Top 5 Motherhood Posts of 2019

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What a wild and wonderful year (DECADE!) it’s been! In 2019, PMB has  brought you resources, guides, how-tos, and events; but we have also published a collection of true stories of motherhood from the contributors on our team. To close out 2019, we’re featuring our Top 5 of these personal posts from the year, and we’re looking forward to many more years of sharing our collective stories with you.

PMB has an exciting 2020 planned (more details to come!); we’re delighted to be on this wild journey with our fantastic Portland community. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Wishing you and yours all the best in 2020!

 

old mom

5. Old Mom, Young Kids

I just turned 40. Also known as cares-about-thread-count-of-sheets-years-old. My twin boys will be seven next month. I see so many moms in their 20’s and 30’s, and, to be honest, they make me feel old. They look so youthful. They look so fit. Where do they get their yoga pants? Are they wearing Spanx? Their top knot looks so good, while I think I’m on day four of using dry shampoo. But it’s okay; I’ve made my peace with being an old mom with young kids…

Gratitude Woman Alone

4. I’m Sorry. No, Thank You.

To me, single motherhood can be summed up in one word: Late.

I wake up late, the kids are never to school on time, I spend most of my day running behind, I go to bed way too late. My to-do list is never complete and most of what I accomplish is late too.

And let me tell you, for this hardworking, punctual perfectionist, it hasn’t been easy. I want to do all the things, and do them well and on time…

adult child

3. The Emotional Burden of Aging Parents

I am crying. It’s not unusual. With the lack of sleep, my third (unexpected) pregnancy, and my mother berating me again, I am a ball of emotions. I feel the burden on my shoulders every day. It’s all the needs. My son needs to do his homework, my daughter, now able to read, wants to read to me whenever she can, my mother needs another favor, and I’m drowning in all that I can’t do for these people in my life…

within your means

2. The Joy of Living Within Your Means

Have you ever performed that agonizing, but totally necessary task of auditing your personal finances? I don’t mean just the big ticket items and expenditures, but right down to the nitty-gritty, the dollars spent on coffee shop runs, gas for the car, and cash purchases? Several months ago my husband and I spent a date night doing just that. Our family tries to live within our means, and I had always let my husband manage our finances because he does it so well. But out of curiosity (guilt) I realized this needed to be a shared responsibility (burden).

losing the weight

1. 10 Lessons I Learned From Losing 100 Pounds

In November of 2017 I had a little heart-to-heart with myself; “Girl nobody is going to lose the weight for you. Nobody else is going to go to the gym with you, count calories, or go to a meeting. It’s time to take responsibility.”

I joined a gym, committed to walking two days a week, and started meal planning and meal prepping. I redesigned my life from the ground up, one small habit at a time…