How does Hilary Erickson's personal experience influence her views on motherhood and parenting?

Hi, I’m Hilary Erickson from The Pregnancy Nurse®.

My personal experience as both a mom of three and a longtime labor nurse shapes pretty much everything I say about motherhood and parenting.

On the motherhood side, I’ve:

• Been through newborn “life-180” shifts, where your whole world suddenly revolves around a baby and you lose track of your own hobbies and identity
• Felt how long it can take for your brain, energy, and interests to come back online after birth and through postpartum hormones
• Dealt with my own mental-health lows and the slow climb back to basic self-care, and then to real personal fulfillment again

Because of that, I really emphasize:

• Tiny, doable self-care steps (like learning a small hobby or doing something that’s “yours”)
• Reassuring moms that it truly does get easier, but not overnight
• Helping women see that they’re allowed to be their own person, not just a caregiver, and that this actually makes them better parents

On the parenting side, especially with teens, my real-life experience shows up in how I talk about:

• Fear-based vs. reality-based parenting: I’ve caught myself parenting from fear about phones, clothes, and dating, and then intentionally shifted to more open, positive, communication-based approaches
• Technology and phones: I use my phone, I struggle with it, and I talk about that honestly with my kids instead of pretending it’s only “their” problem
• Clothing and modesty: Growing up with strict rules, I’ve consciously moved toward letting my daughter make more of her own choices, using conversations and natural consequences (Was that outfit comfortable? Did you feel cold?) instead of control
• Opposite-gender relationships and dating: I use gradual exposure and lots of talking, instead of strict rules and then a sudden “you’re 16, do whatever” moment
• Being a “better parent by kid #3”: I openly admit I was learning on the job with my first, and that I’ve improved over time. That humility feeds how I encourage other parents to give themselves grace and grow.

All of this makes my advice very practical and realistic rather than idealized. I’m not talking from a perfect-theory place; I’m talking from “I’ve been tired, overwhelmed, and scared I’m doing it wrong, too.”

Is there a specific area of motherhood or parenting you’re most curious about—postpartum identity, self-care, or parenting teens and tech?