Motherhood Edit
Welcome to Motherhood Edit—a quiet space for refining the rhythms of parenting with grace, intention, and resilience. Here, you’ll find curated routines, wellness reflections, and gentle edits that honor both the chaos and the beauty of raising children. It’s motherhood, softened and shaped to fit the life you’re growing.
The Quiet Before Christmas Morning
A Breath Before the Magic
Before the sun rose on Christmas morning, I sat in the hush of our home, wrapped in quiet and gratitude. The tree lights glowed softly in the corner, the kids still asleep, and for a moment, everything felt still. We had made it through RSV, through pink eye. And now, the gifts were wrapped, the playhouse stood ready in the yard, and the matching stockings and pajamas were waiting for their moment.
Any minute, I knew I’d hear the thump of little feet and the voice calling “Mama.” But for now, I held onto the sweetness of anticipation—the breath before the magic—and made myself a cup of coffee.
Minimalist Christmas Magic with Young Children
A Minimalist Christmas That Still Feels Magical
Christmas morning with young children isn’t about matching the piles of presents you see online—it’s about creating joy that feels sustainable, meaningful, and true to your family. As a single mom of three winter babies, I’ve learned that fewer gifts and more intention lead to deeper connection. This year, we’re choosing one big shared gift, simple stockings, and a home that’s been lovingly decluttered to make space for joy.
Minimalism doesn’t mean less magic—it means more room for imagination, togetherness, and peace.
Lily Turns 4: A Celebration in the Midst of Waiting
The countdown to four feels like both a heartbeat and a lifetime. Four years of sticky fingers and bedtime stories, of tantrums that melt into giggles, of watching Lily’s sass and sparkle take root. This birthday carries a weight beyond balloons and cake—it arrives in the middle of waiting, with my test results hanging in the air like ashes. And yet, here she is: my wildflower in a glittering tiara, reminding me that joy insists on blooming even in the shadow of fear.
This year, the party is at home. For the first time in years, I’m not handing the chaos to the grandparents—I’m reclaiming our space, filling it with SuperKitties foil balloons and colorful streamers. Lily’s eyes will light up at her two‑tier cake, her brothers will wear frosting on their noses like badges of mischief, and cousins will tumble through the living room in a blur of laughter.
Because birthdays are wildflowers. They bloom regardless of the ashes. They remind us that life doesn’t pause for fear—it keeps moving, keeps laughing, keeps demanding that we show up for the moments that matter.
Learning to Live in Limbo
Waiting has become its own season in my life. I thought today would bring clarity, but instead I walked out of the doctor’s office with more uncertainty—“atypia of undetermined significance.” Not benign, not malignant, just somewhere in between.
So I wait. Six more weeks of limbo. Six more weeks of waking up with the same unanswered question echoing in my chest.
It’s exhausting, but I’ve learned to anchor myself in small rituals: moving my body to build strength, nourishing myself with whole foods, listening to my children’s laughter, showing up for work. These rhythms don’t erase the stress, but they help me carry it.
Christmas will come whether I have answers or not. I’ll bake cookies, wrap gifts, and light the tree, even if my own heart feels heavy. Pretending isn’t denial—it’s protection. My children deserve joy, not worry.
Limbo is uncomfortable, but it’s clarifying. It reminds me that even when the future feels uncertain, the present is still here.
Seeing Double: Life with Oak and Ash
Raising identical twin boys is a daily adventure filled with double giggles, mirrored mischief, and heart-melting moments—like when Oak and Ash hold hands in their car seats or laugh in sync when only one is tickled. In this heartfelt blog, I share the joys and challenges of parenting twins, from decoding their unique personalities to navigating the curious questions strangers ask. Whether you're a twin parent, expecting multiples, or simply fascinated by twin life, this post offers real-life stories, surprising identical twin trivia, and gentle reflections on the bond that only twins share.
65 Days in Limbo
Sixty-five days. That’s how long I’ve been waiting. Not for something exciting. Not for something planned. For answers. For clarity. For the kind of news that can change everything.
This isn’t my first time waiting for cancer results. It’s my second in less than a year. And while the tests are different, the ache is the same.
I’m still packing lunches. Still wiping noses. Still whispering “We’re okay” at bedtime. But inside, I’m unraveling.
This year has burned through so much—my peace, my plans, my sense of safety. And yet, somehow, I’m still here.
Still rising. Still planting seeds in the ash. Still believing that maybe—just maybe—the wildflowers are already on their way.
Why We’re Doing Family Photos (and Why I Think It Will Become a Tradition)
We’re heading to a nature preserve next week for family photos—not the rushed kind, but the kind that feel like us. Soft, playful, a little chaotic, and full of love. I want to remember this season—not just how we looked, but how we felt. How we moved through the world together. How we showed up for each other.
As moms, we’re so often behind the camera. But I’ve learned—especially after walking through cancer recovery—that being in the frame matters. I want my children to have proof of our love, not just in stories, but in images that say, “She was here. She adored you.”
These photos are a way of pausing time. Of saying, “This moment mattered.” And maybe, just maybe, this will become a tradition.
Lily’s Blossoming Voice: A Special Education Update
Today, I sat around a little table at Lily’s school with her teacher, speech therapist, and the special education coordinator—all of us part of her team. We talked about how far she’s come, and I left with a heart full of pride. Just a year ago, Lily was barely speaking. Now she’s using multiword sentences, expressing her feelings, and even blending right in with her peers in the general pre-K classroom. This post is a celebration of her growth, her voice, and the village that’s helped her bloom.
Parenting Through Illness: What I Told My Children
Parenting through illness is not a story of grand declarations—it’s a quiet choreography of care. In this post, I share how we navigated a season of diagnosis and recovery with gentleness, honesty, and the kind of love that adapts. From naming without burdening to asking for help with grace, this is a reflection on how we held our children close while the ground shifted beneath us—and how healing unfolded in small, sacred ways.
Three Costumes & One Grateful Heart
This Halloween, every detail feels like a gift. From Lily’s velvet costume to the twins’ coordinated wagon ride, I’m not chasing milestones—I’m soaking in the sweetness. In this post, I reflect on parenting through recovery, the quiet joy of neighborhood traditions, and the kind of gratitude that lives in fleece, tulle, and the sound of children laughing under porch lights.
A Gentle Holiday Gift Guide: Natural Toys, Sustainable Clothing, and Healthy Treats for Every Age
The holidays invite us to slow down and choose gifts that speak to something deeper—connection, comfort, and care. In this guide, you’ll find age-specific ideas made from natural materials and stitched with intention. Whether you’re celebrating a baby’s first Christmas or honoring a tween’s growing independence, these gifts are more than presents—they’re invitations to be present. Because the most meaningful gifts aren’t always the biggest. They’re the ones wrapped in love.
Navigating Holidays After Cancer: Boundaries, Grace & Joy
After cancer, the holidays aren’t just a season—they’re a threshold. A place where time slows, meaning deepens, and joy becomes an act of reclamation. In this reflection, I share how boundaries, memory-making, and imperfect rituals helped me rediscover the magic of the holidays—not in spite of what I’ve endured, but because of it. If you’re navigating this season after illness, may these words offer warmth, permission, and a quiet kind of hope.
Mindfulness in Motherhood: Finding Presence in the Chaos
Early motherhood is a beautiful storm—messy, tender, and wildly full. As a single mom of three little ones, I know how hard it is to find stillness in the swirl. This post is a gentle guide to practicing mindfulness in the margins: between diaper changes, nap time, and bedtime stories. It’s not about perfection—it’s about presence. Because even in the chaos, there are moments worth remembering. And you, mama, are worth remembering too.
Meditation for Moms: 5-Minute Practices That Fit Real Life
Motherhood is both storm and sanctuary—chaotic, tender, and endlessly full. In this post, I share five-minute meditation practices designed for real-life moms: the ones stirring oatmeal with one hand and soothing a toddler with the other. These rituals aren’t about perfection. They’re about presence. About reclaiming your breath in the swirl and remembering that you, too, deserve softness.
Cancer Recovery & Motherhood: Teaching Emotional Resilience to Little Ones
Parenting through serious illness is a quiet kind of courage. In this post, I share how cancer recovery reshaped my approach to motherhood—slowing our rhythm, deepening our rituals, and teaching my daughter emotional resilience through gentle honesty and connection. Healing, I’ve learned, is something we do together.
My Diagnosis Story: The Day Everything Changed
On December 17, 2024, I heard the words that changed everything: “You have a mass.” This is my diagnosis story—of fear, resilience, and the start of a healing journey. From waiting through the Christmas holidays for answers while putting on a happy face for my children to facing kidney cancer surgery, I share my story in hopes that no one walking this path feels alone.
Ashes & Wildflowers: A Name Forged in Survival and Growth
Ashes & Wildflowers isn’t just a name—it’s a story. A reflection of survival, motherhood, and the quiet beauty that blooms in unexpected places. In this post, I share the meaning behind the name, the journey through cancer and into healing, and the daily rhythms that shape my life as a single mom of three. If you’re navigating your own season of change, may this space feel like a garden—messy, magical, and full of growth.