The Road To Bliss Is Winding

10/09/2014

For the past 3 years I have been struggling with unexplained Secondary Infertility. While I am grateful for the precious angel who is already part of my life, I had always imagined that our family would be larger than 3. This journey has been a very private struggle, despite my role at Mommy Connections where I connect with tons of women on a personal level every day.

My readers have told me that their favourite blog posts are the ones where I offer a glimpse into what is happening in my own life. These posts (like this one written while waiting for my son to come out of dental surgery) are often unedited and emotional for me to write. I find it easier to just put it all out there and hit “publish” – so bear with any grammatical errors that might appear 😉

I was thrilled to be invited to BlissDom Canada – the country’s largest social media conference for experienced and novice bloggers, social media experts, and brands looking to grow their online presence. Although I had been looking forward to it for months, BlissDom arrived at a time in my life where I was feeling anything but “bliss”.

As the conference rolled into town, we had just finished our third and final Frozen Embryo Transfer a few weeks prior. I was optimistic about the results, and I was excited to jump into all that Blissdom had to offer. The first morning of the conference I was sent scurrying back to bed with a horrific migraine. And while I still don’t know why my body won’t allow me to become a mom again, I certainly know when it’s not happening. Hormonal migraines have always been a sign that our fertility treatments did not work. I took a pregnancy test, and saw the heartbreaking single line. I wanted to crawl into a dark hole for the remainder of my “blissful” weekend.

Forcing myself to put on my big girl panties, I summoned up the courage to hit the afternoon sessions. I wasn’t feeling like myself, and was incredibly anxious and shy. Joining the conference mid way through was terrifying. I thought that friendships had already been formed. I was the new kid at school, walking into a full cafeteria and unsure of where to sit. It turns out that I was actually walking into a warm and welcoming hug. BlissDom introduced me to new kindred spirits who believe in the importance of social networks for new moms.  I met a business coach who will help me with this next phase of Mommy Connections. Most importantly, it gave me the courage to write about something so personal.

When it comes to my business, my biggest fear is that as my son grows up I no longer have an adorable baby to give me “street cred” among new moms. As the memories of breastfeeding, teething, and sleepless nights begin to fade (and yes, they will fade!) I worry that moms will no longer connect with me on such a personal level. My promise to you, no matter the age of my child or yours, is that I will always be supportive of your parenting choices. I will provide you with comfort, and a strong support network as you navigate those challenging first years. Our experts will make sure that you’re learning, having fun and even getting the occasional glimpse into the woman you used to be prior to becoming a mom 😉

This fertility challenge has made me a more spiritual person. Another little known fact about me is that I stumbled into Mommy Connections and the world of entrepreneurship after being downsized during my final weeks of pregnancy. My previous role was a marketing manager at a major CPG company, and I never would have dreamed that I would find my niche as a business owner supporting new moms. Sometimes the universe throws you a curve ball, in order to open you up to a new and better place. I am hopeful that on the other end of this challenging period, I will find a bigger and more enlightened purpose.

I am seeking out a path that will continue to support the wonderful moms I’ve met as their wee ones grow up. I invite you to continue with me this journey. Please keep in touch once you have completed your program. Join in the conversations on Facebook & Twitter, subscribe to our bi-monthly newsletter, and join us at our monthly social events. Share this post with anyone you think might benefit from knowing that they are not alone.  Please also continue to share your parenting struggles and your triumphs, and let me know when I can provide the “connections” you need to embrace motherhood.

I am going to hit publish now, before I lose my nerve…