Today, I’m sitting back in the waiting room at my gynecologist’s office.
Looking back over the last few months, it’s wild how fast a sudden hormonal shift can wreck your life. It didn’t just throw things off balance; it sent my iron levels plummeting into dangerous territory, leaving me nearly bedridden, drained of every drop of physical energy, and facing a health reality I never saw coming.
Now comes the hard part: rebuilding. Rebuilding the physical stamina I lost when everything went haywire, getting my strength back step by step, and finding my footing in a body that feels different than it used to.
Naturally, it has taken a serious toll on my mental health.
The Weight of Being Mom
As mothers, we carry a silent, unspoken expectation that we are supposed to be invincible. We hold the household together, anchor everyone else’s worries, and keep pushing forward no matter what.
Watching my kids—especially my youngest boy—realize that Mom isn’t made of steel was a tough pill to swallow. Seeing that worry in their eyes broke my heart a little bit.
For a long time, I thought showing weakness meant failing them. But I’ve been leaning on the words of Brené Brown, who reminds us that vulnerability isn’t weakness at all—it’s an essential part of the human experience. Sharing our raw, real vulnerability with the people we love isn’t a flaw; it’s how we connect, heal, and show our children what real resilience looks like when life gets heavy.
The Three V’s of My New Chapter
As I step out of the doctor’s office today and into the weeks ahead, I’m anchoring myself in three V‘s:
- Vulnerability: Dropping the superwoman cape. Being honest with my family when my battery is low, admitting when I’m struggling, and letting them support me instead of trying to carry the world on my shoulders.
- Vitality: Reclaiming my strength with intention. That means getting outside to walk every day, protecting my lungs by quitting vaping for good, and giving my body the oxygen and movement it needs to rebuild stamina.
- Vision: Redefining what nourishing my body looks like. I know I can do this, but it requires a new approach. I’m shifting toward eating less meat, figuring out high-protein, heart-healthy recipes, and adapting all my favorite sweets and treats—turning classic comfort foods into nutrient-dense powerhouses that support my A1C and blood sugar without sacrificing joy.
Walking into a Different Level of Normal
Rebuilding doesn’t mean returning to who I was before everything went sideways. It means adapting to a different level of normal—one where I treat my health as a priority, honor my limits, and rebuild my life with purpose.
It’s messy, it’s uncomfortable, and it sucks having to start from square one. But I know I can do hard things. One walk, one wholesome recipe, and one vulnerable conversation at a time
