Author name: Maria Ellis

As a kid, nothing fueled my imagination quite like a captivating movie—especially when I got to see it on the big screen. I remember the excitement of walking into the theater, the anticipation as the lights dimmed, and the magic of that enormous screen transporting me to worlds beyond my wildest dreams. Now, as an […]

Over 20 years ago, during my second pregnancy, I experienced a debilitating case of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Often given the misnomer morning sickness, the symptoms of nausea and vomiting are rarely limited to the morning, and with HG, are usually nonstop. The experience, one of the most horrific of my life, was made worse due

It’s barely 6 am when my 3-year-old’s arm flops onto my belly. What time is it? When did he come in here? Where’s the baby? Whew. Our 8-week-old is tucked into the curve of my C curl, soft milky breaths warm against the skin of my chest. From my other side, his big brother’s hand

My two-year-old daughter and I are onboard a vintage locomotive, watching as a baby deer leaps in and out of the desert brush next to us. The sun is setting behind the hazy blue mountains as the wind whips through the open train car. We’re on our way to star gaze through high-powered telescopes on

Okay Nugget fans, I’ve got some major news! The geniuses behind the iconic modular play couch that basically launched an entire category of kid furniture? Today they’ve gone and dropped their first ever new product–the adorably-named Chunk! What exactly is the Chunk, you ask? Only the coolest little ottoman ever. (And no, they didn’t just

Giving birth to my son Rye in 2016 feels like a lifetime ago. Back then, hope filled the air—Obama was president, and Hillary Clinton seemed poised to follow. As a Black woman, I finally felt a sense of being seen, of progress being made. But the reality of childbirth for me was far from hopeful.

I never wanted my kids to suffer the way I did. Unfortunately, despite all my best efforts, all my vows to do things differently, I could only watch in heartache as my daughter’s anxiety wreaked damage—at only 7 years old. I knew the signs all too well, having grown up so debilitatingly anxious that I

Moms deserve Mother’s Day. But Mother’s Day is just the beginning, not the end, of supporting moms.  Moms also deserve support the other 364 days of the year. Just as moms are a dynamic force, we can utilize this holiday in a dynamic way to honor and celebrate the mothers in our lives while also

So many of us know the juggling act of wiping noses while answering work calls. We’ve shown up to meetings with breakfast on our shirt and checked our email while in the school pickup line. If this sounds familiar, know you’re not alone. As a mother to two toddlers, I’m well-acquainted with feeling torn between

“You look too young to be a mom,” the bright barista smiles at me, as she hands me my morning espresso.  “Thanks,” I respond, grateful for the compliment after waking up at 5 am with my toddler.  She’s being kind I think, surely I look closer to 40 than 30 right now. I secretly hope