Share Your Story
My name is Tiffani and I have a daughter name Tru. Becoming a parent was the most challenging reward in my life. Sometimes I feel like I’m still adjusting. Pregnancy overall treated me well. In my first trimester I was sick a lot and then it calmed down during my second trimester. I was surrounded by supportive family and friends so my pregnancy was very stress free. I had my daughter at 34 weeks because I was diagnosed with Pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy complication of very high blood pressure and swelling of the hands and feet. She was born prematurely and had to stay in the hospital for 2 1/2 weeks. I was so heart broken having to leave her every night, so I believe i went into postpartum immediately the same week i delivered my daughter. Postpartum definitely did it’s number on me from transitioning as a new mom to finding myself back into womanhood. I can say it has its ups and downs and I appreciate being surrounded by support groups and other moms to relate. I appreciate the support groups during stressful times I may be running low on something, and here they are passing you a goodie bag filled with essentials for your little one! It was always right on time! Something that always keeps me grounded during my lowest moments in motherhood is remembering “it will be ok, I’m doing my best, and I’m not alone” I always say a prayer and hop straight back into motion, it’s my most powerful tool against any doubt.
Most exciting thing about motherhood is making my daughter happy and seeing her smile. I love watching her grow and learn is so amazing. I love bonding over little things and experiencing every emotion with her. She truly heals me.
Most challenging thing about motherhood for me was returning to work. My daughter was born in 2020, so she was born during the pandemic. All we did was stay in the house which made our bond even stronger. It was really hard for me to even want to return to work because I was enjoying watching her grow and being with her all day. Literally just enjoying the blessing of raising my daughter, I didn’t want to miss a single moment. I ended up returning to work after year and half of being home.
I wish someone would have told me how difficult it is to get your child off a pacifier!
Share a inspiring pregnancy story:
Embarking on the path of motherhood took me by surprise, an unexpected journey that, in a single word, I'd describe as challenging. Conceiving during my freshman year of college wasn't part of the plan. However, I was grateful to have a supportive family and accessible resources, such as Planned Parenthood's parenting courses, experts, and support groups which significantly eased the burden.
Balancing the demands of both school and work during my pregnancy left me with little time to enjoy the experience as I had hoped. Nevertheless, amid the whirlwind, I discovered a gift—the resilience and determination that blossomed within me. The challenges of pregnancy became a catalyst for self-discovery unlike I ever experienced before. It highlighted the incredible strength we as women carry, and motherhood is truly a profound testament to that strength.
Balancing the demands of both school and work during my pregnancy left me with little time to enjoy the experience as I had hoped. Nevertheless, amid the whirlwind, I discovered a gift—the resilience and determination that blossomed within me. The challenges of pregnancy became a catalyst for self-discovery unlike I ever experienced before. It highlighted the incredible strength we as women carry, and motherhood is truly a profound testament to that strength.
Most exciting thing about motherhood:
The most exciting facet of motherhood, in my perspective, is the opportunity to expose my daughter to new and exciting experiences—whether it's sharing moments from my own past or adventuring into uncharted territories together. The indescribable joy of seeing her face light up during our travels to unfamiliar places, the creation of new traditions, or engaging in new activities is truly incomparable. In those priceless moments, the challenges of motherhood seem to dissolve, making all the hard work and effort truly worthwhile.
Most challenging thing about motherhood:
The most challenging aspect in my journey of motherhood has been striking a delicate balance. The same determination and drive that I'm thankful for, pushing me to be everything and more for my child, can, at times, become a significant obstacle. It's all too easy to overextend and dedicate oneself in the pursuit of being an exceptional mother. What is often overlooked is the simple truth that a happy mother is a great mother. Regardless of our efforts to conceal our emotions, our children, intricately connected to us, can feel the weight of true emotions. I've grappled with the weight of mom guilt—feeling remorseful for missing a class party due to office commitments or denying my child participation in an after-school activity because of sheer exhaustion. However, as a mother, embracing the notion that caring for myself with the same intensity as I do for my child, is equally crucial. Acknowledging this truth, though challenging, does not diminish one's worth as a mother. It is a realization that, in fact, contributes to the overall well-being of both the mother and child.
Something you wish someone would have told you when you were expecting:
Here's a message for all the expecting mothers:
Every mother needs to hear this: no book or class can fully prepare you, and no one has it all figured out. We're all navigating this journey, making it up as we go, and adapting to the unique needs of our children. There's no cheat code.
Give yourself grace. You are doing much better than you think. Don't let the voices of others or negative thoughts tell you otherwise. You know your child, and you decide what is best for them—no one else has the right to question or judge.
Don't hesitate to call on your village. I personally didn't realize the importance of this until the last couple of years, and my daughter is now 11. If you don't have a village, be intentional about creating one. Reach out to church groups, join clubs, connect with moms at school—wherever you feel comfortable. Yes, it takes work and effort, but I promise it's one of the best investments for yourself, your mental health, and your family.
Lastly, capture all the moments. Don't be afraid to ask someone to take pictures of the little and big moments. We're in the era of selfie sticks and tripods, so if you're a single parent like myself, set up the camera and record the playtimes and bath times. Time really flies, and having those memories to last a lifetime is a beautiful treasure that I deeply cherish.
Every mother needs to hear this: no book or class can fully prepare you, and no one has it all figured out. We're all navigating this journey, making it up as we go, and adapting to the unique needs of our children. There's no cheat code.
Give yourself grace. You are doing much better than you think. Don't let the voices of others or negative thoughts tell you otherwise. You know your child, and you decide what is best for them—no one else has the right to question or judge.
Don't hesitate to call on your village. I personally didn't realize the importance of this until the last couple of years, and my daughter is now 11. If you don't have a village, be intentional about creating one. Reach out to church groups, join clubs, connect with moms at school—wherever you feel comfortable. Yes, it takes work and effort, but I promise it's one of the best investments for yourself, your mental health, and your family.
Lastly, capture all the moments. Don't be afraid to ask someone to take pictures of the little and big moments. We're in the era of selfie sticks and tripods, so if you're a single parent like myself, set up the camera and record the playtimes and bath times. Time really flies, and having those memories to last a lifetime is a beautiful treasure that I deeply cherish.
Inspiring Pregnancy Story: I got baptized when I was 8 months pregnant. I don’t come from a church going family and I didn’t start attending church regularly until I was 20 years old and in college (& after I got pregnant). I wanted to strengthen my relationship with God and my knowledge of the Bible and get baptized before I gave birth. I did and it was life changing for me.
Most exciting thing about motherhood: it’s most exciting to me to witness those initial milestone developments like rolling over, sitting up, crawling, walking and saying those first words
Most challenging thing about motherhood and how do you deal with these challenges: Balancing work with parenting as a single parent. Taking on 100% of the responsibility for making the money & paying the bills, in addition to keeping up the house, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, taking kids to and from school/activities, emotionally supporting the kids, planning for the future, doing homework, etc etc is extremely challenging. It feels like there’s no room to even breathe some days. I deal with the challenge by focusing on what I’m grateful for. Like thanking God for giving me the strength and mental capacity to handle it all…PLUS still looking good while doing it. God is everything and my faith is the only reason why I’m able to handle the challenges.
Something you wish someone told you when you were in expecting: don’t allow your kids to sleep in the bed with you because it could be extremely difficult to get them to sleep in their own bed later on….my oldest still sleeps with me lol
Most exciting thing about motherhood: it’s most exciting to me to witness those initial milestone developments like rolling over, sitting up, crawling, walking and saying those first words
Most challenging thing about motherhood and how do you deal with these challenges: Balancing work with parenting as a single parent. Taking on 100% of the responsibility for making the money & paying the bills, in addition to keeping up the house, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, taking kids to and from school/activities, emotionally supporting the kids, planning for the future, doing homework, etc etc is extremely challenging. It feels like there’s no room to even breathe some days. I deal with the challenge by focusing on what I’m grateful for. Like thanking God for giving me the strength and mental capacity to handle it all…PLUS still looking good while doing it. God is everything and my faith is the only reason why I’m able to handle the challenges.
Something you wish someone told you when you were in expecting: don’t allow your kids to sleep in the bed with you because it could be extremely difficult to get them to sleep in their own bed later on….my oldest still sleeps with me lol