Joanie Baumgardner

Joanie is a stay at home mom to 6 month old Brooke. She has a background in the performing and healing arts, and has always loved writing. The road to Brooke was long and complicated, with IVF as part of the story. She loves to connect with folks about her struggles with infertility, mental health, and mothering. She's passionate about dispelling stigmas, supporting marginalized communities, and learning how to be a more impactful ally. Being a stay at home mom is "all she's ever wanted" but amongst the starry eyed feeling of a dream fulfilled, she is now experiencing the multifaceted challenges of parenthood.

Loading...

It's Not Your Fault, Mama

Joanie Baumgardner

/

Parenting,Toddlerhood and Young Children

It’s not your fault, Mama.It’s not your fault she doesn’t want to eat chicken tonight. Even though you’re not sure if youmanaged to buy the same kind this week.You’re not doing anything wrong- some babies take a long time to walk. Just because there arethings they suggest to get them walking doesn’t mean it’s your fault that those things aren’tworking.You...

The Unseen Work

Joanie Baumgardner

/

Early Postpartum,Joy, Rage & Grief,Parenting,Time & Identity

The Unseen Work Decide how to feed What to feed When to feed Keep inventory of Diapers Wipes Clothing Formula Medicine Food Troubleshoot Nipple size Diaper size Bottle type Laundry soap Toys Keep the right size clothes and diapers in diaper bags Schedule and take child(ren) to doctors Be able to answer any and all of their questions (what color...

Worth Every Shot

Joanie Baumgardner

/

Birth & Loss,Joy, Rage & Grief,Pregnancy & Fertility

The shots are the easy part. It’s not just shots anyway. It’s multiple transvaginal ultrasounds. Welts from the shots that get bigger and more numerous with each passing day. The hormone fueled roller coaster that has you feeling elated, ragey and depressed somehow simultaneously. Don’t forget the mindfuck of the hope that maybe this will work. It’s crumbling a bit more...

Left Behind

Joanie Baumgardner

/

Joy, Rage & Grief,Parenting,Time & Identity,Toddlerhood and Young Children

I feel left behind. Many emails that I’m receiving and pictures I’m seeing on social media depict a “post Covid” world. A world in which folks are no longer wearing masks, or keeping their distance from each other. I see people taking long postponed vacations, rescheduling weddings and having big parties. Getting on planes, going about their lives as if...

Promoted to Full Time Mom

Joanie Baumgardner

/

Early Postpartum,Joy, Rage & Grief,Parenting

About to be promoted…. To full time stay at home mom. We’ve been lucky- she’s almost 7 months old and my husband has been home the whole time. He quit his job in December 2019 because his boss was a jackass. Then IVF happened. Then COVID-19 happened. Then (thank god) pregnancy happened. Then baby happened. So here we are, nearly...

Stupid Comments

Joanie Baumgardner

/

Birth & Loss,Joy, Rage & Grief,Pregnancy & Fertility

From the woman I haven’t seen since before the pandemic: “I didn’t even know you had a baby!!! How’s it going? Got it all figured out? Ready for another one?” From the dude I hadn’t seen since the pandemic ended: “Ah another pandemic baby! Nothing to do at home during covid other than that, huh?” From the slightly more informed...