I struggle with writing emotional scenes. In part because I have a hard time admitting that I feel any sort of vulnerable emotion myself and writing about it feels like an admission of that fact. But mostly because I have a tendency to give too many details which leads to telling rather than showing. For example, I might write a scene like: Continue reading
Advice
To Epidural or Not to Epidural
I answered a question on Quora, “What is it like to have an epidural” and thought I’d share it here:
I am glad that it was available to me, but if I have another child I will try not to have an epidural. It was necessary in my situation so I don’t regret choosing it, but I do believe that it contributed to the fact that my labor ended in an emergency C-section. Continue reading
The Key to Being a Happy Mom? Don’t Sugar-Coat It
Last week my playgroup had a playdate with a discussion about juggling and self-care. I wasn’t able to attend because I was juggling an appointment with my therapist into my schedule so I could do some self-care. The plan was to read an article about balance before the playdate in order to fuel the discussion.
I wanted to participate in the talk despite being unable to attend so I wrote an email with some of my thoughts. Well, it ended up more like a blog post. I share it here with minimal edits: Continue reading
Focus, Baby! The Distractible 3.5 month old
Remember how I wrote that I figured out how to make naptime easier on both Siddhartha and myself? Remember how I wrote that I had learned not to worry about his naps? Remember how I forgot all that and lost my mind??? Sigh, I do. Continue reading
Making Naptime Happy Time
Dave and I had a rough time when Siddhartha was first born, but after about three or four weeks we finally started to feel the panic fade. By that time we had an idea of when he was hungry or tired, and he had started to spend some time awake and happy each day.
Weeks went by with minor ups and downs before I realized that I dreaded naptime. Continue reading
Adventures in Breastfeeding, Part I: Surviving Day Two
I had heard from a lot of people that breastfeeding is not easy, but it’s hard to really understand how difficult it is until you’re doing it and having problems. The toughest part is that you can’t take a break. Continue reading
Lessons Learned From My Little Buddha
I hear children teach adults many wise life lessons. Less than two months old and Siddhartha has already taught me (inadvertently, I think) a huge one. I will be much happier if I simply accept that things will not always go according to plan. Not yet able to speak and he has already demonstrated for me the basic tenets of Buddhism. The difference between the way things are and the way we want things to be causes suffering. If we want to end suffering, we must eliminate our desires and accept things as they are. Continue reading
Right Breast Re-Accepted!
We got home from the hospital yesterday with baby Siddhartha and sure enough, just hours after leaving he rejected one breast and then the other. In the hospital we had a lactation consultant who was available most of the day. I just had to push a call button for a nurse and request a consult. There are no call buttons at home and no nurses waiting on us. Continue reading
Your Kid May Be Too Young for Her Own Condo
A few months back Dave and I bought a condo in San Jose. It’s a nice place and it was damn expensive. Soon after moving in, I noticed a few cigarette butts on our patio. I had a minor freak out since I usually assume that people who are inconsiderate will continue to be so. I calmed myself by remembering that it could have been an accident and the folks upstairs might not have realized anyone had moved in down below. I reasoned that it might not ever happen again.
Soon after, I woke to discover our patio covered in ash, chew, spit, and more cigarette butts. Yes, it was as disgusting as it sounds. Continue reading
Welcome to the Third Trimester!
I’ve made it to the third trimester! After being inundated for weeks with articles about all the discomfort I’ll feel and how uncomfortable the third trimester is as compared to the second, I’ll admit I was a little concerned. Continue reading
A little bit of wisdom 