Moments of Musing

Mama, Take a Break Before You Break

Filed Under: motherhood, self care //

I think there’s a misconception out there that in order to be the best mom you can be, we have to give all of ourselves. Every ounce. Every part. But that simply isn’t true. 

Time for ourselves is healthy. 
Uninterrupted sleep is necessary. 
Feeling touched out is normal.
Turning down social invites is okay.
Taking care of ourselves is crucial.

Just because we birthed our babies doesn’t suddenly mean we are no longer important. That we no longer have needs. News Flash: We are still people with needs, if not MORE needs than ever before. 

We need to take care of ourselves. Not stretch ourselves too thin… to the point of possibly breaking. 

Becoming a mother is a transformative period. There’s no doubt about that. But transformation doesn’t require sacrificing oneself. It means quite the opposite. It means honoring the person you were in order to become the person you are. 


Transformation means staying true to who you are. It means constant learning. It means growth. 

So mamas, as you continue on your journey of motherhood please remember to check in with yourself. To look out for your wellbeing. Because You matter. 

Your family needs you. 
Your kids need you. 
You need you.

motherhood, mom life, self care, self care tips, mom self care, motherly

Take Care of Yourself

Filed Under: positivity, self care //


Putting oneself first is harder than it seems, to me at least. Since becoming a parent, I naturally think of my kids first. What do they want? What do they need? Are they happy? Are they tired? Are they upset? How can I help them?
I rarely ask myself how I can help myself. Others ask me that even less. I don’t fault them — or even myself, though. Society puts an onus on women who are wives and mothers. When we become those things, our priorities shift both in our own eyes and in the eyes of others.  Oftentimes, we take a backseat. 

It shouldn’t be like that, though. It doesn’t have to be like that. So, take care of yourself, mama. I’m going to try to do it, too. In fact, it’s one of my new year goals. Live the mantra “Self-care is the best care.” I need to embrace it. And actually do it…


It might seem selfish but it’s like takeoff. You’re instructed to put your oxygen mask on before helping others. As a kid and young adult, I didn’t understand why. Why wouldn’t a parent assist their baby first?, I often wondered. It seemed bizarre to me. 

As an adult and parent, I get it. I comprehend why. We must be okay to help others, especially our kids. They’re depending on us. They’re watching us. More than what we say, they’re mirroring what we do. 

That’s why self care is important. We must take care ourselves in order to best take care of our babies and loved ones. 

It’s not selfish. It’s smart. It’s necessary. Self-care is our best care, mama. 


The One Morning Routine Change That Has Given me More Energy

Filed Under: motherhood, self care //

Maternity leave after having my first baby was exhausting. I lost so much sleep staying awake while the baby slept to make sure he was still alive… not kidding. I would watch him breathe or awake at any odd breath or movement.

The second time around, I knew newborns have unusual breathing patterns. So, I did not really lose sleep over his breathing. However, I did lose a lot of sleep do to cluster feeding in the beginning. I’m talking 3.5 hour feeds in the middle of the night.

It was so hard.

Add in my energetic toddler and mornings were brutal. I could barely keep my eyes open. But breakfast had to be made, my toddler had to be entertained and my new baby had to tended to. Life with two under two was really difficult in the beginning. Thank goodness my husband had two weeks off (I think it really should be longer but moms don’t even get guaranteed paid leave so..); thank goodness for my mom who is very helpful; and thank goodness for the end of cluster feeding.

Even when the cluster feeds ended, though, I was still tired. I’d either stay up way too late after the boys went to sleep or my toddler would fight bedtime until midnight and I had to wake shortly thereafter to breastfeed my baby.

So, the morning exhaustion continued.

Then, one day I decided I was going to take both boys out for the first time (to somewhere other than a playground) by myself. I woke up, made breakfast, fed my toddler, fed my baby who then fell asleep to nap and I hopped into the shower.

Little did I know, that would change my energy completely. You see, prior to then, I would shower at night and skip the morning shower because mornings felt too hectic and like I said, my energy level was way down. I felt defeated almost immediately after getting out of bed.

Showering in the morning: 
1. Literally wakes me up
2. Makes me feel so much more energized
3. Helps me feel more put together 

I felt ready to conquer the day after stepping out of the shower. And so, now before going out with the boys, I try my best to hop in the shower if I have a few minutes to do. I have felt such a shift in my energy level since doing this.

What gives YOU energy in the morning?

Self Care as a Mom

Filed Under: motherhood, self care //

This post is sponsored by Luxe & Co. but all opinions are my own. 

When I became a mom, my self care quickly fell to the waste-side. I was tired and overwhelmed but more than that, I wanted to spend as much time as possible with my new baby. I’m sure this is common among moms. 

In my 20 months of motherhood, I’ve gotten only three manicure/pedicures (one for a wedding in which I was a bridesmaid), one hair cut, and two hairstyles (one for that same wedding). I haven’t even used my spa day my husband gifted me last Mother’s Day…

It’s easy to get caught up taking care of my baby and prioritizing his needs while sometimes forgetting to take care of my own. Plus, as a full-time working (away from home) mom, taking even more time away to do things like a manicure just feels selfish — but not rightfully so. 

Over time, I’ve made it a point to do things here and there for my mental health (work from home days, vacations, eating healthy(ish), working out, dinners with a girlfriend(s), and writing). But I want to make indulging in beauty self care more of a priority, especially with another little one on the way. I’m sure I’ll really need it then. 

This past Saturday, I took the opportunity to indulge and went to Luxe & Co. in Babylon, New York for a wash and blowout. It is a chic and intimate blow dry bar that offers great service. 

Upon entering, the cute decor caught my eye. The space felt warm and inviting, and the women were welcoming. I was was offered water, coffee or tea, and my bag was put away for me. I opted for a mix between the Louis Vuitton and Dior blowouts — basically wavy with some volume, and was really happy with the result. 

 
It felt great to be pampered and relax for a bit prior to our Baby Sprinkle. My husband even commented that I seemed happier and more chipper when I got home, and I believe it. Simply put, I loved my blowout and the time for myself. Plus, it only took an hour to get it done and be back home. (The time felt even shorter because it was so easy to chat with my sweet stylist.)

As time goes on, I’m realizing more and more that taking care of myself allows me to be my best self and mom. If you’re in need of some self care, don’t think twice. (If you’re in the area, visit Luxe & Co.!)

Mama, you deserve it.