Hey guys! I’m Parker—owner, founder, CEO, and chief diaper changer at Honey Bleus. Starting a business and becoming a new mom at the same time has been an adventure that’s equal parts chaos and cuddles. Before Honey Bleus, I was working your classic 8:00am-to-5:30pm grind while trying to navigate life with a newborn. Spoiler alert: I couldn’t stand being away from my sweet little nugget (shoutout to Baby Bleu!). So, I made a leap of faith—left the office job and created Honey Bleus: something that could help support my family, fill my creative cup, and, ideally, make a tiny dent in this big ol’ world.
Let me just say: being a first-time mom is like joining a club where no one gives you the manual, but everyone has an opinion. It completely kicked my butt—in the most beautiful, humbling, awe-inspiring way possible. I mean, seriously, HOW WILD is it that the female body can grow an entire human being? Like… a brain, a heart, tiny toes, and adorable baby burps—all from scratch. Every time I look at Bleu, I’m in awe. MY BODY MADE THAT.
But let’s also be real: pregnancy and postpartum aren’t all glowing skin and lullabies. I was sick the entire pregnancy. I gained surprise stretch marks in places no one warned me about, and fun fact: that baby bump doesn’t deflate like a balloon after you give birth. Also, shoutout to the lovely condition where your abs split in half if you, like me, didn’t know you were supposed to roll instead of sit up. Cute, right?
All that to say—this season of life has been beautifully messy. I’ve learned so much, cried (a lot), and found deep joy in the smallest wins. So, for all the new moms out there feeling overwhelmed, here are the top 5 things that helped me keep my sanity (and soul) intact during the newborn phase:
1. Meditation (But Make It “Mom-Friendly”)
Now listen—I didn’t sit cross-legged in a dark room chanting “ommm.” If that’s your thing, amazing! But my version of meditation looked more like worship music playing while bathing Bleu, whispering prayers during car rides, or listening to a sermon while folding tiny laundry. I’d ask God for peace, patience, and help understanding whatever the heck I was supposed to be learning in that moment. I often felt like I had zero clue what I was doing (shoutout to Google for both comforting me and convincing me my baby had 12 rare diseases—because he blew bubbles once). Deep breath, mama. You’re doing great!
2. Get. Outside.
I didn’t realize how much being stuck inside was messing with my head until I took our first walk. Bleu was born in December (aka frozen tundra), so for a while we kept him snuggled in a little bubble. I didn’t mind… until I did. I remember the first warm-ish day, stepping outside, and feeling the sun on my face—and boom. Instant mood boost. Nature: 1, Cabin Fever: 0. Just putting my feet on the ground and breathing fresh air made me feel like myself again.
3. Alone Time (Yes, It’s Allowed)
Moms, hear me out: being constantly attached to a baby—even one as cute as mine—can wear you down. Especially if you’re breastfeeding and feel like a 24/7 human vending machine. On the days I didn’t change out of pajamas (and maybe had a little spit-up hair gel going on), my mental health took a hit. Now, I make it a point to do one small thing every day that makes me feel human. That could be a fresh pair of sweats, a quick rinse in the tub, or throwing on mascara and lip gloss like I’m heading to the Met Gala (spoiler: I’m not). A little effort goes a long way. And major props to my sweet firefighter husband who works long shifts but always makes sure I get a “me moment” when he’s home.
4. Let People Help You (No, It’s Not Weakness)
This was a hard one for me. I wanted to do it all. I wanted to prove I could handle motherhood solo—even when Jake was away for 60-hour stretches. But one particularly brutal day, Bleu cried literally nonstop. I tried everything. Nothing worked. My wonderful mother-in-law Tamara offered to take him for a bit so I could go out and do anything that didn’t involve spit-up or gas drops.
At first, I resisted. Pride is a punk. But the moment she hugged me and told me I was doing a great job, I bawled. I handed over Bleu (for the first time!) and went to get my nails done. When I came back, he was calm and I was reset. Later, my friend Jordan introduced me to this magical tool called the Windi- $12.99 at Target if you needed to know;) (yes, it literally sucks the gas out of babies—and maybe a little poop too… you’ve been warned). If I hadn’t accepted help, I’d still be rocking a gassy baby and a mom brain full of guilt.
5. It’s Not That Serious—Let It Roll Off Your Back
Becoming a parent is HUGE. But it doesn’t need to come with a side of stress soup and unsolicited horror stories. I got so much advice I didn’t ask for, most of it terrifying. And guess what? Just because it happened to someone else doesn’t mean it’ll happen to you. My pregnancy was rough. My delivery? Loved it. Every mom’s story is different. So pick and choose what advice you let in. Block out the noise. You know what’s best for your baby. Trust that.
So there you have it. My unfiltered, chaotic, heart-full journey through newborn motherhood and starting a business. It’s been wild, messy, and beautiful—and I wouldn’t change a single thing.
If you’re a fellow new mama, entrepreneur, or just want to chat, you can reach me anytime at parkerkirkpatrick@honeybleus.com. I’d love to hear your story, swap baby tips, or just laugh about the fact that we’ve all Googled “why is my baby grunting like a tiny goat?”
Thanks for reading, and remember—you’ve got this 💛