No one says being a mother is easy. But a lot of us get caught up in the glamor, not thinking about what those hard days are going to look like. When they do hit, we are surprised and left feeling like we aren’t doing it right. But those hard days are a part of being a mom.

My Worst Day(s) as a Mother

I have four kids, but my second infant was my hardest. Every one of my kids came with a frustrating need to be induced because labor just wouldn’t start on its own. My first baby was induced two weeks late when the doctor wasn’t comfortable with letting things go longer. My second was due December 18 and I felt sure it would happen again and he would be born on top of Christmas. I decided to get induced a week early on the 11th instead of waiting. He was a stubborn one and took 42 hours to show up. But that was just the start.

He was grouchy and probably had reflux. He was hungry 24-7 and I gave him a pacifier on the second night because he wouldn’t stop nursing. I had some kind of postpartum depression or anxiety. I’m not sure it was full on depression because I passed that hospital test with flying colors. You know, the one where they ask you if you feel like hurting yourself, cry more than normal, or blame yourself for things that aren’t your fault? Yeah, I was none of those things. But I also wasn’t feeling like I did with my first baby and I couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong.

This baby woke up every two hours night and day. I was sleep deprived, frustrated, sore, and hormonal. I wasn’t really able to juggle it all. I tried to ask for help, but I didn’t really know how. And, I didn’t really want to admit how much I needed it. Honestly, I couldn’t really even tell my husband how much I needed help.

It kept getting worse. After two weeks I remember being so sleep deprived I wasn’t even sure what I should and shouldn’t do as a parent. Would it be okay to just put him in a back bedroom, close the door and sleep for a few hours? I decided against that, but I didn’t know why it would really be a bad idea. I was that tired. So tired I couldn’t think through anything. More tired than I had ever been in college with art classes and huge project deadlines. At least in college I could binge sleep after a long spell of staying up.

With my new baby, I was only getting 1 hour (or less) of sleep. In college, I would just pull an all nighter rather than only get an hour. It hurts. Your body isn’t ready to wake up and I just felt nauseous every time. It didn’t help that the baby would wake up screaming like he was dying of hunger; he has his father’s metabolism.

I wasn’t connecting with the baby. I loved him by action, but struggled with how I felt. At the time he didn’t like me either. I didn’t realize it was postpartum struggles. Thankfully my husband connected with him far easier. And, after a while the feelings finally started to change.

But the Worst Days Don’t Last

I remember around 3 months I finally started to feel like he was my baby too. Around that time, I talked to a friend that gave me the idea to change his schedule from eating every 2 hours to every 3 hours over the course of a few days. I had been trying (unsuccessfully) to cut out a nighttime feeding, but this worked like a charm. Suddenly (after three days of slowly shifting the schedule), he was a different baby. Like night and day different. He was happy, finally. He slept for three hour chunks. He was still hungry often, but not with the same panic and desperation.

Anyways, those were my worst days as a mother. Not just one day, but a seemingly endless string. It was four years ago and I’ve had two more kids since. I love and enjoy all four kids. Nothing has been as stressful and bewildering as that time.

I’m not really sure what the takeaway is. All moms go through hard times. It helps to think ahead of time about what you would do or who you could reach out to when you are having a rough day. During that time I had two glorious nights when my mother-in-law came and stayed with the baby all night. That gave me an amazing boost of energy for the next few days after. For me, I had to stay on the path and just focus on acting like a mom even if I didn’t feel like one.

The Best Days are Worth It

In contrast, I’ve had a lot of days I felt great about as a mother. Usually my best days as a parent involve little-to-no social media. One random day that pops into mind was us working in the garden and the kids running around under the trees in our backyard, thrilled at how big they were and how much shade they offered. Another time that was great was taking my three kids to the pool and having my baby fall asleep in my arms floating in the water. My favorite moments are mostly the small and mundane. The worst part is, they are also fleeting and so easy to forget.

It’s hard not to feel like you are never doing enough as a mom. The online world is an amazing resource, but it doesn’t help us feel any better about our abilities as a mom. Pinterest makes everything look so fun and festive. Instagram makes everything look picture perfect. Facebook is all about the latest adventure and popularity.

And yet those same resources can also act like a diary of your favorite moments. Since my kids were born, I’ve been trying to post my favorite moments on Facebook and Instagram. Sometimes I get pictures or video, though I try not to make it take over the focus of the event. Toddler quotes are the absolute best, and it’s so fun to look back on those too. During hard days now, I love to browse my timelines and remember the little moments that are easy to forget.

There are good days. There are bad days. Everyone has both.

Hang in there, mama. And remember you aren’t alone. Reach out to someone who cares and is able to help until you get the support you need during those hard days. And, enjoy those beautiful moments with your babies as often as they come.

It’s finally here. The vacation you have been waiting for all year. You can already feel the warm sun on your face and smell the ocean. Then the realization hits, you have not started getting things ready like you said you would a week ago. And, not only do you have to pack for yourself, but also for your little monsters. Then anxiety starts creeping in and it has a root —traveling with kids.

By the time my daughter was 9 months old, she had been on 10 flights. It took a lot of trial and error to get it “right.” Now, a few years later, with another kid added to the mix and lots more traveling, I have somewhat gotten in my groove. Whether its flying or driving, these are my top 10 tips to try to relieve some of the stress when traveling with young children.

1. Make lists.

Most of the time I tell myself I’m going to pack and get things ready in advance. But if you’re anything like me, you're a procrastinator and it never works out that way. What I CAN manage to do is make a list. Its quick and I can do it anywhere when I remember. The mom brain is real. I put everything on the list for what I need. From toothbrushes, chargers, underwear and pajamas. I’ll even put the Xanax on the list (or lavender essential oil if that’s your preference), but who is going to forget that?! Even if you think you won’t forget these things, you might. Once my list of all of our essentials is done, it makes packing a thousand times easier. Just tell yourself, as long as all the items on the list are packed, it doesn’t matter. You'll be set with what you have—don’t sweat the small things you forget.

2. Bring electronics.

I know, I know.. not electronics! I was against them too. I swore up and down my kids wouldn't have iPads or Game Boys and all those things. The truth is, they can be a lifesaver on a long drive or flight. The Kindle Fires for kids have been amazing for us. To avoid boredom, I suggest waiting as long as possible to hand them over, and for the love of God—don’t forget to charge them.

3. Snacks on snacks on snacks.

I can’t even tell you how many times I have been asked for snacks on a car ride to the store, let alone a long ride in a car or flight. I have learned to pack every snack known to man that I can manage through security so I can avoid as many complaints as I can from my beloved snack monsters. It came to the point I had an entire bag designated to snacks! I filled it with 10 different packages of “yummies”. One day I came up with the idea to fill a bead box with a bunch of different snacks so I didn't have to lug so many bags around. You can find something better plastic wise I’m sure, but in a bind it was perfection. Not only did it give them all of their options at once, it also kept them busy for at least 30-40 minutes. They had their snacks, and I got out of being snack b**** the whole ride, #momwin.

4. Bring an extra outfit.

There have been many times I have overestimated the capability of a diaper and I’m sure I’m not alone in this.Your child takes their routine poop, so you think you're in the clear for a few hours. Not once, but twice, (you’d think I’d learn after the first time), have I had to carry my naked toddler out of an airplane bathroom after an intense poop explosion, and had to keep them that way until we landed because I forgot an extra outfit. Whether it be an epic bowel movement or a spill -- pack that extra outfit even if you think you won’t need it.

5. Don’t over pack.

I know I just said to pack an extra outfit, but overall don’t overpack. I am still perfecting this tip; I am a woman who loves to have options and pretends like I change my underwear 5 times while on vacation. In reality, we all wear the same few items the entire week and then we just have a massive storm of clothes to repack that we never even thought of wearing. If you can manage to fit everything into ONE suitcase - yes, i said one..try not to freak out - then do it. Nothing is worse than having numerous suitcases and only so many hands.

6. Pack basic medications in a small carry on.

I always make sure to grab all the basic medications like Benadryl and Motrin for emergency purposes, along with important daily medications. If you have an infant I also suggest bringing teething and gas medications. You never know when a fever, hives or pain will come on and it is better to be prepared.

7. Travel as early as possible.

I have traveled at many different times with my kids and have come to the conclusion that leaving earlier is easiest. When it comes to bed time, instead of dressing them in pajamas, I put them in their clothes for traveling the next day. This cuts time out of our morning, and we can simply just move them to the car and they are all set for the rest of the day. When they wake up super early, kids will usually fall asleep on the plane and that is a win for everyone.

8. Stroller vs. Carrier

This is a personal preference, especially depending on where your destination is. For my family, we bring both. Yes, the stroller is HUGE, but we use it to help carry all our carry on’s and the carseats. I strap a child on my husband or myself in a Tula, Ergo or something similar, and throw all the extra things to hold in the stroller. If you are bringing car seats, it’s a huge help since gate checking is preferred because checking car seats at ticketing can lead to unknown damage to the seat.

9. Bring little presents along to keep kids occupied.

I really try to think of ideas to keep the kids entertained. Once boredom hits, Mr. Hyde comes out, am I right? One of my favorite things to do is to bring little wrapped gifts along. This is where my Target obsession comes in clutch. I go to the dollar bins and pick up a bunch of different small toys and activities. I wrap them and then stick them in the carry on bag. The kids will get one small gift for every hour on the plane. This always works great for us, and it keeps my kids settled and happy.

10. Leave with plenty of time and expect things to go wrong.

This tip is probably the most important. You’re familiar with Murphy’s law, right? Anything that can go wrong, will. I like to remind myself of that, simply because it leads to less disappointment, and forces me to be well prepared. Wake up early, get to the airport with ample time, and slow down. It’s hard to remember to slow down sometimes since with kids it seems like chaos most of the time. However, I have found the less chaotic trips are when I slow down and expect things to go wrong.

I hope some of these tips can be useful to you! Laugh at the screw ups, and remember that everyone was a baby and young child at some point. Put on a smile, and remember that there is a destination and end to the traveling. Even though it can be the most grueling part, it also can make some of the best memories. Slow down so you don’t miss them.

I’ve been a mom for a little over four years now, which at 30, takes up a mere 13% of my life. The knowledge, experience, and growth I have gained in these past four years has saturated my mom-brain so much that I sometimes forget about the other 87% of my life (and that I brewed a pot of coffee 3 hours ago). After having my daughter, two years ago,  I realized that there were so many things I didn’t expect in motherhood, and wish someone had shared these things with me sooner. I’m here to share my motherhood badges of wisdom that I have gained over the past few years.

It’s completely normal to mourn the transition from one to two kids (and beyond).

In the months leading up to my daughter’s birth, this incredible mom guilt started to creep in on me. Once our second baby was born, I would no longer be able to give my full attention and care to my son. Would he resent me for this someday? How would he handle the transition? I had heard a mix of results from friends over how new siblings were received and I just prayed he would handle the transition well. Then right around my son’s second birthday, he qualified for speech therapy for expressive speech and his sister was due two months later. I felt even more emotional at that point. I just wanted to soak even more time in with him so he knew how much I loved and cared for him. It was around this time a friend of mine told me this wisdom: “It’s okay to mourn the ending for your single child days.” Knowing my sadness was not uncommon made me feel so much better – and yes, I cried. I made a point of having a mother-son date with him before his sister was born, which helped me cope better. Then, of course, when he became a big brother, all my fears and questions dissipated over time. He’s a great big brother, and although I can’t devote my attention to him 100% of the time, he’s growing, maturing and showing me that he’s doing just fine. In hindsight, I’m so glad I got my tears out – it helped!

Second newborns can be easier than firstborns.

Hear me out on this – once you’ve had a newborn once, you have a decent idea of how to handle another tiny human. You sway your hips back and forth when you hold another newborn, you make your tried-and-true shushing sounds and you realize how light as a feather they are compared to your other child(ren). You’ve survived the newborn stage once, but you’re in a brand-new stage with your firstborn. My son had just entered the terrible twos when his sister was born – I wish I had known sooner how much more difficult it would be to parent him compared to his freshly born sister. Don’t be afraid to grab a book from your local library, or join one of those free webinars on parenting toddlers on facebook; I’m not kidding, that’s what saved my sanity with my sweet son.

Grant yourself some grace on your hardest days.

Motherhood is hard, you probably know that by now. On the days where you are covered in spit-up, drank two cups of cold coffee, and managed to keep two or more kids alive and thriving, remember, you’re still  #MomStrong. Let’s be real – you’re doing one heck of a job raising little men and women who take time to learn and grow into who we pray they will be someday. It’s a process that can take a toll on your every fiber, so don’t believe for a second you aren’t worthy. As my friend Daniel Tiger says, “Do your best – your best is the best for you!” Give yourself some grace when that balance doesn’t come at the get-go. It took me roughly 6 months after having my daughter, before I began to feel like a balanced mom again.

Do NOT overdo yourself when you are pregnant and after childbirth – especially with second babies and beyond.

I know, I know – doctor’s orders after childbirth are to rest and let your body heal. This is way easier said than done, especially with second children and beyond. With your first child, (in my experience) there is usually more help offered, meals delivered, and more provided. However, once your second child is born (even though it’s equally as exciting), the aid offered just doesn’t compare. I found myself doing more dishes, loads of laundry, and chores because I thought I would be fine. Truth is – hauling the Christmas tree up our townhouse stairs, as well as carrying all the décor up BY MYSELF, was such a terrible idea. My super pregnant body couldn’t handle it, and I ended up with some rough sciatic pain the last few weeks of my second pregnancy. My last item on this list is the result of my overdoing taking down all those Christmas decorations AFTER I had my daughter. So please, ask for help with the chores; if it’s not a necessity, don’t stress over it. Your body will thank you!

Pelvic floor therapy is a thing – AND it’s wonderful!

As I mentioned, I may have overdone myself during my second pregnancy and after my second childbirth. After having my daughter, I had some repeat issues with scar tissue not healing, and I ended up going to my gynecologist a handful of times to get it cauterized (ouch, I repeat ouch)! Around the second time I decided it was time to address my insides. I had recently taken a mirror down below and got so freaked out that I almost passed out. What was happening and why did it feel like I had a tampon falling out all day long? Long story short, my bladder prolapsed. I do not fit any of the descriptions of people at risk for a prolapse so I was completely shocked and horrified. Thank goodness I asked questions and followed through with a women's health specialist who specializes in pelvic floor therapy. I’ve seen my therapist for 1.5 years now, it’s taken time (and work) but I am doing so much better now. My therapist was able to help me with my scar tissue AND bladder prolapse. I had no idea pelvic floor therapy existed until I asked questions and did a ton of research regarding my prolapse. Even without my issues, I’ve learned that it’s something that’s incredibly beneficial to any mom who has gone through childbirth. If you suspect you aren’t where you should be after having your little one(s), ask your doctor what your options are – I highly recommend therapy.

So you you're a hot mess mom but want people think you are THAT mom who over-achieves and makes the holidays extra special for your kids and family? Instead of cutting up your fruit and putting it all into a bowl you can just as easily create this super cute fruit turkey and meat and cheese turkey. These are great to use for parties at school or work.

Cheese and Meat Turkey

This is actually super easy to make. If you buy the cheese tray at your local store that is already pre cut, all you'll need to do is lay the cheese out in layers for the turkey feathers.

Ingredients

• 1 Package Tollhouse Crackers
• 1 Pre cut cheese package (Cheddar and Colby Jack cheese)
• 1 Package of pepperoni

Instructions

1. Arrange the crackers on the outer edge of the plate.
2. Next layer cheese in another layer on the crackers.
3. Layer pepperoni.
4. Continue layering cheese and pepperoni until you've reached the center.
5. Create a Turkey Face.
6. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Fruit Turkey

Ingredients

• 8 Cutie oranges- peeled and separated
• 1 Pear
• 3 Kiwis sliced
• 1 Pound Strawberries- cut in half
• 1/2 Pound Fresh Pineapple- cut into chunks
• 3 Cups Purple Grapes

Instructions

1. Arrange fruit starting at outer edge with oranges, kiwis, strawberries, blueberries, pineapples, and grapes.
2. Use half of the pear for the turkey body. Using pineapple for legs and beak. You can use blueberry or grapes to make the eyes.
3. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

If all else fails just bring all the ingredients in a grocery sack and hope that those wild things we call kids can fend for themselves. If they eat the skin of the oranges, kiwi or the pineapple, it's just extra fiber right? Let's just hope they are advanced enough to know not to eat the plastic that the crackers, cheese and pepperoni are wrapped in. Just remember to take the bag away before it becomes a toy...

Tips and Tricks For Putting on Your New Nageuret Premium Reusable Swim Diaper

I hear you momma. You're tired and you don't have enough brain power from lack of sleep (we’re pretty much there with you 24/7). So I wanted to give you a step by step guide on how to size your new Nageuret Premium Reusable Swim Diaper. 

Snaps and snaps and snaps and snaps

First things first there are two different sets of snaps:

1. There are snaps that change the size around the waist & legs and
2. There are snaps in the front that change the rise of the swim diaper so that it isn't bulky and baggy.

How tight is “tight?”

You know that feeling you get when you have a brand new hair tie that you leave on your wrist for too long, the dark purple mark that it leaves, this is the type of mark you don't want to leave on your baby from a swim diaper. But the marks you get from new socks that are tight, so they stay up and not fall into your shoe. These are the marks that are okay to see on your baby and you probably want to see them so you know you had the swim diaper tight enough so poop doesn't leak out and then cause the pool to close.

Sizing for Newborns- size 2 Diapers (6lbs to 18+/-lbs)

For the smallest of babies wearing disposable diaper sizes newborn-2 you'll want to snap all of the snaps around the waist. You'll also want to adjust the rise snaps to all the way up. You'll want to snap the rise snaps before trying to put the diaper on. I often will snap one side for the waist as well, slide it on, make sure it gets into the crease of the leg (where the leg meets the groin) and then snap the otherside. You are welcome to put a swim suit over the swim diaper or you can just wear the swim diaper by itself. Beau is funny, he’s SUPER particualr so most of the time we wear ours under a swimsuit (unless we’re trying to advertise… haha) then put on a swim shirt.

Most babies at this age or either exclusively breastfed or are on formula. If you know your baby tends to have explosive poops that their regular diapers can't contain, neither will swim diapers. Please take this into consideration when going swimming with a baby who isn't on solid food yet. Whether your baby is still on breastmilk, formula, or has moved on to solids it’s essential that you are very aware of when your baby does poop so you can change them immediately before their liquidy poop is watered down even more by swimming. Some swim schools and pools require extra protection with a disposable swim diaper underneath a reusable until a baby has solid poop.

Sizing for between diaper sizes 2&4 (+/-18lbs to +/-27lbs)

The middle size two snaps on each side around the waist and the first row of rise snaps buttoned usually fits babies who wear disposable diapers size 2-4. Please be aware that some babies with thicker thighs may not fit this diaper. When we say it fits newborn-3 we aren't trying to mislead you. We have several customers who have a late potty trainer who can still wear this diaper at 3 and are 36lbs-40lbs, but they tend to be taller with skinnier thighs.

Sizing for diaper sizes 4-5 (+/-27 to +/-36lbs)

The largest size would be one set of snaps on both sides of the waist and no rise snaps buttoned. Beau (our son) is now 2 and he weighs about 32lbs and is about 36" wears the diaper like this. If we want the diaper to fit more like underwear under his toddler belly, we will snap the first row of rise snaps.

If you are seeing that the diaper is holding water in the bottom, you'll want to make sure that the elastic is in the crease of the legs. This will reduce the amount of water the swim diaper holds. Before you take your baby out of the pool make sure there's no poop in there and simply let the water release by breaking the seal around your child's leg.

Why we developed the Nageuret line of Swim Diapers

Paul and I developed and chose this design for our Nageuret line of swim diapers because I didn't want to have to keep buying a swim diaper every three months. It was important to us as an outdoorsy family that the swim diapers we made were both cost-effective for families on a budget (like ours) and were environmentally friendly. We wanted something that we could keep using over and over again, and that had the ability to grow with Beau. The elastic around the waist and legs is strong, but also soft so it doesn't create chaffing like the other brands.

At the time I wrote this blog we’re in the second stage of prototype testing a larger version of our Nageuret Swim Diaper that we’re aiming to fit kiddos between 20-55lbs. We’re really hoping that we can have this finished up by January or February next year so we can get it online. The only complaints that we’ve had historically are that (like I mentioned above) the swim diaper doesn’t fit our chunkier littles that use it, so this new larger size will meet that need.

Give us feedback!

As a small, family-owned and operated company your input and feedback is extremely important to us! If we didn’t hear from our customers that the swim diapers don’t fit the kiddos with chunkier thighs, we wouldn’t know and wouldn’t have been able to start developing the larger size (since Beau’s on the skinny/light side). So please, don’t hesitate to call us or email us with your ideas and feedback. If you have a product that you really need or want to see made, let us know! We really do value all of the input we receive and need that input.