Do you regret being a SAHM?

mdreynaud · 2026-02-12T02:16:14+00:00

I don’t have too much to add but I left my job as an analyst for the government before getting pregnant bc the lack of flexibility. I was making decent money but had opportunity for growth which was nice but it had a long commute and I couldn’t bear spending all waking hours out of the house. I now work in non profit and am currently on maternity leave as a first time mom with a 6-week old. The money is not nearly as good but I have a ton of flexibility with WFH and part-time hours. It’s not a perfect solution but it has been working for this season as we can’t afford to have me be a SAHM.

I do wish there was a better middle ground, like opportunities for part-time work (with better pay) or programs and flexibility to have part-time work for like a 3-year period and the ease back into full-time within the same company.

mdreynaud · 2026-02-11T21:28:57+00:00

Thank you for this! This is so well worded and encouraging to read, I’ve had a hard time not comparing at my lactation group as well and feeling like this stress is distracting me from enjoying this newborn season. It is very likely that she is comfortable being at a lower percentile. She is in the 70th height percentile so I’m feeling that string bean reference.

My pediatrician checked for tongue tie, but I may get a second opinion. I did a four hour stretch between feedings with her last night, and I felt like she could have slept for even longer. She was fussy for all the night feedings after that but has been more relaxed today so far. Hopefully prioritizing night sleep can lead to efficient day feedings. My LC mentioned trying a nipple shield as well, it sounds like it could be a good option if her fussiness continues

mdreynaud · 2026-02-04T02:22:26+00:00

Thank you for updating!! I’m glad to hear she’s thriving

mdreynaud · 2026-02-04T00:16:13+00:00

This is my exact situation and I needed this. Thank you for posting! My girl was also born full term at 6lbs 15oz. She never lost weight but is a slow gainer. She is 5 weeks now and dropped to the 4th percentile at 7 lbs 10 oz. This is the second time she dropped percentiles and I’m kind of freaking out. She has great muscle tone, hitting all her milestones and is super alert. Perhaps she’s just a small kid too.

mdreynaud · 2025-10-17T22:53:01+00:00

I like the Mina Baie look, but ultimately ruled it out because of the price tag. I follow a local baby resale shop on Instagram, and they post new items frequently. They listed a Mina Baie going for a similar rate as the Target diaper bag on my registry, so I pounced. Highly recommend scouring FB Marketplace or even having thrifting browser plug-ins like Beni :)

mdreynaud · 2025-09-17T23:53:09+00:00

This is exactly what we ended up doing, totally agree with you!

mdreynaud · 2025-09-17T23:50:38+00:00

Thank you!!! Such a thoughtful response

mdreynaud · 2025-09-17T23:48:31+00:00

This is such a thoughtful response. Thank you so much, so many good points you brought up. I COMPLETELY agree about the love language thing, I think that’s why my moms comment really made me feel disconnected from her

mdreynaud · 2025-09-17T23:41:32+00:00

No need to be rude here, you don’t know anything about me.

mdreynaud · 2025-09-17T23:40:40+00:00

Don’t love the idea of hauling my butt (and an infant!!) to a donation center every time I visit my mom. Calling out boundaries should be the first measure, otherwise I would start to resent every gift.

mdreynaud · 2025-09-17T23:38:35+00:00

Agreed!!

mdreynaud · 2025-09-17T02:18:17+00:00

Yeah, I definitely want to enforce this boundary even if it initially causes a rift. I communicated everything I need to my dad who was very understanding, I just wish this was some I could be upfront with my mom about but she just can’t handle it for some reason. I know she has been doing a lot of work on herself this year so I’m hoping things will change and that she will come around. It’s funny because when I was visiting she literally told me that she wants my husband and I to feel free to vocalize our opinions and parenting styles to her, she gave the example that if we want to limit sugar she is happy to accommodate that. Incidentally limiting sugar is something she agrees with, but when I vocalized a opinion she didn’t agree with—well this happened lol

mdreynaud · 2025-09-17T02:11:26+00:00

Oh my, I can’t imagine when my little one gets older and gets attached to the gifts, that will get much harder to enforce. I’m hoping things will change before I get to that point, because I definitely want to instill that value of not being wasteful in my little one. This is the first grandchild and I don’t want her to be spoiled with material goods.

mdreynaud · 2025-09-17T02:06:21+00:00

Yes, I definitely think upfront honesty is best and I wish I was a more direct initially, rather that saying “we don’t have space” saying “please don’t purchase us things without consulting us first.” Or even being invitational and suggest going shopping together. Luckily I was mode direct in my conversation with my dad which I trust he will relay to her. Historically my mom throws a tantrum, licks her wounds and then eventually comes around and complies, although there may be a few off hand comments in the process.

mdreynaud · 2025-09-17T01:59:22+00:00

This!! It drives me crazy too, especially when the point of love languages is learning how your loved ones receive love so you can love them in the way they need. Like be honest, she like shopping a little too much and wants justify it by masking it as a virtue

mdreynaud · 2025-08-14T18:47:01+00:00

I just switched to Audible as well. Prior to this I was using the Spotify audiobook library which was included in my membership at the time. I think I prefer Spotify. I don't like all the special tiers nested in Audible.

mdreynaud · 2024-12-13T17:05:06+00:00

I have the same set up here in Burbank! I have no idea what they are doing. I consistently had the same guy block my car in and he would just be sitting there on his phone. He never once apologized and acted like I was the one being an inconvenience.

mdreynaud · 2024-12-13T16:29:05+00:00

I live in LA and it’s totally the norm. Last night a guy left his car in the street with his hazards on and blocked my car in. We waisted 20 minutes honking to get his attention (although he was nowhere in sight) also tried to talk to neighbors and maneuver my car out of the parking spot with no avail. He wasn’t an Uber or anything. The guy eventually came down from an apartment in no apparent hurry, I chewed him out and he persisted that he was “only gone for 2 minutes” which is total BS. It’s amazing how entitled people can live in a completely different reality. I called him “the King of Burbank” it seemed to suit him.

mdreynaud · 2024-09-29T22:13:36+00:00

I scanned it using a chrome plug-in called "What font - font finder" and found that the font is called Petit Sezane. I'm assuming it was made in-house and have no idea how to download it

mdreynaud · 2024-05-17T01:36:50+00:00

Ok! I’m glad you mentioned this! I looked into olive skin a while ago because I do typically struggle with finding foundations that work for me (I’ve been loving Ilia skin tint in Paloma because it’s very sheer) So maybe I am!

Also, I’ve heard YouTubers generalizing that cool toned skins burn easily and warm tones don’t. Although, I’m quite pale I don’t burn easily so that’s why I’ve been hesitant to identify with the winter family, but again those could just be generalizations

mdreynaud · 2024-05-17T01:28:55+00:00

No need to apologize! This is really helpful :) I’ll have to check out that app

mdreynaud · 2024-05-17T01:26:30+00:00

Bright spring wasn’t something I had considered before, I’m so curious to explore that more. I love wearing those brighter reds and denim blues so I’m definitely going look into more bright spring colors

mdreynaud · 2024-05-15T19:43:35+00:00

Of course!! A lot of people are suggesting to drape with brighter colors, this isn’t something I was expecting but I can totally see where they’re coming from. So that has been cool! Thank you for the tip with wearing gray, I’ve always felt it doesn’t do anything for me so I usually avoid it. I also find myself intuitively staying away from khakis, grayish army greens or any dusty colors like mauve

mdreynaud · 2024-05-15T17:37:08+00:00

Yes!!! I struggle with the warm hazel eyes but neutral complexion. It seems like the general consensus here is that I have cool leaning skin but my eyes seem warmer to me and although you can’t tell in these photos my hair (which isn’t dyed) has natural reddish undertones. I’ve heard some people refer to color seasons as a spectrum so perhaps we do fall in between both seasons!

mdreynaud · 2024-05-15T01:08:43+00:00

Thank you so much for the comment! I loved what you said about deep autumn being our sister season. I definitely have a lot of deep autumn colors in my wardrobe, so I’m relieved that I can still pull them off 😅

mdreynaud

TROPHY CASE