I’m going to be really honest. I have never felt more mentally challenged, emotionally exhausted, or completely inadequate than I have parenting my eight-year-old son.

I have been present on social media, as a constant of some kind, since I announced my pregnancy with Axel more than 9 years ago. In the beginning, it felt exciting. Connection, expression, a place to share real life. Over time, it shifted.

When Evie was a newborn and Axel was just two, I remember feeling like I was being slammed by a fire hose every single day. Life was overwhelming, and I remember sitting on the phone with my mom, crying, and telling her that I felt like I was drowning in motherhood.

I’ve always loved connecting with people—listening to their stories, sharing my own, and finding those beautiful threads of commonality that remind us we’re not alone.