Skip to content

my motherhood tokyo

advice and inspiration from an american mother in japan

  • PREGNANCY + CHILDBIRTH IN JAPAN
    • pregnant in japan
    • preparing for birth
    • my pregnancy updates
    • Recommended Caregivers in the Tokyo Area
  • MOTHERHOOD
    • baby led weaning
    • babywearing
    • Asahi’s baby updates
    • mental health
    • favorite products
  • BREASTFEEDING
  • LIFE IN TOKYO WITH KIDS
    • out and about with baby
    • Travel with baby
  • ABOUT ME

pregnancy & childbirth

Check out some of these categories for more on my pregnancy and childbirth experience in Japan!

Pregnancy Updates

Labor & Delivery in Japan

Fitness/Lifestyle

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...
  • Youtube
  • Instagram

Looking for something else?

Check me out on Youtube!

https://youtu.be/ZZkK5ZnbDpA

Instagram

Some of my fondest childhood memories are ones involving a forest. Any forest really. Growing up in “The Evergreen State” (Washington State) meant there were a lot to choose from. I can remember a particular day spent at my grandmas house. Her house was and is still surrounded by trees, and I would often go exploring amongst them. On this particular day, the leaves were ever so slightly wet from an early morning rain as I walked my usual route between the trees, always remembering to keep in site of grandmas house. The air was fresh, and the birds were singing, the perfect magical day. The “path” I was following was really just a deer trail winding about. I came around a rather bushy bush and found a large tree had fallen. On the stump, striking green moss was growing in the sunlight. I touched the wood and it fell away between my fingers as decaying wood does. I leaned against it to look closer and spotted hundreds of tiny black ants going about their ant business. I watched them for awhile, breathing in the scent of the forest. I was probably wondering something, although I can’t remember what. As I got older I came to crave these moments of solitude. Where I could be at peace with myself, often in the comfort of nature. Asahi is also an explorer, like me. I hope that even though our forests looks slightly different here in Tokyo, he can find the same sense of serenity among the trees as I once did. But if not the trees, then somewhere or something else that captivates his imagination. Do you find yourself reliving your own childhood memories while watching your children grow up? • • • #childhood #childhoodmemories #nature #onewithnature #exploration #littleexplorer #realmotherhood #honestmotherhood #boymom #tokyomom #attachmentparenting #getoutside #naturewalk #koishikawabotanicalgarden #tokyoparks #tokyowithkids
Do you change your baby carrier when the weather gets warmer? ☀️ The people that have seen us in the last few weeks know that I’ve been wearing this BEAUTIFUL @pikimama_official sling nonstop! I am obsessed with the black and white pattern because it literally goes with everything! This sling has easily replaced my Ergo because it’s just so much cuter and more convenient. I’ve gotten a lot of questions about it recently so let me tell you a bit about why I like it: ✨Since it’s a sling, it can stay on my body when Asahi isn’t in it so I don’t have anything dragging on the ground like I often do with my Ergo. ✨It also allows Asahi to have a super deep seat so his hips stay in the optimal “M” shape. The sling is suitable for up to 16kg so we can still use it for quite awhile! ✨If you need more support, there is a second piece of fabric that can be tied around their bum and give you more lower back support. ✨The Pikimama sling is made by a local Tokyo mama as well ❤️ If you’re in the market for a new sling, definitely check out @pikimama_official because you won’t be disappointed! • • • #babywearing #babysling #pikimamasling #toddlerwearing #babywearingmama #tokyomom #boymom #tokyowithkids #attachmentparenting #gentleparenting #nikonikopark
#boymom 🥰
Today was ✨STUNNING✨in Tokyo! On these beautiful (not 100% humidity) spring days, I just have to be outside. I like to say that I go out every day so Asahi can get fresh air/experience nature/run around etc, but to be fair it is also for my own mental health. When I got my period back a few months ago I started experiencing intense mood swings and very low, borderline depressed days. Depression is not something I have had to struggle with in my life, but I have known people, close friends, who have and therefore I could recognize the symptoms in myself. However, mine seemed linked to my recently returned menstrual cycle. One of the main ways I could combat such intense emotions was to be outside doing something, anything. If I had to stay in my apartment all day I would literally end the day in tears. And usually in some sort of fight with my poor husband (sorry baby! 😅) Thankfully, after a few months these symptoms have lessened and now gone away as my body has adjusted to a new hormonal normal. But still, I can’t stay indoors for long! 🌵🍃🌸☀️ Has anyone else experienced severe PMS or other mood-related changes since your first postpartum period? • • P.S. Thanks @nattotoast for a great morning out! 🥰 • #postpartum #postpartumperiod #postpartumemotions #pms #mymotherhood #realmotherhood #postpartumchanges #period #sharegreenminamiaoyama #tokyowithkids #toddler #toddlerlife #tokyomom #boymom #toddlermom #mytokyolife #tokyo #minamiaoyama
For the last month or so I’ve been parenting solo for at least one day out of the weekend because Papa has had golf for work. Lucky duck! He deserves the break though so I’m not bitter 😜 Today was one of those golf days so last night I was wondering what I would do with Asahi since it was going to be nice weather. Solo parenting on the weekends can be a bit lonely because everyone is spending time with their own families generally. Lucky for me, I checked Facebook and saw that one of the play groups I am a part of was having an Easter egg hunt at Hibiya Park 🐣 It’s times like these that I’m so grateful for social media and the ability to stay connected with other people in your community. Social media can be a controversial topic, but I really think that, when used properly, it can have a unifying and community building effect. I only knew a few people at the event but about halfway through I had a mom call out to me and offer to share her picnic blanket with Asahi and I. So sweet! And totally something I would have done too. The community here in Tokyo is so special, so open, and I’m so glad I can be a part of it. If you are in Tokyo or have access to Tokyo, I highly recommend joining some of the Facebook groups and creating your own community here. If you ever need recommendations for playgroups, or you want to meet up and chat, definitely send me a message! We are all in this together so let’s keep supporting one another ❤️ • • • #momlife #tokyomom #tokyo #tokyowithkids #sahm #realmotherhood #easter #egghunt #easteregghunt #anpanman #firsteasteregghunt #buildyourtribe #connectingmothers #supportingmothers #hafubaby #hafu #mymotherhood
✨#informedisbest ✨is a topic I’ve been thinking about a lot recently, not necessarily the hashtag but the concept itself. I’m sure many of you have heard of the “breast is best vs fed is best” debate, which basically asks the question of which do you support, breastfeeding or formula feeding? ✨ @natthenaturalmom (follow her!) introduced me to the idea of “informed is best” which is exactly how I would describe my stance on that old debate! #informedisbest places the value not on how you feed your baby, but on how informed you are about your decision. ✨ I’ve found that so many first time mothers (myself included!) knew barely anything about breastfeeding before birth. A lot of time and emphasis is spent on getting through the actual birth, a great hurdle of course, but there is so much more that comes afterward! I am currently reading The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and it is so incredibly useful. I wish I had read it and known what to expect, particularly in the first few weeks, as it would have made things much easier. I was lucky to have a lot of support after birth with my doula and La Leche League, but not everyone has that. ✨ Being informed about breastfeeding prior to birth and knowing where to find support gives you the highest chance of success. If you decide that breastfeeding isn’t right for you, then you at least know that it was your own informed choice. It kills me when I hear people say they quit breastfeeding because they had low milk supply or cracked nipples and no one helped them because those are issues that can be solved. There are ALWAYS ways to continue breastfeeding IF you want to (medical complications aside, although those are rare). ✨ So what about you? Did you read any breastfeeding books before giving birth? Did you feel as informed about baby feeding as you did about the stages of labor? • • • #informedisbest #breastfeeding #breastfeedingmama #nursingmama #beautifulbfing #bfing #breastfeedingsupport #lalecheleague #milkmakingmama #tokyomom #toddlerbreastfeeding #boymom #breastfeedingawareness #freetheboob #normalizebreastfeeding

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

  • A Few Reasons Why I Love Breastfeeding My Toddler April 5, 2019
  • How I Deal With Sleep Deprivation March 19, 2019
  • Asahi at 8 and 9 Months February 28, 2019
  • Asahi at 15 Months February 25, 2019
  • How to Heal Mastitis and Blocked Ducts Without Antibiotics February 15, 2019
Create a website or blog at WordPress.com
%d bloggers like this:
    %d bloggers like this: