17 Comments

Tbh I went to read this because I've been so firmly anti sleep training and I couldn't believe I was reading those words from you haha but I am so happy to report that sounds like it was so beneficial and necessary for your family. I really appreciated this perspective and will definitely remember it when I need to give myself grace for making decisions for my babies that I maybe didn't intend to make or had incorrect preconceived notions about. Love this blog already, thank you!!

Expand full comment

haha totally fair! just trying to normalize changing your mind, ya know 😂 to be clear, I don’t think one way is right. I just didn’t have the capacity to do it this time around having the two big girls and doing so much solo parenting!

Expand full comment

Totally and it's so cool you recognized that / took confident steps to change what wasn't working. This was inspiring to me 🥲

Expand full comment

ballerina farm stans UNITE. the amount of crap that women talk about each other is truly nuts and out of control out there. addi, this newsletter brings me such a silly amount of joy. I want to be your friend in real life!

Expand full comment

oh this is so kind! it really is so crazy…women empowering women = letting them live however they choose without judgement!

Expand full comment

Re: ballerina farm. I thought the original article was so accusatory. The second one was so much better. Why didn’t she start there?

Re: spice after kids. I also have no idea and my oldest is 9. However i do know that’s due to my own crap that I need to work on lol BUT I will say, chronic illness, pp hormones, going to therapy, etc. are all contributors. Have you checked your hormone levels? Is there a supplement you can take to help? Have you dug into your own story? Have you tried the golden rod oil 😏? Highly recommend a good therapist and functional doc! Also, for a long time we just had to schedule it. Sometimes you just gotta plan it out, get started and hopefully get into it! Good luck mama.

Expand full comment

thank you for your response! this is awesome -- laughed at the golden rod oil comment.

totally agree about the ballerina article! totally feel like she went in with an agenda and then once she caught so much flack she was able to zoom out and see more clearly.

Expand full comment

I have no advice about how to keep marriage spicy because my first is still under a year. But I'm definitely here for any and all advice too!

Expand full comment

that first year is a doozy! you're doing great, mama <3

Expand full comment

Less poopy, more whoopie had me rolling 🤣😮‍💨

Do you have any idea how long you’ll want to homeschool your kids for? Like what grade will be your personal cut off? I’ve always liked the idea of this too, but tbh don’t know how many subject I’ll be proficient in teaching well past a certain grade and that worries me too!

Expand full comment
Aug 2Edited

I’m just it treating like everything else in motherhood — we’ll do it until it doesn’t work anymore and then we’ll reevaluate! I know a lot of people who end up doing some sort of co-op as their kids get older where they got to class like two days a week and then they’re home the other days doing “homework” and you’re not necessarily teaching every subject, you’re just helping them where they need :)

Expand full comment

When that interview came out (I haven’t read/listened to it yet) I heard the gist of it and I wasn’t that surprised by the notion of a husband who didn’t do as much work and who was a bit controlling, especially in finances. That concept is pretty prevalent, especially in some religious cultures. So I am looking forward to both the interview and the rebuttal!

I am so happy you are getting sleep!!! It’s truly a game changing for mental health. And for the mother baby relationship.

Please do share curriculum for homeschool! My kids are 4&5, so I’m starting my oldest next year. So far we just loosely do reading and writing activities, but I did buy the bold and beautiful (I think that’s what it’s called?) curriculum for kindergarten math. I don’t identify as a Christian (recovering from a childhood and young adulthood of it), but I liked the layout of it and the Christ components seem low key enough.

As far as the advice section…. I’m interested in the answers! I have actually been jealous before of women whose husbands are away a lot for work, because then they don’t have to deal with that very concept of pleasing the husband every night (sexually or just dinner on the table or clean house, etc). I know, that’s intense to be craving my husband actually be gone a bunch, right? But the pressure for it all can just feel like a lot sometimes. I’m always thinking “oh gosh have I given him enough sex lately” because if it were up to me and my sex drive…times would be slow HAH. But the pressure doesn’t help my mindset about it. He’s overworked from his job. The romance aspect is practically nonexistent. One thing that might(?) be helping is that we set every Monday as at-home date night. We got the QUICKIES cards from the adventure challenge (the bedroom one and then the 30 min date ones). We rotate one bedroom card and one regular date card. The bedroom ones have had some unique ideas, and it gives some aspect of fun to something I otherwise might not be looking forward to. (For the record, the sex is great, but getting to the part of wanting sex is the hard part for me…again, romance would help.) so far my favorite one was a sexy version of mash. So maybe the gal can try purchasing some of the cards?

Thanks for the fun gossip. I’m going to go google that actor now so I can be in the loop!

Expand full comment

Curious about the sleep training because it sounds vvvvv gentle and seeing how much it’s helped you is amazing!

Expand full comment

I was also anti sleep training until I literally could not function as a person at around her being 6 months old. It was ROUGHHHH. So I totally understand the change!! I talked to so many other mommas and found what worked for our family!!! I will say, once I was getting sleep needs met, that did help in our marriage department! It’s such a change so totally don’t be too hard on yourself!!!

I love ballerina farm and her account!! It makes me happy to see ANY women succeeding in something that makes them happy!!!! I relate to her on many things and it broke my heart to see all the backlash.

I love these articles you are putting out! Made me finally download the substack app 😆

Expand full comment

I also love Hannah and Ballerina Farm and I hate when women hate on other women (tbh any type of hit piece behavior anywhere) I understand it gets clicks fine but unless they’re actually committing crimes and obviously being abused it makes no sense? I need to hear the audio! And read the articles. Your newsletter is so fun and I actually downloaded the Substack app because of it and wow Substack is so much better with the app haha. Thanks for sharing and for the Glen Powell goss 🤭

Expand full comment

Thank you for sharing sleep training! My son is 10000% chronically tired and is also a carrier napper. I’m going to purchase that course for sure, darn US to AUD exchange rate though 🤢

But I like the sound of a happier baby and sleep because I feel ya on the PPA girl!

Expand full comment

praying you get some rest soon, mama! 🤍

Expand full comment