Oh hey there! Welcome to Candidly Mom, my name is Dana. Thank you for stopping by!
Candidly Mom was created as a judgment free zone for moms from all walks of life who aren’t afraid to get down and dirty about all things motherhood. The good, the bad, and the blowouts.
Along the way I will share my behind the scenes version of motherhood. The embarrassing moments, the monumental fails, the lessons I’ve learned, the joy, the laughs, the happy tears, and the sad.
You’ll also find practical tips and tricks that have helped me to survive this rollercoaster ride called motherhood! Whether you’re a new mom or a seasoned vet, if you like relatable, unfiltered motherhood, and your sense of humor is intact, you will feel right at home at Candidly Mom!
I have always had a passion for writing. As an introvert who is often described as “quiet” or “shy” (I’m neither of those things by the way), getting my thoughts out on paper has always been the best way for me to express myself. But up until I became a mom I wasn’t sure what to write about. Nothing was tugging at my heart, pages sat blank in front of me, as I searched for inspiration to no avail.
After having two children within 16 months of each other, motherhood began to consume my life in every way. I was held captive by nap schedules, snack demands, and running a household, all while trying to navigate my way through this new normal I had created. It was a chaotic and confusing time.
Once the fog of newborn sleep deprivation lifted, it became crystal clear to me what i needed to write about, Motherhood, all of it.
Why? Because nobody ever really spoke candidly to me about what motherhood looked like behind the curtain. I didn’t know about the hard parts, the not so pretty side of this whole thing until I was living it. Don’t get me wrong, I knew motherhood was not going to be a cake walk. But I wasn’t aware of just what a minefield it could be at times.
I quickly realized that motherhood was not a venture to take on solo. It required a tribe, both a physical tribe and an emotional one. I wanted to feel a sense of community within this new chapter of my life, but I didn’t know where I fit in. My truths were not being discussed by others, and I was constantly quieted by my fear of judgment. Judgment from other Moms, judgment from society, judgment for the way I felt and the way I was settling into this role as Mom.
Thats when Candidly Mom came to fruition. If I couldn’t find my community, I would create it. And I would invite every mom who is looking for their tribe to come along for the ride and share their journey too!
But wait, who am I you ask? I’m Dana, a 32 year old Mom of 2 little boys, Nash (23 months), and Jax (7 months). My husbands’ name is Brett and we’ve been married for 4 years now. Together we’ve created this perfect little piece of chaos called a family. We live in Washington State, just North of Seattle in a quiet country neighborhood. Both my husband and I are Canadian, myself from Nova Scotia (East Coast), and him British Columbia (West Coast).
After my first son Nash was born it quickly became evident to me that raising children without the help of family near by was challenging. Raising kids is hard PERIOD, but without the support of loved ones close by, somedays can seem downright impossible.
There was no one by my side guiding me through this foreign territory of motherhood. I had to learn almost everything on my own, and fast. Motherhood for me was trial by fire. I’ve made mistakes, probably lots. But more importantly, I’ve learned a lot. And thats why I plan to share this with all of you!
I hope you enjoy reading Candidly Mom. It won’t always be pretty but it will always be candid!