“While those around me seemed to have their first and second babies without effort, my path was marked by waiting, disappointment, and an eventual diagnosis of unexplained infertility. There were medications, injections, countless appointments—and a growing, painful belief that maybe bad things just happened to me.”

“After the miscarriage, therapy became an essential lifeline. It gave me a safe place to process grief, work through mental blockages, and untangle the anxiety and fear that had taken hold.”

“Every evening when the sun set, I would call my mom crying, wondering how I could get through another night of darkness.”

“There’s gratitude for the gift of being present in their little lives, yet also a quiet ache for the part of me that once thrived in the hustle and the clarity of measurable wins. Most days, I wonder if I’m balancing either role—mother or professional—well enough.”

“That contrast – two very different births, both meaningful – taught me that motherhood rarely looks like the plan we write in our heads. You can do everything "right" and things can still go a different way. And yet, it doesn't have to be perfect to be good.”