Hey Mamas,
I think a lot of us go into motherhood with a picture in our heads of what it's going to look like — built-in help, family close by, people to lean on when things feel overwhelming and experts at every turn.
But life doesn’t always turn out that way.
Between moves, busy schedules, and just the reality of modern life, we found ourselves doing a lot more on our own than we expected. And while we’ve figured it out, it also made me realize something:
The kind of “village” we imagine doesn’t always show up the way we picture it.
And that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong — it’s just the reality of the world we live in now.
A Little Background
My husband and I are both from Tucson, Arizona. In 2016, we moved to San Diego, and a couple years later we headed to Houston, Texas. At that point in our lives, it felt like the perfect time to take advantage of new opportunities and experience something different together.
When we moved to Houston, we didn’t know anyone — but we built a life there, got married, and eventually started thinking about starting a family.
When we found out we were expecting our first son everything shifted. Not long after, an opportunity came up that brought us back to Tucson. It felt like the right move — a chance to be closer to family as we stepped into this next phase of life.
We imagined those early years of parenthood being filled with nearby support, shared moments, and more time together with the people we love.
This wasn't the new Mom experience I pictured
We settled in, prepared our home, and waited for our baby boy to arrive — expecting a full house, visitors stopping by, and that sense of having a village for both the big and small moments.
And while we absolutely had support and people who showed up in different ways, day-to-day life looked a little different than we had imagined.
Most of the routines, responsibilities, and the rhythm of raising a newborn ended up being something we navigated ourselves.
Like so many parents, we balanced work, childcare, sick days, appointments, and everything in between — figuring it out as we went and building systems that worked for our family.
It wasn’t what we had pictured, but it became our normal.
Maybe the 2nd Kid is Different?
At the end of 2023, we found out we were expecting our second son, Logan.
By then, life had shifted again — things felt more “back to normal,” Camden was older, and we naturally wondered if this time might feel a little different.
And in some ways it did — but in many ways, it reinforced what we had already learned:
Every family’s version of support looks different.
And more often than not, we were still building our day-to-day life around what worked for us — managing two kids, full-time work, and everything that comes with it.
It was our responsibility, and we embraced that — but it also made us think more deeply about what a “village” really means today.
What “My Modern Village” really means
My Modern Village isn’t the village. It's things that help fill in the gaps.
Because while I can't come clean your house for you..
I can share the vacuum that actually helps me keep up with mine.
And while I can't babysit or explain why your nana doesn't want to come help more..
I can share the baby carrier that let me still make lunch for my toddler with a clingy newborn attached to me.
And while I wish I could sit on the phone with every mom out there who needs to hear they're not alone...
I can, and will, share many mom moments of my own that will make you go "oh good, it's not just me"
What you’ll find here
Here, I share:
-
products I’ve used and genuinely love
-
books and tools I’ve created based on my own experiences and own kids
-
ideas, systems, and routines that make everyday life more manageable