About Me
Hi friends! Welcome to Mama Needs a Manual. I am so glad you stopped by.
I am Ashley. Wife to Bryan, Mama to Caleb, David and Ethan (yes, we are ABCDE). I am also a daughter of God, saved by His grace alone. I love coffee, crafting, baking, and curling up on the couch with a good book. I also love chasing our kiddos around and being active whenever I get the chance. And, I am a professional problem-solver of sorts (I have my Masters in Mathematics from Texas A&M University and I am a private Calculus tutor).
Becoming a Mom 3 and a half years ago has been the greatest joy and greatest challenge of my life. The transition from AP Calculus teacher to stay-at-home Mama of one very hard little baby was much more challenging than I ever imagined. Our family has quickly grown, and now we have had 3 little men in a little over 3 years!
There were many times I wish I had a manual to go to for advice. The problem is there wasn’t just one, there were hundreds. I spent hours reading books before having our first and spent many, many, many more hours searching online to trouble-shoot his problems as an infant and then toddler. I also sent many texts to my experienced Mom friends asking for advice, and for them, I am beyond grateful.
God may have taken me out of my official classroom, but he hasn’t removed my teacher’s heart and my love for problem-solving. I’ve found that the one thing you can count on as a parent is that your child will continue to change. As soon as you get used to or “solve” one stage, he’s on to the next one. For a decade, I spent my days solving problems (in college and in the classroom), but “solving” my kids has proved to be a much more difficult task with so many variables and so many opinions (and somehow what worked for kid #1 doesn’t work for kid #3!).
This blog has become my new classroom where I plan to share the practical trouble-shooting tips I have learned as I’ve struggled through each phase. While what we see on social media may be the highlights of most people’s lives, I want to be real. Motherhood has been difficult for me, but it has been the biggest blessing, as well. I hope to share some helpful advice and encouragement along the journey. May this be a grace-filled space where you know you are not alone in the trenches!
“Children are not a distraction from your work, they are the most important work.” ~ credited to C.S. Lewis
If you don’t know where to start, check out some of the most popular posts:
How to Break Your 2 year old’s Pacifier Habit Without Tears
Our First Minefield: For our Sweet Baby Sam
The Ultimate Tantrum Survival Guide and Other Bonus Parenting Tips
Cloth Diapers aren’t just for Hippies, Cloth Diapering 101
Mama, Stop Trying to Carry All the Things
Swaddle Review from a Mama who’s tried {almost} all of them
Must Have Baby Registry Items for your 2nd (or 3rd) Baby and Why you should still Register
Baby-wearing 101, a comparison of my 6 carriers
Gospel-Centered Books for Little Ones
Favorite Podcasts for Encouraging Mamas
photo credit: Kate Miller