• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Mental health check in, how’s everyone doing?? I Mental health check in, how’s everyone doing?? I shared how I’m doing in stories today, we made it through the holidays but it was a lot harder than I thought. I’m sruggling in a few ways. Struggling on social media with the comparison game, struggling in general as a stay at home mom of two, struggling with a fussy two month old that doesn’t sleep, struggling that I’m unable to do things for me right now (like even go to the bathroom or shower alone), struggling with the omnipresent grief and anxiety, struggling with guilt — guilt over not giving my oldest enough attention, over wanting him to start back at school again, over not being happy and grateful 24/7.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
If I learned anything last year it was to accept my feelings as they come and not label any as “bad,” so that’s what I’m working on, that’s my daily reminder. As my friend said to me today, this is hard, it’s the trenches!! Be gentle. It’s hard and wonderful all at once.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Check in below👇⁣⁣⠀
❤️ - I’m feeling great⁣⁣⠀
🧡 - I’m feeling ok⁣⁣⠀
💛 - I’m surviving⁣⁣⠀
💚 - I’m struggling⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Let’s show up and support each other and remind each other we’re not alone in these hard days🖤
Took this week to unplug and reflect. Wild year. M Took this week to unplug and reflect. Wild year. Mixed feelings about a new year is not foreign to me, this is how I felt last year going into 2020. 2019 was Liam’s year, it was the worst but it gave me a perspective I’ll never lose and one I carried into 2020.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Through hardship you grow.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
2020 saw more focus on me, on my mental wellness + on my family. Less worrying about what people think of me, less apologizing, more doing what makes me happy (or gets me through the day). More of that in this space also. I’m not going to be everyone’s cup of tea so might as well be me, ALL of me💯✌️⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
I’m not a resolution or goal setter when it comes to a new year, I try to focus on reflecting, releasing what doesn’t serve me any longer + manifesting/using affirmations to bring the good. Still working on what those are exactly for 2021!⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
In the meantime I wanted to share some of my big 2020 memories and wish you all love, light, peace and healing in the new year✨⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
1-2. Our new family unit🧡⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
3-4. The birth of our daughter, Elora, the best thing to come out of 2020. She is the brightest light.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
5. Luca’s love for his sister + once again navigating a “new normal” in our family.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
6. Pregnancy after loss. Amidst a global pandemic. While wrangling a toddler. One of the hardest things I’ve ever done, it was pure survival mode (+ still is postpartum).⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
7. Growing the most beautiful dahlias and diving more into gardening than ever before, mostly as a form of therapy, AND sharing it all with you guys — connecting through our gardens was one of my favorite parts of the year + growing this community has brought me so much joy!⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
8. Finding my groove and launching my oils business — never thought I would make more than my blogging income + be able to pay off debt😭⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
9. Luca turning 2 and weaning + potty training at the same time — his decisions, not mine!⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
10. Liam’s due date in April. I remember wishing more than anything for the chance to deliver him healthy and full term, pandemic and all. We miss our boy + are moving forward WITH him, we’ll love him forever from afar❤️
Chaotic and beautiful and hard and exhausting and Chaotic and beautiful and hard and exhausting and awesome❤️ exactly how I want to remember this day. We’re sending you big love this Christmas, complete with our best “ewie smiles” (Luca’s term for silly faces🤣). I love how Doobie snuck his nose in there too!! Swipe for some special moments/things of the day❤️❤️
⋒ 8 weeks of Elora Leigh ⋒⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⠀ ⋒ 8 weeks of Elora Leigh ⋒⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
You have been here in our arms for almost two whole months and my heart still skips a beat when I wake up and see you next to me. You are truly here. I still can’t believe you’re real and you’re ours.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
At 8 weeks you’re not such a tiny babe anymore, you’ve doubled your birth weight and grew four inches — a testament to how much you love to eat😅🍼 (pic four is day 3 for reference!). Your chubby cheeks are also a testament to your love of milk😍😍 The super sleepy newborn days are over😭 You’re waking up more and more, crying more too (see pic three🤪), but still giving us good stretches of sleep (4-5 hours) at night. You don’t love cuddling with me as much as your brother did, I’m still in denial over that! And you’ve broken out of the swaddle, sleep sackin it up already! Luca loves you more than anything and is always wanting to hold you and help me clean your “spiggups,” he calls you “mista baby” and it killssss your dad and I every time🤣⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
I feel like you just arrived but also like I’ve known you forever. Happy 8 weeks of life Elora, you are so loved💗⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
#8weeks #eloraleigh #watcheloragrow
Unpopular or popular opinion? Gratitude is hard wh Unpopular or popular opinion? Gratitude is hard when you’re struggling.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Gratitude, when forced, feels like shame. As the wise @sitwithwhit said the other day, it’s  the new toxic positivity — if we’re going to feel sad, then we better be grateful too.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
The pressure on the bereaved to feel and express gratitude in their grief is REAL.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
So here is my reminder — It’s ok to *not* balance out your pain with gratitude. ⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
To me, when gratitude is forced I feel inauthentic and ashamed. When everyone is talking about gratitude journals and how to “focus on the good,” I feel left out.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Let’s normalize expressing pain and grief without following it up with “BUT... gratitude.” It’s like saying that makes our pain seem more bearable from the outside. I get it. Grief is uncomfortable. Pain is ugly. It’s easier to look away. It’s easier to engage if the griever ends their thought on a positive, that’s the pressure. But what if I don’t feel positives in my pain?⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
If gratitude helps you to process your grief, that is really great. Everyone grieves differently. I spoke about this in stories today and 100s of you wrote in saying you felt heard. I’m happy it resonated, I’m always nervous to express these opinions but there are ALWAYS people out there who relate and need to hear it. You are my people❤️⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
So here are your reminders if you’re grieving or struggling this holiday season, or just reflecting on a hard year:⁣⁣⠀
❤️Be gentle with yourself, your feelings are valid.⁣⁣⠀
❤️You don’t owe anything to anyone, especially in your grief.⁣⁣⠀
❤️It’s ok to feel shitty, period. No ifs, ands, buts or justifications necessary.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Love you guys🤟🤟🤟⁣⁣⠀
📷: @mymotherhoodstory
This photo shoot took years off my life😅🤪 Do This photo shoot took years off my life😅🤪 Don’t let the cute faces fool you, it’s HARD to get a toddler to stay still and a newborn to not cry🤣 But we snapped a couple gems, these two quite literally light up my life💖 http://liketk.it/34ldF
Just love this little Christmas corner with all of Just love this little Christmas corner with all of our stockings🌲🥰 Anyone else getting snow tonight!? I’m excited! I love the snow and I love seeing the magic in Luca’s eyes, he just lights up over the littlest things and it makes this season so much brighter for us✨
.
I linked everything I could in the @liketoknow.it app or head to the link in my bio for my blog and holiday home decor post with all my winter home inspo❄️ http://liketk.it/345gU
Third postpartum, second c-section, a little more Third postpartum, second c-section, a little more prepared for recovery this time and it’s going a lot smoother. I shared some of my postpartum favorites/must haves in stories today as well as on the blog (link in my bio)! ⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Also shared some tips I wish I knew the first time around like to not feel ashamed to ask for help or guilty for taking care of myself. That’s my biggest tip —⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Take care of yourself.⁣⁣⠀
Take care of yourself.⁣⁣⠀
Take care of yourself.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
I can’t stress this enough. It’s the norm in our society to focus more on the baby than the mom but during the fourth trimester she needs care and attention now more than ever. You can’t take care of your baby without taking care of yourself first❤️⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Some other postpartum tips:⁣⁣⠀
🌿take all the pictures and take pictures with you in them, they will be absolute treasures to look back on, especially the ones where you look like crap (I promise you don’t actually look like crap, it’s real life though, which are the best to look back on)⁣⁣⠀
🌿you may not know what you’re doing but listen to your instincts, the mama instinct is strong and it’s REAL⁣⁣⠀
🌿take home all the things from the hospital (pads, disposable undies, abdominal binder, all of it)🙌⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
If you are postpartum after loss you’re still postpartum but it’s even harder without your baby. Cabbage leaves, peppermint essential oil and a tight sports bra to help get rid of your milk supply. Find a grief counselor and a support group, validation and acknowledgement is everything. I’ve been there and it’s the literal worst, be gentle with yourself. You are still a mother❤️
📷 @jessicamicciophoto
How I’ve eaten dinner for the past 6 weeks😂 I How I’ve eaten dinner for the past 6 weeks😂 I basically live in this spot from the hours of 5pm to 10pm, either nursing or calming the babe — toddler not pictured but equally as demanding🤪 — cluster feeding is hardddd!! I know it doesn’t last forever. I know I will miss these days. It’s still hard. And nope, don’t need to supplement, milk supply is killin it. More encouragement, less unsolicited advice. Sometimes we just want to voice the struggles without being told what to do✌️
  • About
  • Mom & Baby
    • Baby Loss
  • Beauty & Style
  • Garden
  • Home
  • Lifestyle
  • Wellness
    • Grab Your Oils Bundle
    • Oils Kit Intro
    • Ditch & Switch Guide
    • Favorite Young Living Products
    • About Essential Rewards
    • Why I Use Oils
  • Shop
    • Grab Your Oils Bundle
    • Shop My Amazon Storefront
    • Shop My Instagram
    • Shop Clean Skincare
    • Shop Instagram Stories
  • Nav Widget Area

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

Christine Covino

- The Blog -

Gender Neutral Nursery Tour

January 17, 2019 / Mom & Baby

This post may contain affiliate links

Gender Neutral Nursery Tour

During my pregnancy with Luca we decided not to find out the gender until birth. It was such an amazing moment and both Alex and I were incredibly happy we chose to be surprised (read more HERE). Many people thought we were crazy for waiting to find out and I learned that you either love the idea or hate it haha. Like I said, we LOVED the entire experience through and through so when it came to designing the baby’s room it was an easy decision to go for a gender neutral nursery colors and decor. Our home is filled with neutrals, my wardrobe is neutral, I’m just drawn to that color pallet in general, so it was a very natural design process for me!

It ended up being a very slow process though because I am extremely indecisive when it comes to the details! Everything had to be just right, especially for our new baby. But I loved taking it slow, plus it gave me something to do during my nesting phase!

Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration.

The nursery was our old guest room and for some reason five years ago when we moved in we decided to paint it yellow. What was I thinking!? It was hideous and I was so excited to get int there and repaint. We went with the color “Owl Grey” by Benjamin Moore. It’s a very beautiful, very light shade of grey and provided the perfect blank slate to start dreaming up and decorating a neutral nursery.

The room is also extremely tight, only 10’x12′ with only one blank wall – the three others have a door, window, and small closet. We chose to place the crib against the blank wall so we could hang a mobile and signage above. We purchased the crib (and dresser) from my favorite local furniture store, Country Willow. They took a while to come in but were worth the wait – they are stunning pieces. I have linked similar ones at the bottom of this post!

Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration.

Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration.

Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration.
Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration.

The dresser with changer top is on the same wall as the entry door which I like because it’s super easy to access for changing! We went with crisp white for the furniture and I love how it subtly contrasts the light grey walls.

Once we had the big pieces in place it was time for the fun stuff – decor! It’s so funny because I didn’t have a strong feeling either way (boy or girl) my entire pregnancy but I did have an underlying, subconscious thought that the baby inside me was a boy. I was drawn to blue tones my entire pregnancy! Which is strange for me because usually, I am more attracted to warm tones like reds and pinks.

The room needed something central to tie the furniture pieces together but I didn’t want to go with a big rectangular rug for fear it would overpower the space. I ended up going with a light blue distressed-pattern circle rug which is about 6′ diameter. Even if the baby was a girl I think the light blue would have been super pretty and I would have accented the room in other ways!

Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration.

We hung shallow bookshelves on the wall opposite the crib and filled them with books we received at my shower – SO MANY BOOKS! Haha but so thankful for every single one! We chose these shallow shelves from Pottery Barn to save space. I still almost hit my head on them when I go to throw diapers out so I can’t imagine if we got normal-depth shelves. These ones worked perfectly for us!

We decided to go with these sheer curtains (in white) from Pottery Barn as well. I love how soft and light they are and feel they compliment both the wall color and the white furniture. They are another piece, like the rug, that really ties the room together. No, they are not necessary or functional, but the way they fall and drape is so gorgeous and it makes me happy!

Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration.

Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration.

The little touches were my favorite part and I added them here and there throughout the last few weeks of my pregnancy. I had this beautiful canvas calligraphed and watercolored by one of my favorite accounts to follow on Instagram, @Letterstou. Calligraphy is one of those things, like photography, that I don’t mind investing in. I LOVE supporting small, women-owned and operated artisanal businesses and Tammy is one of those people. Plus ALL her work is stunning and I am obsessed.

Tammy has an Etsy shop filled with beautiful work for all occasions and was able to design this custom piece for the nursery. It is so special to me because my mother wrote this rhyme for me when I was a baby. Now it hangs in my own son’s room and gives me all the feels.

I think its such a lovely touch to add something personal like this!

gender neutral nursery

The alpaca theme came by accident – I was browsing the Hello Birdie Birdie Etsy shop (she is another Instagram account I love following!) and stumbled upon her alpaca mobile. It was PERFECT! We love alpacas in our family because my mother in law has had her own heard at their farm for the past 10 years. They are like part of the family!

I had to have the mobile, that was a no brainer, and then I happened to stumble upon the alpaca stuffed animal collection from Pottery Barn Kids. They were ADORABLE, and the quality is actually great, so I ordered all three sizes! I also snagged a beautiful light (kind of beachy-toned) hamper and a few matching toy/miscellaneous smaller baskets at Pottery Barn as well. For Luca’s first Christmas we purchased him the matching alpaca rocker and now the room is really complete!

The bed sheets and crib skirt were also Pottery Barn Kids purchases (I was registered there and had lots of gift cards!). I have linked similar options at the bottom of this post!

Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration.

Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration.
Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration.

Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration.

I grabbed two white lamps from Wayfair (both pretty and functional because we have no overhead light in the room). And a beautiful, inexpensive mirror from Target as well. Matching diaper caddy baskets from Pottery Barn completed the changing station and keeps all our essentials organized to this day!

I opted for no rocking chair or glider just because of how small the room is. It would have been way to overcrowded, and I am actually glad we didn’t spend the money (they’re expensive!!). I ended up being more comfortable on the couch or in bed while breastfeeding because of my C-section and the difficult recovery.

We did add in a chair that we had been storing since our wedding though! Score for repurposing and not having to buy new!! The chair is another blue item that I just felt called to bring into the room (or maybe it was another intuition thing!). It looks beautiful in its new home and I actually have used it a few times to nurse! I also paired this neutral pouf with the chair as a footrest and neutral pillow for texture and physical back support.

Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration.

The finishing touches were added after Luca was born! Things like his beautiful name sign (found on Etsy), stuffed animals and some handmade blankets from his grandmothers and friends. I had the most wonderful time designing this special room for our baby, I hope you enjoy the photos!

Gender Neutral Nursery Source Links

I have linked everything possible from Luca’s nursery below!

Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration. Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration. Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration. Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration. Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration.
Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration. Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration. Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration. Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration.

Are you looking for a gender neutral nursery for your new bundle of joy? Check out our gender neutral nursery tour for great ideas and inspiration.

 

signature

Subscribe to the Blog!


Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

  1. Danielle says

    January 18, 2019 at 12:36 pm

    I love the look of this nursery, I do agree that the rug (and the pouf) which are by far some of my favorite things in the room it is all stunning and very affordable. Great job mama!!!!

    Reply
    • christinemcovino says

      January 18, 2019 at 7:02 pm

      Aw!! Thank you so much!! Thank you for checking it out!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. BEST VALENTINE'S DAY BOOKS FOR KIDS & OUR COZY READING NOOK - Christine Covino says:
    February 3, 2020 at 10:27 pm

    […] Gender Neutral Baby Nursery […]

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Meet Christine!

Click here to learn more about me!

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Instagram

Mental health check in, how’s everyone doing?? I Mental health check in, how’s everyone doing?? I shared how I’m doing in stories today, we made it through the holidays but it was a lot harder than I thought. I’m sruggling in a few ways. Struggling on social media with the comparison game, struggling in general as a stay at home mom of two, struggling with a fussy two month old that doesn’t sleep, struggling that I’m unable to do things for me right now (like even go to the bathroom or shower alone), struggling with the omnipresent grief and anxiety, struggling with guilt — guilt over not giving my oldest enough attention, over wanting him to start back at school again, over not being happy and grateful 24/7.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
If I learned anything last year it was to accept my feelings as they come and not label any as “bad,” so that’s what I’m working on, that’s my daily reminder. As my friend said to me today, this is hard, it’s the trenches!! Be gentle. It’s hard and wonderful all at once.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Check in below👇⁣⁣⠀
❤️ - I’m feeling great⁣⁣⠀
🧡 - I’m feeling ok⁣⁣⠀
💛 - I’m surviving⁣⁣⠀
💚 - I’m struggling⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Let’s show up and support each other and remind each other we’re not alone in these hard days🖤
Took this week to unplug and reflect. Wild year. M Took this week to unplug and reflect. Wild year. Mixed feelings about a new year is not foreign to me, this is how I felt last year going into 2020. 2019 was Liam’s year, it was the worst but it gave me a perspective I’ll never lose and one I carried into 2020.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Through hardship you grow.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
2020 saw more focus on me, on my mental wellness + on my family. Less worrying about what people think of me, less apologizing, more doing what makes me happy (or gets me through the day). More of that in this space also. I’m not going to be everyone’s cup of tea so might as well be me, ALL of me💯✌️⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
I’m not a resolution or goal setter when it comes to a new year, I try to focus on reflecting, releasing what doesn’t serve me any longer + manifesting/using affirmations to bring the good. Still working on what those are exactly for 2021!⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
In the meantime I wanted to share some of my big 2020 memories and wish you all love, light, peace and healing in the new year✨⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
1-2. Our new family unit🧡⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
3-4. The birth of our daughter, Elora, the best thing to come out of 2020. She is the brightest light.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
5. Luca’s love for his sister + once again navigating a “new normal” in our family.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
6. Pregnancy after loss. Amidst a global pandemic. While wrangling a toddler. One of the hardest things I’ve ever done, it was pure survival mode (+ still is postpartum).⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
7. Growing the most beautiful dahlias and diving more into gardening than ever before, mostly as a form of therapy, AND sharing it all with you guys — connecting through our gardens was one of my favorite parts of the year + growing this community has brought me so much joy!⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
8. Finding my groove and launching my oils business — never thought I would make more than my blogging income + be able to pay off debt😭⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
9. Luca turning 2 and weaning + potty training at the same time — his decisions, not mine!⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
10. Liam’s due date in April. I remember wishing more than anything for the chance to deliver him healthy and full term, pandemic and all. We miss our boy + are moving forward WITH him, we’ll love him forever from afar❤️
Chaotic and beautiful and hard and exhausting and Chaotic and beautiful and hard and exhausting and awesome❤️ exactly how I want to remember this day. We’re sending you big love this Christmas, complete with our best “ewie smiles” (Luca’s term for silly faces🤣). I love how Doobie snuck his nose in there too!! Swipe for some special moments/things of the day❤️❤️
⋒ 8 weeks of Elora Leigh ⋒⁣⁣⠀ ⁣⁣⠀ ⋒ 8 weeks of Elora Leigh ⋒⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
You have been here in our arms for almost two whole months and my heart still skips a beat when I wake up and see you next to me. You are truly here. I still can’t believe you’re real and you’re ours.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
At 8 weeks you’re not such a tiny babe anymore, you’ve doubled your birth weight and grew four inches — a testament to how much you love to eat😅🍼 (pic four is day 3 for reference!). Your chubby cheeks are also a testament to your love of milk😍😍 The super sleepy newborn days are over😭 You’re waking up more and more, crying more too (see pic three🤪), but still giving us good stretches of sleep (4-5 hours) at night. You don’t love cuddling with me as much as your brother did, I’m still in denial over that! And you’ve broken out of the swaddle, sleep sackin it up already! Luca loves you more than anything and is always wanting to hold you and help me clean your “spiggups,” he calls you “mista baby” and it killssss your dad and I every time🤣⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
I feel like you just arrived but also like I’ve known you forever. Happy 8 weeks of life Elora, you are so loved💗⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
#8weeks #eloraleigh #watcheloragrow
Unpopular or popular opinion? Gratitude is hard wh Unpopular or popular opinion? Gratitude is hard when you’re struggling.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Gratitude, when forced, feels like shame. As the wise @sitwithwhit said the other day, it’s  the new toxic positivity — if we’re going to feel sad, then we better be grateful too.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
The pressure on the bereaved to feel and express gratitude in their grief is REAL.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
So here is my reminder — It’s ok to *not* balance out your pain with gratitude. ⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
To me, when gratitude is forced I feel inauthentic and ashamed. When everyone is talking about gratitude journals and how to “focus on the good,” I feel left out.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Let’s normalize expressing pain and grief without following it up with “BUT... gratitude.” It’s like saying that makes our pain seem more bearable from the outside. I get it. Grief is uncomfortable. Pain is ugly. It’s easier to look away. It’s easier to engage if the griever ends their thought on a positive, that’s the pressure. But what if I don’t feel positives in my pain?⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
If gratitude helps you to process your grief, that is really great. Everyone grieves differently. I spoke about this in stories today and 100s of you wrote in saying you felt heard. I’m happy it resonated, I’m always nervous to express these opinions but there are ALWAYS people out there who relate and need to hear it. You are my people❤️⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
So here are your reminders if you’re grieving or struggling this holiday season, or just reflecting on a hard year:⁣⁣⠀
❤️Be gentle with yourself, your feelings are valid.⁣⁣⠀
❤️You don’t owe anything to anyone, especially in your grief.⁣⁣⠀
❤️It’s ok to feel shitty, period. No ifs, ands, buts or justifications necessary.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Love you guys🤟🤟🤟⁣⁣⠀
📷: @mymotherhoodstory
This photo shoot took years off my life😅🤪 Do This photo shoot took years off my life😅🤪 Don’t let the cute faces fool you, it’s HARD to get a toddler to stay still and a newborn to not cry🤣 But we snapped a couple gems, these two quite literally light up my life💖 http://liketk.it/34ldF

JOIN THE TRIBE

______________________________

Thank You!


You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Recent Posts

Postpartum Mama Must Haves

One Month Postpartum Update

Categories

  • Baby Loss
  • Beauty & Style
  • Gardening
  • Gift Guides
  • Home
  • Lifestyle
  • Mom & Baby
  • Travel
  • Wellness

Trending Posts

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 Try On Haul

Tips for Traveling & Flying with a Baby: The Complete Guide

28 Memory-Making Christmas Traditions to Start This Season

AT-HOME SELF CARE IDEAS

Copyright © 2021 · Christine Covino · Site Credit · Branding by High Note Designs · Privacy Policy

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy