We are so excited to be launching this collaborative blog together. Our names are Megan Bigliardi and Shelby Zehnder, and we both love talking about our motherhood journeys. Becoming mothers has been such a great experience for us. Both of us have learned so much in the process and have grown to really want to embrace motherhood! We are both young mamas to sweet, handsome little boys, Ben and Rhett, who are nine and seven months old. We both went to high school together and are now raising little men together. It's so funny how life changes in ways we never expected, but here we are - welcome to our motherhood blog!
We decided to answer some questions as an introduction:
SHELBY
What has been your favorite part of being a mama?
The love aspect hit me the hardest -having a little human constantly wanting to cuddle, nurse, and play with me has been so humbling. I love that Rhett is such a mama's boy! And of course, the love I have for him in my heart is more than anything I could have ever imagined. Once they laid him on my chest my life was changed forever.
Did you plan on becoming a mama at nineteen years old?
No! But that's the best part. I love that Rhett was a surprise. It forced me to change and completely transform my life in a short period of time. I think a lot of people say that they want to "be ready" or "prepare" for kids- when there really is no way to prepare! You just do it! Michael and I always talk about how we love being young parents because we get to enjoy so much of our lives with our babies- and then when they grow up, we will still be young enough to travel and have fun together. Having Rhett young has helped me become the person I was striving to be for so long. He has helped me gain patience, understanding, and sacrifice.
Describe your parenting style in five words!
Natural, loving, understanding, calm, positive.
What was your experience with children before becoming a mama?
I am the oldest child of five and have so many younger cousins, so I was always helping with little kids and babies growing up. I actually started babysitting my siblings at a really young age because I was always very mature (I mean, I was practically my mother's sidekick). I also nannied every summer from middle school until I went off to college. I also worked at two different Learning Centers where I worked with infants all the way up to teenagers. I knew how to take care of babies and children, but having my own and being in charge of his well being 24/7 is a whole different story!
What do you struggle with the most when it comes to motherhood?
In my case, pregnancy was the hardest part -which you will probably read about in the future. But besides that, I would have to say the hardest part is not being able to be spontaneous with Michael anymore. We loved our date nights and spur-of-the-moment adventures! Everything is a lot harder with a baby so we feel like we don't do anything exciting anymore. Motherhood is also very demanding which took a while to get used to. There is no room for selfishness when it comes to true, pure motherhood. Something else that I struggle with is making dinner, haha! It is super difficult to make dinner when you're trying to comfort/entertain a little one!
Shelby with her husband Michael and their son Rhett, enjoying a sunny Saturday outdoors!
MEGAN
What advice would you give to an expecting or new mama?
There are so many things I would love to be able to tell all new and expecting moms, but the biggest thing is - you are a good mama. There are so many opinions of what a good mom is out there, and just know that whether you're a working or stay at home mama, whether you are a young mom or a mom later in life, whether you make gourmet meals every night or mac-n-cheese, as long as you are giving that baby the love, patience, and time, you are a good mama. If you're an expecting mama reading a mom blog right now, you are probably already filled with excitement over your new little one. It's going to be amazing, tough, exhausting, and full of love. Also - bring a big fuzzy robe to the hospital!
Describe your parenting style in 5 words.
Loving, silly, relaxed, listener, and patient. (That's how I would love Ben to describe me one day when he thinks about his mama!)
What do you love about being a mama?
I love when I walk into Ben's room in the morning to get him out of his crib, and he's already playing, staring up at me with a wide, joyful smile! I love his funny little quirks when he's trying new foods or making silly faces and noises. I think in this stage of motherhood, there are a lot of little moments that I'm loving. Overall, the fact that I am able to watch as this amazing little person grows has been a big learning experience for me - a lesson in love and patience.
What have you discovered about yourself since becoming a mama?
I've discovered that I can handle big changes, and I am capable of love that I didn't know was possible. I have also discovered that I have a lot to learn! I have also had to learn to be more flexible with my expectations for each day - with a baby, you will struggle to get everything done, and that's okay. I think I have high expectations for myself, and I've had to be more forgiving with what I can manage each day.
Why write a motherhood blog?
Well, first of all, I have loved writing and blogging for a long time. There's something about writing something that others can relate to, understand, and feel understood with that really resonates with me! I love being able to help other people or make their day a little better. Shelby and I both hope this blog helps mamas everywhere feel like they have friends to talk to, take advice from, share stories, and feel comforted by. (And hopefully, we can make you smile or laugh amid laundry folding and diaper changing!)
Megan with her fiancé Chris and their son, Ben, on Ben's first St. Patty's Day!
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