we’ll figure it out. Everyone needs help sometimes 💚 and I do agree, taking care of myself is the best way I can show up for my kids.
Thank you for your honestly and for such a valuable post. “Someone’s scream for help might sound more like a whisper, and we need to pay attention.” ❤️
Grateful for your honesty and vulnerability here. Mom Camp can be hard and that's so real. Wishing you a sunnier week ahead and some mental and physical space to recalibrate ❤️
this is such an important topic to discuss and i’m really glad you wrote about it 💞 especially as two mental health professional parents.
also, you know i got your back on the summertime daycare. i had never even considered it until one of my neighbors was like “hey, could be nice to get a couple days off, actually relax a little.” and to get that permission from another mom (working mom) who knew i was full time childcare?? that was wild to me.
totally shifted my perspective and honestly was the permission i needed. like *of course* we all need time off. just because we have some space not to work doesn’t mean that we need to fill that with childcare and house work 💖 this summer my kid is in daycare 3 days a week and the whole family is happier for it!
also thank you for the shout 🫶 childfree friends 4evr
This made me tear up. I had such a hard time postpartum with my son. It took me years to even think about having another child. I remember going to a professional development session and sharing with my table that I was having a hard time and another teacher chastised me for being si negative. It made me feel like a freak.
I am off during the summer and we kept our son in care full time. I don’t feel an ounce of guilt. It’s best for him and for me!
I love that you’re using daycare! We really do need a full break to recharge after the school year. I’m sorry that you were met with such a lack of empathy. There’s no need to silver lining everything that’s hard. Some things just really are hard, and we need to make space for that.
This was beautiful, Tricia. I relate to feeling guilt when I max out on momming, and questioning whether I’m doing a good job, and I never even stay home with them! I think we get burnt out because we care so very much, and that’s what really matters. Thanks for writing this ❤️
I do think the constant care can cause overwhelm, 100%. I’ve been working hard this summer to create space for all of us to be a little bored sometimes. It’s not cute, but I do think it’s good for all of us.
This is just as important a part of Mom Camp as all the lighter topics (which I also love). I’m so glad that you got the help you needed, and I’m right there with you: thinking “what about all the other women who don’t have access to what we do?” It’s scary and so important to talk about. 💕
This is brilliantly written with care and sensitivity. My youngest is 15 and I still remember after having my first child that I felt like Alice in Wonderland, like everything looked the same but the world felt completely different. At one point after my second (who was colicky for 18 months) I had to go to a breathing specialist to relearn how to breathe properly bc anxiety caused me to do too much shallow breathing. It’s not just hormones, it’s the responsibility of it all. Mothers need a village and then some. So glad you hit publish, it still resonates with me even with older kids!
Danielle, thank you so much for reading and for your response. I have also had to work hard on my breathing in pelvic floor PT, and I think it’s gotten even more important as my kids have gotten older.
Pelvic floor exercises are the best cure for my breathing issues that resurface now every time I get stressed out. Frankly it’s a relief to learn I’m not the only one who’s dealt with that!
I know we as humans can’t always do it, it takes immense bravery to do so, but when we can bring light to the hardest parts of this experience is when we all feel less alone and we can see where we need more support. I read this 20 mins after I asked my husband to get home as soon as possible after being gone for a few days on a work trip. I could feel myself running out of oxygen, so to speak. It’s been almost 7 years and I still have moments where the panic and drowning feelings of those early days revisits me. Sending you a big hug and dose of gratitude for your honesty here. There are so many (SO MANY) of us that know this experience intimately.
I have definitely been there on the “please come home immediately” texts! I think normalizing the hard parts makes it easier to enjoy the good parts. Hope you got some rest and quiet time!!
Thank you for sharing about your postpartum experience <3
My favorite things about your posts is the incredible genuine honesty. I literally don’t know how you last an hour with 2 kids alone let alone 730-530. My 18 month old kicks my butt every single day, and I too often think I’m failing just because I’m utterly exhausted. But like you said it’s a universal struggle and we’re good parents because we’re concerned about these things. Anyways, thank you for being so honest and seriously you are crushing it. 💗
Thank you as always for your vulnerability (and my shout out!!) Xx
I love this letter as always, Tricia. I’m thinking so much about the postpartum period, and I know I’ll be referencing your honesty and the ways you’ve moved through it during that time. ❤️
Take good care of yourself, Molly 🤍 it’s the best, worst, most tender time.
Wow we had very similar experiences. Had PPD both times & remember the huckleberry days.. so hazy and disguised as “fine”. I’m so glad you shared this. This topic has raised so many conversations in my inner circle recently. Keep sharing ♥️
I remember telling my husband I was going to be breezy and casual with all the tracking for our second, but then he almost needed to be readmitted for jaundice and all my breeziness immediately left the building. Thanks for being here 🩷
I have been following this case like a true Reddit detective. Maternal health is so 👏 important 👏 and needs to be taken seriously 👏
Thank you for speaking on this topic and sharing your story. As a society we need to be talking about this courageously and continuously. Thank you for being so brave.
Having this much time on my hands while the trial is occurring is probably not great, I have to remind myself to take breaks. Thanks for reading and sharing, I appreciate you so 🩵
I’m so glad you’re here and for your writing. What an important topic and you approached it so perfectly. I struggled with post partum anxiety with my first and even as a family nurse practitioner had NO idea how to handle it. I’m no longer post partum but that anxiety is still there, although less and I’ve learned how to manage it. I’ve learned prioritizing our own self care is the best thing we can do as parents.
Sometimes I feel as though other practitioners (even well-meaning ones) can take our experience and training as a reason to believe we’ll figure it out. Everyone needs help sometimes 💚 and I do agree, taking care of myself is the best way I can show up for my kids.
Thank you for your honestly and for such a valuable post. “Someone’s scream for help might sound more like a whisper, and we need to pay attention.” ❤️
🤍🤍🤍 thanks Marina.
So relatable. Thank you for writing 🫶
Thank you for reading 🩷
Grateful for your honesty and vulnerability here. Mom Camp can be hard and that's so real. Wishing you a sunnier week ahead and some mental and physical space to recalibrate ❤️
Thank you Lauren! Fingers crossed for no rain!!
Literally and figuratively!!
this is such an important topic to discuss and i’m really glad you wrote about it 💞 especially as two mental health professional parents.
also, you know i got your back on the summertime daycare. i had never even considered it until one of my neighbors was like “hey, could be nice to get a couple days off, actually relax a little.” and to get that permission from another mom (working mom) who knew i was full time childcare?? that was wild to me.
totally shifted my perspective and honestly was the permission i needed. like *of course* we all need time off. just because we have some space not to work doesn’t mean that we need to fill that with childcare and house work 💖 this summer my kid is in daycare 3 days a week and the whole family is happier for it!
also thank you for the shout 🫶 childfree friends 4evr
I see the things he’s doing at daycare — splash pads, painting, music class — how could I deny him that lol?
I appreciate you always, it’s so nice to have you in my corner 🩵
This made me tear up. I had such a hard time postpartum with my son. It took me years to even think about having another child. I remember going to a professional development session and sharing with my table that I was having a hard time and another teacher chastised me for being si negative. It made me feel like a freak.
I am off during the summer and we kept our son in care full time. I don’t feel an ounce of guilt. It’s best for him and for me!
I love that you’re using daycare! We really do need a full break to recharge after the school year. I’m sorry that you were met with such a lack of empathy. There’s no need to silver lining everything that’s hard. Some things just really are hard, and we need to make space for that.
This was beautiful, Tricia. I relate to feeling guilt when I max out on momming, and questioning whether I’m doing a good job, and I never even stay home with them! I think we get burnt out because we care so very much, and that’s what really matters. Thanks for writing this ❤️
I do think the constant care can cause overwhelm, 100%. I’ve been working hard this summer to create space for all of us to be a little bored sometimes. It’s not cute, but I do think it’s good for all of us.
This is just as important a part of Mom Camp as all the lighter topics (which I also love). I’m so glad that you got the help you needed, and I’m right there with you: thinking “what about all the other women who don’t have access to what we do?” It’s scary and so important to talk about. 💕
Thanks for reading Julie, I appreciate you 🩷
This is brilliantly written with care and sensitivity. My youngest is 15 and I still remember after having my first child that I felt like Alice in Wonderland, like everything looked the same but the world felt completely different. At one point after my second (who was colicky for 18 months) I had to go to a breathing specialist to relearn how to breathe properly bc anxiety caused me to do too much shallow breathing. It’s not just hormones, it’s the responsibility of it all. Mothers need a village and then some. So glad you hit publish, it still resonates with me even with older kids!
Danielle, thank you so much for reading and for your response. I have also had to work hard on my breathing in pelvic floor PT, and I think it’s gotten even more important as my kids have gotten older.
Pelvic floor exercises are the best cure for my breathing issues that resurface now every time I get stressed out. Frankly it’s a relief to learn I’m not the only one who’s dealt with that!
I know we as humans can’t always do it, it takes immense bravery to do so, but when we can bring light to the hardest parts of this experience is when we all feel less alone and we can see where we need more support. I read this 20 mins after I asked my husband to get home as soon as possible after being gone for a few days on a work trip. I could feel myself running out of oxygen, so to speak. It’s been almost 7 years and I still have moments where the panic and drowning feelings of those early days revisits me. Sending you a big hug and dose of gratitude for your honesty here. There are so many (SO MANY) of us that know this experience intimately.
I have definitely been there on the “please come home immediately” texts! I think normalizing the hard parts makes it easier to enjoy the good parts. Hope you got some rest and quiet time!!