The Juggle Struggle

A Mama of One Became a Mama of Two…

Month: August 2018

This is 33…

August 19, 2018 The Juggle StruggleLeave a comment

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The Sound of Motherhood: Music for Every Mama
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But parent now, friends later, right? 😩 . . . #thejugglestruggle #thestruggleisreal #thejuggleisreal #motherhood #parenthood #momlife #momof2 #sahm #sahmlife #raisingbabies #raisinghumans #toddlerlife #momsofinstagram #butthetruthis #motherhoodmoments #momblogger

I never knew I could feel so deeply until I became a mother. Pain, love, sadness, joy - and not just mine, but everyone’s around me. The practice of staying present in MY story and not getting overpowered by the stories of others is real in this journey of Motherhood. Love to all you mamas and all that you feel. ❤️ . . . #thejugglestruggle #thejuggleisreal #thestruggleisreal #motherhood #parenthood #momlife #motherhoodmoments #love #life #happiness #joy #grief #family #grateful #lifelessons #raisingbabies #raisinghumans #momstrong #amothersjourney #momsofinstagram #happinessis

Lord knows I’ll try, babes. Song: Baby Artist: She & Him @sheandhim The Juggle Struggle: The Sound of Motherhood (a Spotify playlist) . . . #thejugglestruggle #thejuggleisreal #thestruggleisreal #momlife #babylife #raisingbabies #raisinghumans #momof2 #love #life #family #happiness #happinessis #babycuddles #thesoundofmotherhood #mamatunes #music #lyrics #sheandhim #letterboard #thelettergrams #feltlikesharing #momsofinstagram #momblogger

(But it’s always worth the extra calories 😜) #notetoself . . . #thejugglestruggle #thestruggleisreal #thejuggleisreal #motherhood #parenthood #momlife #raisingbabies #raisingtoddlers #motherhoodmoments #sahm #sahmlife #baking #bakingwithkids #sugarhighs #momsofinstagram #butthetruthis #momblogger

Yesterday was Rosh Hashanah, today is 9/11, and today is also my nephew’s 2nd birthday. Individually, these events are each significant, but together, they me think a lot about the world I’ve known as different from the world my kids know, and the world they will know in the future. I will never forget my 9/11/01: the day of turmoil, confusion, sadness and fear. I remember what I wore, I remember what I ate. I remember going to school, and leaving early to be with my family. I remember watching the news, and watching the tears in the eyes of every adult around me. I was old enough to know what happened, not old enough to fully grasp it. Since that day, for me and most Americans, 9/11 has been a day of mourning and a day of remembrance. It has been, and will always be, a day of reflection, a day of camaraderie, and a day of story telling. But two years ago, the focus of this day in my family shifted. Two years ago, my nephew was born, and just like that, this day became a day of celebration. My children will grow up knowing 9/11 as a birthday first, and a heavy day in American history second. The things I watched change in our country in the years following our 9/11 are just the realities our kids were born into. Yet while our present day might look vastly different from our days leading up to that fateful September morning, we have adjusted, we are move forward, and overall, the present day is just as beautiful as it was on September 10, 2001. Yes, we have many problems- but what generation doesn’t? But for the sake of my kids and their childhood, my job is to look at this world through their eyes for as long as possible. There will surely be a time when their image of this world changes - what day, God forbid, will become their “9/11”? Until we must face a new rude awakening and tread those waters with and for our children, we will celebrate this time as a family, and mourn this time privately. This day is the start of two “new years,” and marks another year of remembrance. L’Shana Tovah, everyone. Squeeze your family, kiss your babies, tell them what a beautiful day it is, and make this year a good one. #thejugglestruggle #neverforget #911 #love #family

Never Settle, Little Ones. . . . I recently had a special opportunity to see @nathanielrateliff live in a small & intimate space (thanks to @kcrw and #apogeestudios). If you can, do yourself a favor and go see this band! So fun, so special, always a party. This song, Hey Mama, makes me weepy each time I hear it - and I was so happy to hear it live with them. It’s beautiful, sad, and so heartfelt, every time. . Song: Hey Mama Artist: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats . The Juggle Struggle: The Sound of Motherhood (a Spotify playlist) . . . #thejugglestruggle #motherhood #parenthood #raisingbabies #lifelessons #music #lyrics #heymama #nathanielrateliffandthenightsweats #momsofinstagram #momblog #love #life #happiness #momlife #momblogger #letterfolk #thesoundofmotherhood #feltlikesharing #thelettergrams

But I mean, who can blame the girl? . . . #thejugglestruggle #thejuggleisreal #motherhood #raisingbabies #raisinghumans #parenthood #thesoundofmotherhood #butthetruthis #cardib #love #life #family #happiness #momblogger #momsofinstagram #dance #adancersdaughter #momlife

It was 24 hours into my second labor, I was in the thick of the most intense contractions, and I wasn’t moving past 8cm when my doctor said to me “this is just how your body labors. But you are DOING it.” This was two years after I had the 15 hour epidural free labor I had planned for with my son. And after EVERYONE telling me second times are faster and easier, this was the last thing I expected. But that was everything I needed to hear to help me understand. Everyone knows all bodies are different, all journeys are different. But I could have never expected my own two birth experiences to be almost complete opposites. The first was (almost) what I wanted, and the second was ultimately what I needed, ending with the epidural that gave my baby a speedy entrance, and me a relaxed body and mind. It allowed me to fully let go and listen to what my baby needed - not just what my stubborn heart wanted. They were both wild, they were both difficult, they were both beautifully different. (Link in Profile for Full Story - the one that kicked off The Juggle Struggle) Happy Labor Day, Mamas! . . #thejugglestruggle #motherhood #laborday #labor #birthstory #birthstories #raisingbabies #becomingmother #birth #unmedicatedbirth #naturalbirth #epidural #parenthood #momblog #momsofinstagram #thejuggleisreal #thestruggleisreal #motherhoodunplugged

I mean, sometimes the singing might sound like screaming... but it’s still singing. . Song: Wild Thing Artist: The Troggs . The Juggle Struggle: The Sound of Motherhood (a Spotify playlist) . . . #thejugglestruggle #thestruggleisreal #thejuggleisreal #motherhood #parenthood #momlife #raisingbabies #raisingtoddlers #motherhoodmoments #wildthing #thetroggs #music #lyrics #musictherapy #mamatunes #thesoundofmotherhood #letterboardquotes #feltlikesharing #thelettergrams #letterfolk #momblogger #momsofinstagram

Because preschool might make Monday the best day of the week. Amiright or amiright? Love the weekends, but LOVE these Mondays. . . . #thejugglestruggle #motherhood #parenthood #momlife #sahm #stayathomemom #momof2 #mondayblues #mondayfunday #raisingbabies #raisingtoddlers #raisinghumans #love #life #happiness #family #motherhoodmoments #butthetruthis #momsofinstagram #momblogger

On this National Dog Day, I celebrate Dallas and the new home I KNOW he has! Many of you know this most difficult decision we made to rehome our beloved boy just over a year ago (link in bio for full story). What most people don’t know is that we took him to the Pasadena Humane Society - the very place we rescued him from - because it was the only home we could find for him in such a time sensitive situation. What most people don’t know is the shame I felt & received for such a decision. What most people don’t know is the guilt I felt that left me sleepless and anxious on many nights. What most people don’t know is how much we LOVE that dog and how much I prayed that no harm would come to him. But after a while, I could not follow him for fear it would not end well and my heart would be eternally crushed. Well, one month ago, I got a bug in my head and could not rest until I knew his fate. I dreamed many dreams of seeing his face again alive and well. And after a LONG search, I found him! He was adopted from @pasadenahumane at their #cleartheshelters event last August (on my birthday). I am forever grateful to them for knowing what a great dog he his and helping him find the home he deserves. I want his new mama to know we are NOT bad people. We are just a family in a really tough predicament. And I thank @nbcnews for giving him his 15 minutes so that I could find his beautiful face buried in social media. I love you forever, Dallas. I hope you are the happiest, and I still dream of seeing you again - at least now I know it’s a real possibility. 😘 . . . #thejugglestruggle #nationaldogday #nbcnews #pasadenahumanesociety #dallasthedog #motherhood #parenthood #momblog #momsofinstagram #happiness #love #life #adoptdontshop #motherhoodmoments #honestmotherhood

This is 33. And this song is as old as I am. (Link in bio for epic music video!!) The other day my husband asked my son “how old is mommy going to be?” My son said enthusiastically “3!” And my husband quickly responded - “in fact, mommy will have TWO 3s in her age!” 🙄 . Well, hello there 33. I’m not sure I can say I am where I “thought” I’d be at this age, but I’m surely not mad about where I am. (And, frankly I don’t know what that “thought” was). Some things have surpassed expectation, while others have lagged or been left behind. But at the end of each year, I *try* to welcome the next with a bright outlook of opportunity and adventure. I have this theory that the 30s is where everything starts to make sense, and solidify a sense of purpose - so I know there can only be good things to come, and I welcome it all! Happy 33, Me! 🎈 Song: Rhythm of the Night (1985) Artist: DeBarge . #thejugglestruggle #motherhood #thesoundofmotherhood #parenthood #music #lyrics #musictherapy #momlife #happybirthday #thisis33 #letterboard #motherhoodmoments #thelettergrams #feltlikesharing

Sometimes it’s just about getting through the day. . . . #thejugglestruggle #motherhood #parenthood #raisingbabies #momlife #toddlerlife #momof2 #thedaysarelong #theyearsareshort #motherhoodmoments #love #life #family #butthetruthis #momblogger #momsofinstagram

We’re in a thick period of transition right now, and most days I am left empty, exhausted and ready to scream (or not scream because I just want silence). These days have been trying, at best... But then there’s this: I’ve recently read/heard too many stories of loss. Child loss. Parents/Mothers whose babies leave them far too soon. Most days I want to pull my hair out by 4pm, and these moments will surely not stop because they are my life right now. But these kiddies are everything, and every moment I get with them is a good one, even when it doesn’t feel like it. Raising babies is the hardest thing ever, but it surely does not compare to losing them. I may get angry, they may tantrum, we may fight. But we still get to fight. And I still get to smell them, hear them, hold them and kiss them. I get to watch them learn and feel and grow. My babies make me question my strength almost daily. But to the mamas who have experienced loss - you are the strongest and bravest of us all. (This was not my original intent for this post... but I’m having a very real moment right now). ❤️ . . . #thejugglestruggle #motherhood #parenthood #motherhoodmoments #blessing #mothersunite #cherisheverymoment #love #life #happiness #family #childloss #raisingbabies #motherhoodunplugged #momblogger #momlife #momof2

I have a feeling there is no such thing as “the good old days” - so it’s my job as a mama to prepare my babies to deal with whatever CRAZY is in their world... Also, you best believe this girl is gonna he raised on some Wynonna! That’s a good start. @wynonnajudd Song: Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout The Good Old Days) Artist: The Judds The Juggle Struggle: The Sound of Motherhood (a Spotify playlist) . . . #thejugglestruggle #motherhood #momlife #parenthood #mothersunite #riasingbabies #raisinghumans #growingup #goodolddays #songs #lyrics #music #thejudds #mamatunes #thesoundofmotherhood #thelettergrams #feltlikesharing #letterfolk

#reallynotreally... by kinda. . . . #thejugglestruggle #motherhood #parenthood #growingfamily #raisingbabies #babyfever #notreadyyet #butthetruthis #growinguptoofast #motherhoodunplugged #momlife #momof2 #mothersunite #love #life #family #happiness #momsofinstagram #momblogger #callmecrazy

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