My transition into parenthood was easier than I expected. Our fertility journey lasted two years, and by the time I became pregnant, I felt so grateful and so ready to be a mother. Halfway through the pregnancy, the COVID lockdowns began and while this time was difficult on so many levels, it prepared me for a lot of time stuck at home with a newborn. The first few months Evie was home were so beautiful because it was just the three of us, nowhere to go (because nothing was open!) and no FOMO (because everyone else was also at home!) Now, the transition from one baby to two babies 15 months later is an entirely different story...

I was hospitalized with severe preeclampsia a few days after Evie was born. It was devastating to be separated from my newborn, but it also forced me (who often feels that she doesn't need any help) to lean in to the support my family and friends could provide. After our son was born, my wife's father became very sick and she was traveling back and forth from Colorado to Virginia almost weekly while I was home with our three month old and one year old. Those were trying times for us both, but we again learned to accept support from our "village." We received a crash course in the many roles women play as they care for their children, their parents, their careers, and when they can find time-themselves.

There were so many major shifts in a 15 month period with both welcoming two babies in quick succession and transitioning from working outside the home to being a stay-at-home parent. There were times I found myself questioning "who am I now, beyond being a wife and mother?"

The transition from one child to two was much more difficult than I expected. When we had a rough night with our first born, we often found time to rest when she napped the following day. Once we had two babies, those occasional breathers were a rare occurrence.

I'm excited about a place that is geared toward both parents and children as so often it is just one or the other. Also, I look forward to the sense of community that The Den can offer.