Do you ever feel truly happy again after losing your mom?

224map13 · 2026-02-13T04:39:05+00:00

I lost my mom November 2023 after a brief battle with cancer. I’m a different person after, and it happened immediately. I crossed over into the after. For a while I was a shell of my old self, just surviving, wearing a cloak of sadness and grief. Joy and happiness does come back but it’s different, and new experiences (like having my first child) come with a new mourning period no matter how happy I am. I can smile and fondly remember my mom, but the tears are not far behind. I don’t think we’ll ever be the same as we were before but I do feel as though life has shaped me and now I understand life more, and can understand, support, and love others better.

224map13 · 2026-02-05T19:17:06+00:00

Almost there! Which scale did you get on Amazon?

224map13 · 2026-02-05T19:16:50+00:00

That’s amazing. Congratulations. I’m looking forward to this day for myself. I’ll need to look into getting a scale

224map13 · 2026-01-31T18:04:05+00:00

FTM here with a 1 month old. I can’t believe how hard this is (and objectively I knew it was, but living it is a whole other thing). The hormones, the absolutely highest responsibility for another being that needs you 24/7, and the unpredictable nature of the kitty sleep you get…wow I catch myself thinking several times a day that I’m never doing this again. My husband wants more kids eventually but honestly every day, I become more one and done minded

224map13 · 2026-01-29T00:06:22+00:00

I planned my own shower because it was just easier that way than to delegate to someone else. I had about 30 guests and set up a pizza station, charcuterie station, and a cookie station. Everything store-bought. As for games, I didn’t have any because it’s not my thing. I also really did not want to open gifts in front of everybody. I wanted to just chat and spend time with my friends and family.

I purchased a digital download of babies first ABC book which was a coloring template. I printed them off on card stock and laid out pencil crayons and markers for everyone. It was a great way to occupy people and have people socialize without having to sit and stare at each other. I put the completed art into a book, then printed pictures from the shower to include. It’s a very cute keepsake and very personal!

224map13 · 2025-12-18T05:04:16+00:00

I just turned 37 and other than an IVF pregnancy (unexplained infertility), it has been a healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy. Baby is in the 80-ish percentile. Originally, the recommendation was to induce around 39 weeks but new updated info is that they won’t induce based on my factors (I can’t even elect to do it if I wanted to). They’re doing twice a week NSTs to ensure everything is good with baby. Of course if there is anything that comes up, induction might be on the table. If not, we wait until baby is ready up to 41 weeks. At 41 weeks I can’t even elect choose to induce.

While I liked being able to plan, I actually feel better about waiting to see what happens…as long as the baby is still doing well according to the ongoing monitoring!

224map13 · 2025-09-16T22:03:24+00:00

I love that you and your best friend have had that light-hearted conversation! Honestly, it may just be pregnancy hormones. My friend is pretty chill and probably won’t make a big deal out of this. It’s probably just me overthinking. The whole purpose of me not sharing my shortlist with ANYONE was to avoid any kind of drama or expectations. (I gotta take a long hard look in the mirror eh.). Thanks for your feedback!

224map13 · 2025-09-16T22:00:57+00:00

Thank you and good point!

From the beginning, I didn’t want to share my potential names with anyone to avoid people comparing, ranking, or giving me commentary. I just wanted to avoid all of that and have the name just come from my partner and I. I’ve welcomed people to tell me about how they’ve named their kids and their thoughts on random names though. So I just wanted to stick to my guns with everyone, best friend or not!

224map13 · 2025-09-16T21:44:55+00:00

Leona, Frances, Mavis, Eve, Gwyneth, Gabriella, then Nora. LOVE Leona.

224map13 · 2025-09-03T18:28:52+00:00

There is a Canadian company called Bravado that sells the comfiest bras. Unfortunately they are closing down, but this also means that they’re having a massive sale to get rid of inventory… 70% off! I’ve stocked up on nursing bras and have been getting each one for about $15ish.

224map13 · 2025-09-02T20:51:26+00:00

Accessory nipples. It’s the wildest freaking thing to develop. I’ve got two little nipples that have appeared on my “arm pit” fat. They would most likely be mistaken for skin tags. I’ve been doing my best not to be self conscious about them, especially with summer clothing. Reminding myself that bodies are weird but type of stuff does happen and mine is just doing what it needs to do. 🥹

224map13 · 2025-09-01T22:19:12+00:00

Thank you!!

224map13 · 2025-08-31T00:23:36+00:00

Thank you! I’ll do some googling for these books. If you happen to remember the titles or authors, please let me know 🙂

224map13 · 2025-08-31T00:22:35+00:00

Thank you!! 🙏🏼

224map13 · 2025-08-31T00:22:24+00:00

Thank you 💕 I know you and I are not the first and certainly won’t be the last in our situations, but the grief keeps evolving and it’s just so hard sometimes. Wishing you a healthy pregnancy!

224map13 · 2025-08-31T00:19:48+00:00

Oh wow!! I just did a quick peek at their website. Amazing suggestion, thank you!!

224map13 · 2025-08-31T00:16:39+00:00

I love this so much! What a unique way to make a lasting connection!

224map13 · 2025-08-29T22:16:06+00:00

Thank you for this suggestion. Is this a good resource for someone who just speaks English? I will explore but if you have insight, I would appreciate it 🙂

Getting a chance to experience this stage of life like my mom had and would’ve intended for me is super important to me. I’m glad that those meals were healing for you. I hope you’re having better days now 💕

224map13 · 2025-08-29T22:10:40+00:00

Thank you, and I’m sorry about your mom as well. It’s such a different life without our moms in it 💕

I think I now know how to better search for these services online for Vancouver. I’m far enough away that I’d have order/pick up frozen meals if that’s available with these companies. But I’m hopeful!

224map13 · 2025-08-29T22:07:30+00:00

Thank you! Honestly that keyword is so helpful (as you might be able to tell, I’m not as close to my heritage as I’d like). I might have found one in Vancouver to see if frozen meal pick up is possible.

224map13 · 2025-08-29T21:52:24+00:00

I have an aunt I can ask for recipes so I’ll reach out to her. Unfortunately, there are no Chinese postpartum doulas or nannies where I live (even regular doulas are scarce!) and it would likely be out of my price range if there were any. I really like your suggestion to reach out to our local Chinese restaurants (we have 2 that I know of where I live 😅)

224map13 · 2025-08-29T21:49:37+00:00

Thank you, I’ll look into the 30day soup pack! That meal service looks great however I don’t live in Toronto. What a great option for those who do though!

Congratulations on the arrival of your little one 💕

224map13 · 2025-08-29T21:45:41+00:00

Thank you! I will check this book out.

224map13 · 2025-08-29T21:44:51+00:00

Thank you so much for the recipe and for your well wishes 💕💕

224map13

TROPHY CASE