{"id":430,"date":"2022-11-27T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-27T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lifeisamother.space\/?p=430"},"modified":"2022-11-27T03:03:16","modified_gmt":"2022-11-27T03:03:16","slug":"working-mom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifeisamother.space\/?p=430","title":{"rendered":"The Mom Series – Volume #8"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Next up on the Mom Series<\/a>, continuing with my blogger mom participants – is Dana, she’s a working mom of 2 boys. I probably need to make sure we stay in touch after this – her boys are similar ages to mine and she’s also in the medical field. I absolutely love her candor regarding the differences between pre-baby busy and post-baby busy. Read on to find out more. I agree with her wholeheartedly. Thanks Dana for your participation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be sure to check out her website as well. She and her husband provide content catered to working parents. They are a great resource, both with firsthand experience!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welcome Dana!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hi there, my name is Dana and I am an Optometrist and the mother of two boys. My husband and I co-founded\u00a0Luke Knows<\/a>, a website that focuses on encouraging parents on their parenting journey, especially those who also balance careers with parenthood.\u00a0Being a working mom is extremely challenging, I’m happy to be able to provide resources to other parents on this path as well. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Dana,<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Motherhood Journey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I have been blessed by having a fairly easy motherhood journey as my husband and I had no fertility issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My pregnancies were dramatically different, the first being easy and the second being very difficult. We thought our second was a girl because of how challenging it was.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our second child had to come a little earlier than expected due to some complications but thankfully he is a happy and healthy little boy.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unexpected things since becoming a Mom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most unexpected thing I have learned since becoming a mother is that I had so much \u201cfree\u201d time before having children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t believe I ever had the excuse of being \u201cbusy\u201d before becoming a mother because let me tell you pre-baby busy is not the same as post baby busy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have a new definition of what being busy is and I have learned how to be extremely efficient with what little time I have.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hardest thing since becoming a Mom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most challenging thing about being a mom is having to wear so many hats all at once and all of these hats must be worn well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0I don\u2019t know how many times I have felt guilty for working when my kids are home with an illness but also equally guilty if I leave 26 patients who were scheduled for an appointment that day because I had to stay home with a sick child.\u00a0The working mom juggle is such a challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pandemic really shed a light on multiple areas of our lives and it really highlighted that sometimes your goals in life do not align and that you can\u2019t do it all.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Favorite thing about being a Mom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My favorite thing about being a mother of small children is receiving all of the love that they have for me. It reminds me to love myself and that I am doing a good job raising my boys.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Favorite thing to do with your kids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I love taking my kids to do new activities and watching them experience the world around them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of our favorite activities at the moment is picking fruit and vegetables together and then making something delicious from our harvest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0I grew up on an orchard farm so I think it is valuable knowing where your food comes from and understanding that food doesn\u2019t just come from a store.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Dana,<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Favorite thing to do without your kids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My favorite things to do without my kids is go to the spa, spend quality time with my husband, and read books uninterrupted.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anything you miss about life pre-kids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I miss not having time to myself and having to be available to the needs of the family 24\/7. It was much easier when all I had to do was take care of myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anything you would tell your pre-kids self<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If I could go back to pre-kids time I would encourage myself and let myself know that everything works out for our good and not to stress about it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Favorite age so far<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I love having an almost 4 year old. The conversations that we have are the absolute best. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wish I could record some of the things he says because they would absolutely make you giggle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We get to be silly, cuddle, talk about life, do fun activities together and we are still at an age where they think their mom is cool!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A must have baby item<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are so\u00a0many products that I have found to be helpful\u00a0<\/a>on my parenting journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0If I had to pick one it would be the\u00a0Ceres Chill<\/a>\u00a0which is an on the go breast milk storage system. This is a \u201cbaby\u201d must have for me as a working mom or for moms on the go.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With my first child I hated pumping at work because I had to bring so many bags with me every single day.\u00a0With my second little guy I bought a Ceres Chill and it made pumping breastmilk much easier and enjoyable.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I only needed 1 bag instead of 3 and never had to be tied to a fridge or worry about my milk going bad during my long work days.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanks again Dana! If anyone is reading this, and is interested in participating – feel free to drop your email below! I’ll be in touch with you! <\/p>\n\n\n