Tuesday, July 29, 2008

The big day has arrived!

Don't get too too excited - I'm still pregnant.

But my side hustle that I told you about is ready to be unveiled. It's not in its most polished form yet, but I figured, let me promote this thing a little bit to give me some motivation to keep it going - especially once baby #2 gets here.

So here it is - Young Mommy Chronicles, a place where young moms (who I classify as being 25 or younger when they had their first child) can come chat, learn some new tips and share experiences.

I know that being a young mom can be isolating. Most of your friends are all single and childless. They think nothing of jetting off to Vegas for a quick trip, or dropping $100 on a new pair of shoes. Meanwhile, you're clenching your jaw every month as you pay an arm and a leg for daycare, just wishing for a chance to go somewhere other than the grocery store or to work.

I hope that you check the site out, even if you're not a young mom. A lot of the articles I post have to do with finances and pop culture, so you can participate in the discussion even if you don't have young ones running around.

But please, do check it out and let me know what you think. A more formal site will be coming soon, with forums and an e-mail newsletter. I plan on including interviews with other moms who will share their tips on making it to 30 with their sanity intact! If you'd like to be featured, shoot me an e-mail at youngmommychronicles@gmail.com.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

What does it take to be a good mother?

The days of having only one child are slowly coming to an end and I'm overwhelmed with conflicting emotions. On one hand, I feel like my life is suddenly making sense. On the other, I feel like my world is about to be completely out of control. (For those who truly know me, know that I'm a total control freak.)

These past 20 months with Ayanna have taught me a lot about motherhood. I thought I had an idea of what a good mom was - someone who loves their child more than life itself, someone who has unwavering patience and an inclination to parent with love at all times.

But putting those things into practice everyday is harder than I thought and I'm still learning what it means to be a good mother.

I truly struggle with motherhood. Everyone who sees me, sees the mom that I want them to see. No, I'm not at home beating my daughter or anything like that, but I get frustrated with my parenting abilities on a daily basis. Every day I'm wondering if I did this right or if I did something wrong, or if I'll ever learn how to do X-Y-Z. It's a constant guessing game.

Now that I'm about to have two kids, I wonder: Will I ever feel like a mommy vet? Will I ever truly feel like I know what I'm doing? Will I ever just get it? Or does it take a lifetime of parenting, of loving, of teaching, in order to feel secure in your abilities?

All I know is that I love my kid(s). Love 'em to death. Would do anything for them. Will do anything for them. I think when your kids know the truth behind those statements, that's when you are a good mother.

Monday, July 14, 2008

It's Almost Here!!!

Yes, the newest addition to my family is almost here (less than a month to go!), but that's not what the title of this post refers to.

Over the past two months, I've been working on a side project that will (fingers crossed!) earn me enough money to call it a side hustle. Right now, I'm just trying to make sure it was sustain itself, especially since I decided to start it when I was six months pregnant. Probably not the best time to start a new "business," huh?

But I saw a void and thought I could fill it. I didn't want to wait until my life calmed down and felt normal again, because that could take years.

You'll get more details in the coming days, as I plan to launch it officially in the next week. I'm soo excited, can you tell? I'm not really spilling on what it is, but if you're a young mom or know someone who is, this is for you!

Stay tuned!