So glad I found your substack! The algorithm has certainly figured me out. I resonate so deeply with your thoughts on creativity. I love what you said about ties between motherhood and creation - I hadn't made that connection and it makes so much sense! I'm 8 month postpartum with my first and I crave creation so badly these days. It feels like I might burst if I don't. Writing, photographing, embroidering, baking - I want to do so many things! How are you carving out the time to do these things and are you finding yourself getting overwhelmed with everything you want to do? That's the thing I'm finding I'm struggling with right now.
Thank you so much for being here — I’m happy that my words can resonate with you! I love that this platform has helped me to connect with so many other moms in similar phases of life, it’s a breath of fresh air!
I’m with you on that deep longing to create. I find that it can get overwhelming if I try to pursue everything at once so lately I’ve been trying to lean in on what speaks to me the most. Carving out time can definitely be tricky, especially with a little under one. I really like to include them as much as I can — have my toddler “help” in the garden, sit in the highchair or toddler tower while I cook, read while I breastfeed and toddler plays independently, etc.
Love the idea of leaning into what speaks to you. I’ve also been playing with the idea of “layering in” hobbies, self-care practices etc. I tend to fall into the trap of all or nothing but adding one thing in at a time, seeing how it feels, tweaking as needed and then layering on the next thing when I feel ready has helped ease my mind.
So sweet to share gardening with your dad, Ashton! How special to have something you can both do together. I feel you with postpartum, it’s kind of endless! I felt like I needed a lot of help with the toddler phase, when tantrums become such a big thing. Sending love to you xx
Thank you, Lucy and thank you so much for reading! I’m excited to share more about my garden! All the new phases come with delights and challenges. I’m definitely working on being better at asking for help!
Love all of these reflections, Ashton. Motherhood is so joyful and so exhausting and that rollercoaster ride is wild. I also so relate to your musings on being with your high school sweetheart. My husband and I got together when I was 16, he having just turned 17. We’ve been together for 21 years this year, married for 12 and about to celebrate our little boy’s 2nd birthday. We grew together and that always feels so, so special to me. Here’s to enduring love and that deep trust and true partnership.🧡
Thank you so much and thank you for reading, Jen! It truly is! What a sweet thing it is to grow together, I do love hearing about other’s love stories. Deep trust and true partnership is right, how lovely!
Loved reading this! Currently nap trapped (happily) with my 10 week old. Also, I loved reading your feelings about being high school sweethearts because I feel exactly the same! Of course we are different people now, but so many just don’t understand that.
Thank you for reading, Samantha! How lovely — I am also currently nap trapped and very happy about it! It’s such a sweet thing to experience growing together with a partner!
I loved reading all of these updates, and thank you so much for including me! We're in this postpartum thang together. xx ps I may hit you up for gardening advice in the future...that lil oasis you've been working on is something I'd love to learn how to create, too!
Thank you so much, Elin! Yes, absolutely — solidarity! I’m so excited to share more about my little garden. I’m definitely no expert (I think I’ve already killed a plant) but it’s fun and my toddler loves “helping” out!
So glad I found your substack! The algorithm has certainly figured me out. I resonate so deeply with your thoughts on creativity. I love what you said about ties between motherhood and creation - I hadn't made that connection and it makes so much sense! I'm 8 month postpartum with my first and I crave creation so badly these days. It feels like I might burst if I don't. Writing, photographing, embroidering, baking - I want to do so many things! How are you carving out the time to do these things and are you finding yourself getting overwhelmed with everything you want to do? That's the thing I'm finding I'm struggling with right now.
Thanks for all that your sharing here!
Thank you so much for being here — I’m happy that my words can resonate with you! I love that this platform has helped me to connect with so many other moms in similar phases of life, it’s a breath of fresh air!
I’m with you on that deep longing to create. I find that it can get overwhelming if I try to pursue everything at once so lately I’ve been trying to lean in on what speaks to me the most. Carving out time can definitely be tricky, especially with a little under one. I really like to include them as much as I can — have my toddler “help” in the garden, sit in the highchair or toddler tower while I cook, read while I breastfeed and toddler plays independently, etc.
Give yourself grace! 🤍
Love the idea of leaning into what speaks to you. I’ve also been playing with the idea of “layering in” hobbies, self-care practices etc. I tend to fall into the trap of all or nothing but adding one thing in at a time, seeing how it feels, tweaking as needed and then layering on the next thing when I feel ready has helped ease my mind.
So sweet to share gardening with your dad, Ashton! How special to have something you can both do together. I feel you with postpartum, it’s kind of endless! I felt like I needed a lot of help with the toddler phase, when tantrums become such a big thing. Sending love to you xx
Thank you, Lucy and thank you so much for reading! I’m excited to share more about my garden! All the new phases come with delights and challenges. I’m definitely working on being better at asking for help!
Love all of these reflections, Ashton. Motherhood is so joyful and so exhausting and that rollercoaster ride is wild. I also so relate to your musings on being with your high school sweetheart. My husband and I got together when I was 16, he having just turned 17. We’ve been together for 21 years this year, married for 12 and about to celebrate our little boy’s 2nd birthday. We grew together and that always feels so, so special to me. Here’s to enduring love and that deep trust and true partnership.🧡
Thank you so much and thank you for reading, Jen! It truly is! What a sweet thing it is to grow together, I do love hearing about other’s love stories. Deep trust and true partnership is right, how lovely!
Loved reading this! Currently nap trapped (happily) with my 10 week old. Also, I loved reading your feelings about being high school sweethearts because I feel exactly the same! Of course we are different people now, but so many just don’t understand that.
Thank you for reading, Samantha! How lovely — I am also currently nap trapped and very happy about it! It’s such a sweet thing to experience growing together with a partner!
I loved reading all of these updates, and thank you so much for including me! We're in this postpartum thang together. xx ps I may hit you up for gardening advice in the future...that lil oasis you've been working on is something I'd love to learn how to create, too!
Thank you so much, Elin! Yes, absolutely — solidarity! I’m so excited to share more about my little garden. I’m definitely no expert (I think I’ve already killed a plant) but it’s fun and my toddler loves “helping” out!