To the birthing bodies that have had to adjust their birth vision, bravely bring forth life and enter parenthood during such an uncertain time

To the mothers and fathers who are now quite familiar with the blurred lines of work-life balance and juggling more than you anticipated

To the parents who never quite got the hang of virtual school for various reasons

To the families living in hotels who were already under water before schools and businesses closed

To the parents who are in financial limbo due to job loss, illness and shelter-in-place restrictions

To the co-parents who have been under the same roof for weeks for the sake of their children

To the single parent who has nowhere to turn for food

To the first time parents still trying to find comfort in the chaos

To the mother who was already struggling with mental health before the outbreak

To the widowed father who is still mourning his loss and trying to figure out how to care for two young children alone

To the black and brown parents who are now even more fearfully of giving birth in a hospital due to the black maternal mortality rate

To the families who had their whole way of life ripped from them due to the virus

To the low income & middle class families who continue to be disproportionately marginalized & stifled due to institutionalized racism, broken systems and hypocrisy

To the couples who had to put IVF, adoption or dreams of a family on hold

To the trans and non-binary people who are having an even more difficult time with finding trustworthy, knowledgeable care providers

To the couples who's marriage is suffering and your kids are on the receiving end of that anguish

To the parents who are sending their children off into the real world at a time like this

To the empty-nesters who haven't seen their children in weeks/months

To the grandparents who have yet to meet their grandchildren

To the parents on the frontlines who haven't kissed or hugged their kids or loved ones in weeks

​To the refugee and immigrant families still locked up in cages by our selfish, ruthless and incompetent president

To any family who has experienced a loss of any kind during the pandemic...


I see you. I acknowledge your hurt, fear and sorrow.

It's okay to cry and be sad.
It's okay to be angry.
It's okay to be disappointed.

Feel those feelings. Every single one of them. They are valid and normal.

It's also okay to ask for space.
And love & comfort.
And support.

It's okay because you are now on a new path.
A path that was a part of your destiny all along. A path that will lead you to something greater.

This will be a defining moment on your parenting journey, but this single moment will not define you as a parent.

You will rise up and be a light for your children and family. You may stumble a bit, but that's why we have one another. To lean on and exchange grace.

We will get through this. Together.

Happy Mother's Day!

If you are a mother, I hope you have been showered by your family with love, gifts and other surprises today. I also hope you have a chance to feel any feelings that may come with today, whether that is joy, sadness, grief, fear, love, loss, gratitude, comfort or peace. Because I have been  a mother now for nearly a decade (if you include my pregnancy), I thought I would share some of my favorite Mother's Day memories.

If you don't know already, I actually began my blogging journey before I became a doula and started my business. Writing was a way for me to connect with others and express my feelings after becoming a mom. My mommy blog was such a useful outlet for me and eventually led me to begin researching a doula career. That is one of the reasons why I blog about a mix of personal, professional and educational topics.

Below you will find some of my favorite blog posts about motherhood. A few of them have links to my original blog on Tumblr (do people still use Tumblr?) so you may find some other gems there as well! Please leave a comment on any posts that resonate with you and have a beautiful day!

Preston's Birth Story

My Path to Motherhood: A Dream Realized

Mothering the Mother

The Beauty of Motherhood

Dear Preston: 6th Birthday Edition

Hospital Bag Must-Haves

New Mom Etiquette

Mother's Day Sting

To read my own story of overcoming postpartum anxiety, click here. For more information on how to support mothers and families impacted by mental illness, please visit Postpartum Support International or join the conversation over on the PSI-NC Chapter on Facebook.