Sammi and I continue sharing the biggest lessons we learned as brand-new parents, especially during those first intense weeks after birth. We talk about feeding choices and how we used formula as a tool to help everyone get extra sleep, how to take advantage of lactation consultants early, and what to expect with cluster feeding and sleep regressions.

We also cover the support systems that make the biggest difference like hiring a doula, setting up a meal train, and knowing your pediatrician before you need them. Plus, we learned the hard way that babies really do not need much. Focus on the essentials and test out your gear before you commit to it.

New parenthood can feel overwhelming, but it becomes so much easier when you know what to expect and how to support each other. If you are preparing for life with a newborn, this episode will help you feel a little more ready.

Sammi and I break down the essentials we wish we knew before the baby arrived. We had no idea how many decisions we would have to make until we were already in it.

We talk about why having a flexible birth plan matters, how choosing the right hospital can completely change your birthing experience, and the postpartum support you will desperately need but probably have not planned for yet. From feeding and sleeping logistics to managing visitors and providing a guideline to your close friends and family for yourself to feel safe and supported, these are the things we wish someone told us sooner.

If you are expecting, this is the crash course we needed before becoming parents. You don't have to learn this the hard way!

In this episode, I continue my conversation with Amy Li about what it truly means to find balance in the middle of parenthood. We talk about how a strong partnership and marriage can carry you through the exhaustion, and how essential it is to carve out space for yourself again: your passions, your community, and your peace.

Amy reflects on how raising twins pushed her to grow, to redefine what success as a mother looks like, and to embrace both the joy and the difficulty of the journey.

This conversation is a reminder that motherhood doesn’t require perfection. It asks for presence, patience, and the courage to keep rediscovering yourself along the way.

I talk with Amy Li about the emotional rollercoaster of discovering she was having twins: from the shock and fear of a twin pregnancy to the overwhelming reality of life in the NICU. She opens up about how she learned to balance gratitude and anxiety in a season that tested everything.

We dive into what it really means to transition into parenthood when there are two babies waiting at home. Amy talks about sleepless nights, the challenges of recovery, and the emotional weight of not knowing what comes next.

Together, we reflect on the importance of communication, community, and allowing others to step in. Her story is a powerful reminder that parenthood is not meant to be done alone, especially when it comes two at a time.

In part two of my conversation with Amanda Nguyen, we dive deeper into what it means to grow through motherhood.

We talk about the generational differences in how our parents raised us versus how we raise our children, and how those differences shape our values today. Amanda shares the reality behind feeding choices, the constant trade-offs in postpartum life, and how community support can make the hardest days feel lighter.

We reflect on the importance of communication, maintaining a strong relationship through exhaustion, and learning to meet your own basic needs again. It’s a conversation about rediscovering yourself while learning how to care for someone else.

In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Nguyen, founder of Butter& and Discover Pastel, to talk about the emotional journey of new motherhood and the pressure so many parents feel to get everything right.

Amanda opens up about the strive for perfectionism, the constant feeling that you’re never doing enough, and how that pressure can quietly wear you down. Amanda shares what it was like to face feeding challenges and sleep deprivation, and how learning to accept help became one of the most important lessons of early motherhood.

We talk about the value of having support systems, from partners to lactation consultants to friends who just listen without judgment. Through it all, Amanda reminds us that the goal isn’t to be perfect, it’s to stay connected, supported, and human.

In the second half of this conversation, Josh and I dive deeper into the realities of parenthood and why no one can do it alone.

Josh talks about building a reliable support team, finding the right resources, and learning to adapt when parenting doesn’t follow the plan. From managing food allergies and eczema to making tough day-to-day decisions, this episode explores how community and flexibility become essential tools for survival.

Josh and I also discuss how focusing on immediate needs and safety instead of long-term perfection, can bring more calm and clarity into the parenting journey. Because sometimes, doing your best today is the plan.

A grounded and encouraging reminder that with the right support and community, every challenge becomes a little easier to carry.

In this episode, I sit down with Josh Lasker, founder of Sapling Energy, to talk about what happens when parenthood doesn’t go according to plan.

Josh opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of raising a daughter with food allergies. How daycare germs led to her becoming a daycare dropout. From navigating safety concerns and endless trial and error, to juggling a growing company and family life, Josh shares what it really looks like to manage it all.

The conversation dives into the guilt, the worry, and the constant adjustments that come with parenting a child with allergies, while trying to balance work, marriage, and self-care. Josh also reflects on what he’s learned about patience, community support, and redefining what it means to be a “super dad.”

For any parent trying to balance it all, and realizing you can’t do it perfectly, this one’s for you. 🤍