Blog - Page 22 of 183 - Moments of Musing

My Dream Now (BIG ANNOUNCEMENT)

Filed Under: life change, motherhood, working mom // September 23, 2019

boys, babies, brothers, beach, summer 2019, working mom, summer with kids, lawyer mom, mom life, work from home

When I was about to return to work from maternity leave after having my firstborn, I thought I might want to be a stay at home mom. Since then, I have learned I want, or rather need, to work (whatever that might look like) in order to thrive as a mom, as a wife and as a person.

That being said, I have recently experienced a big career-related change.

In some ways, my decision feels like a long time coming. In others, it feels surreal.

I dreamt of attending law school and becoming a lawyer for as long as I can remember. I’m pretty sure it was as close to a lifelong dream as any. To have such a dream realized is indescribable, even if it came with a lot of student loan debt… I do not for one second regret any of my decisions. I am a true believer that each one has led me to the life I live today.

The thing is … that was my dream, then.

They are my dream, now.

These days, my life revolves around being the best mom I can be to my two babies and building upon a healthy marriage with my husband. That means I want to spend more time with my babies, and less time away from them. I want to bring them to play dates and story time, to make their meals, and to teach them things. I want to be more involved in their everyday lives, not just on weekends. I want to be more present.

That is why I have made a big decision and big life change.

I am leaving the legal field and I am transitioning to a work-from-home communications position (within the same organization).

My husband and I work hard and work together to create a life for our kids that is everything we hope it could be. So, I will continue working, just in a different capacity. I am nervous, excited, anxious and every other feeling you can imagine would come with a change this big.

Mostly, I am grateful to my employers for this opportunity, and to my husband and family for their support.

Boys, Mommy will be home with you full-time!

Get Out of Your Own Way

Filed Under: empowerment, encouragement, kindness, positivity // September 17, 2019

Photos by Captured Group

I remember reading other blogs and then scrolling on Instagram and feeling tinges of inferiority. How could I get there? What did I have to do? Eventually, I decided to focus on my goals and on community (versus competition) and slowly but surely saw a difference.

What I’m trying to say is: I got out of my own way. I stopped waiting for tomorrow. I stopped judging. I stopped merely wishing. I stopped letting doubt, fear and worry consume me. And I started believing. I started connecting and collaborating. I started doing.

Though I am not yet where I hope to be in my career, I am closer than I was when I was just standing still and stagnant, when I was keeping myself from growing at all.

So to you who wishes to be more and/or who so badly wants more, I say:

YOU hold your power to do more, to have more, to be more. Stop standing in your own way.

Get out there and take that chance you have been wanting to take. The dream you have dreamt of executing. The plan you have thought about for what feels like every waking minute of everyday. Do what it is that you want. Do what it is that will make you excited.

You might succeed. You might not. We do not know what will happen for sure. But at least you know you will have believed in yourself to take the next step. And do not be discouraged. If you fail, learn from it… and try and try again.

I know you can do it.

I’m rooting for you.

Katy Tur on the Challenges of Postpartum and Importance of Parental Leave

Filed Under: motherhood, paid parental leave, parental leave, postpartum, postpartum recovery // September 12, 2019

motherhood, postpartum, postpartum recovery, paid parental leave, parental leave, katy tur, msnbc

When Katy Tur returned to work as an MSNBC anchor yesterday after five months of leave, she made sure to discuss her postpartum and parental leave experiences.

1. C-section Recovery

Like many moms, Katy had an unplanned C-section. For many mothers, like myself, this means not being mentally prepared for the major surgery you are about to undergo. Then, comes recovery. As Katy put it, after having a C-section it is nearly “impossible to sit up without help” and the incision can become infected. Katy said hers did, which her husband noticed because she was “too afraid to look down there.” I felt the same exact way. I think it took me weeks to even touch my incision let alone look at it. I was scared at what it would look like because if it hurt that bad, I couldn’t imagine how gory it might appear. Eventually, I was pleasantly surprised at how well my incisions healed but each time, it took months to get there.

2. Breastfeeding Challenges

Katy discussed how her son was born over six pounds but weighed under six pounds shortly thereafter. Newborn weight loss is normal, especially for breastfed babies, but it is a stressor for new mothers. As Katy put it, “breast milk is not the instant grab and go ready made meal you think it is before you suddenly try to produce it.” It takes time, patience and hard work to breastfeed your baby.

3. Severe Exhaustion + Postpartum Mental Health

The postpartum period in the hospital is not a relaxing time for many moms. It is a period of extreme exhaustion. You just had a baby and now you have to care for the brand new baby who seems to want to drink a lot of milk or cry or fall asleep. Katy explained she was “so tired she lived a kind of waking dream.” She actually thought her “mother-in-law hiding under the bed” and “tall man [was] standing over [her] speaking German.” When she told the nurses thinking they’d understand or laugh, they “sent a whole psychiatric team to evaluate.” This could be daunting for a new mom, but also important to make sure she is not suffering from postpartum mental health issues.

4. Leaving the Hospital

I remember leaving the hospital and arriving home after bringing my firstborn home. I felt a fear and anxiety I never had before–I never cared for a newborn before! A part of me wanted my mom to stay over and help us but a bigger part of me knew my husband and I could handle it and figure it out together. Katy explained feeling similarly “terrified” to be alone with her baby, feeling like she did not know what to do. Thankfully, a nurse reassured her that her husband could be a big help. It’s important that moms know it is okay to lean on spouses, partners, family and/or friends, who oftentimes are eager to help.

5. Parental Leave

Katy’s experience was not extraordinary, as she said. What set her apart was that she was able to take five months of parental leave. Unfortunately, 25% of mothers return to work after two weeks. 70% fathers return to work after 10 days or less. I can’t imagine the emotions of returning to work so soon. This is not okay, as bonding with your baby should be priority in the first few months. As Katy said, there continues to be a pressing need for paid parental leave. “Parents need time with their babies and babies need time with their parents… Family leave supports babies, which supports us all. “

I applaud Katy for discussing these very real and normal experiences. She spoke up about experiences other moms might be ashamed to experience. In doing so, she is helping to normalize and validate postpartum experiences like hers.

Click here to watch Katy’s segment.

Back-to-School Eyeglasses

Filed Under: back to school, eyeglasses, glasses // September 9, 2019

This post is sponsored by Discountglasses.com but all opinions are my own.

I’ve worn eyeglasses since I was a little kid— and by that I mean around four- or five-years-old. I vividly remember cheating on my first eye exam. It’s actually one of my earliest memories haha. The eye doctor and my mom were discussing something right outside of the exam room. Quickly, I turned around and memorized some of the pictures. I still remember one picture was a cake.

Well, needless to say I had to get a different prescription after tripping on the stairs while wearing my purple Minnie glasses. That was my first lesson that cheating doesn’t pay off. It also started what would become a yearly tradition—eye doctor appointment and new glasses.

I don’t remember really dreading the eye doctor until about freshman year of high school. I started feeling this uneasiness and anxiety. Somehow, getting my eye exam made me feel unintelligent because I felt like I failed every time. Kids think of bizarre stuff, huh?

Fast forward to today and I love my glasses, especially my clear Missoni frames. They’re trendy and feel sturdy. As for my Revolution pair, they come with clip on sunglasses, which I wore in Florida. Usually, I get a headache in the sun because I wear sunglasses without prescription so it was a welcomed change to have prescription sunglasses on.

If you or your kids are in need of back-to-school glasses or lenses, check out DiscountGlasses.com. You can get the same lenses you’d find at your eye doctor; from our free plastic lenses on up to Transitions lenses. DiscountContactLenses.com has the lowest prices guaranteed on contact lenses including a 20% new customer offer. Both offer 365-day free return shipping – don’t like it? No worries—pay for shipping back so there’s absolutely zero risk.

Who is Walt Disney?

Filed Under: disney book, i am walt disney, toddler book // September 5, 2019

This post is sponsored by Penguin Young Readers but all opinions are my own.

There are mixed opinions about when to visit Disney with kids. I grew up going every year. In fact, my first visit was at 11 months, so I’ve continued the tradition with our kids. Simply put, the memories are priceless.

Seeing my sons’ interactions and expressions at such young ages really is magical. S has asked to go back already and truthfully, I can’t blame him. I mean I want to go back, too… While we will not be returning just yet, we arrived home to the perfect book to keep him happy in the meantime— “I am Walt Disney.”

disney book, toddler book, i am walt disney, walt disney, penguin randomhouse, disney world, mickey mouse, disneyland

“I am Walt Disney” is the 18th picture book in the New York Times bestselling “Ordinary People Change the World” series of biographies about heroes by best-selling author Brad Meltzer and illustrator Christpher Eliopoulos! How perfect and fitting for our Disney-loving family, and yours too!

What makes this book so special is the lessons it teaches. Did you know Walt’s first company was a failure? Despite that, he did not give up. He persevered, creating the best mouse, Mickey Mouse, and the rest is history! It provides the proof that if we keep at it, we can succeed and possibly even change the world, just as Walt Disney did.

As stated on page 21, “The world could feel scary. But in Mickey Mouse, audiences found a character who took them to their happy place.” I know that is true for me and has been since I was a kid. Mickey and his associated movies, rides, and books always made me look forward to happy times, which are now some of my happiest memories.

Each picture book biography in the series tells the story of a significant historical figure in a simple, conversational, playful way, always focusing on a character trait that makes the hero a role model for kids.

“I am Walt Disney” tells the story of Walt Disney, who made dreams come true for himself and people, kids especially, around the world. This colorful, friendly, fun biography series focuses on the traits that made our heroes great–the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live heroically themselves. Each book tells the story of one of America’s icons in a lively, conversational way that works well for the youngest nonfiction readers and that always includes the hero’s childhood influences.

“I am Walt Disney” is available September 10th wherever fine books are sold. Pick up a copy today.