This May, Nixplay celebrates the most amazing women in our lives: our Super Moms. What’s even more fantastic than juggling work, marriage, and being a mother, right? We know it isn’t easy and, for a lot of new moms, transitioning from independence can be daunting. It’s a frantic life, but the rewards are absolutely worth it.
We got to chat with blogger, yogi, body positivity advocate, and real-life Super Mom Emily Nolan, who shares several realizations that may help new moms ease into the latest adventure of their lives. Read on!
Please tell us about yourself.
Emily Nolan: I’m a mama (and wife), first and foremost. I’m also a radically honest blogger and a model. I love to write, and I’m currently writing a book on how and why we need to learn to radically accept ourselves. I love sharing this journey of confidence with other women by organizing events like Topless Yoga and Be Pretty Brave wellness retreats.
Fun fact? I had a super embarrassing moment that recently happened when I just started to go out of the house after having a baby. I totally overshared with the front desk attendant at my gym and told her just how much milk I have (in my breasts!). I know, so bad. I was craving a conversation and killed all my chances.
We’re fans of your blog. We’ve seen you transform from a naive young woman into a fearless champion of self-acceptance. Can you share with our Nixplay family what you’ve learned from these stages of your life?
Emily Nolan: One takeaway from my entire life experience is to be brave enough to radically accept yourself for who you are and what you look like. I know that I’ll never be stick-thin. My mother and grandmother are both strong, beautiful women. Instead of fighting my body type with diets or excessive exercise, I focus on nourishing myself the best that I can, sleeping enough, and managing stress levels with hobbies and downtime.
You’ve entered a new phase with Ollie in the picture. What was the biggest change by far?
Emily Nolan: The biggest challenge I faced as a new mom is learning to fit a codependent baby into my life. I am a very independent person, so I can’t pick up and go like I used to. That being said, I love my life, it’s just very different and requires more thought before action.
Can you tell us about your best “Super Mom” moment?
Emily Nolan: My best “Super Mom” moment was labor and delivery. There is nothing more super than giving birth. I appreciate you recognizing me as a “super mom.” I don’t always feel that way because I don’t have a ton to compare to (I think that’s a good thing!). I do work my butt off to try and get all my work done so I can be present with Oliver while he’s awake. We love to be outside and take walks around our neighborhood.
What are your final tips for new moms and soon-to-be moms?
Emily Nolan: Being a new mother is not intuitive, no matter how many times people will tell you it is. Reach out for help. Look for experts like baby sleep coaches (I used @takingcarababies), certified lactation consultants, baby feeding specialists among others. There are experts in everything who will guide you and make the process much easier for you. There’s also no such thing as too much information, so just take what you need and leave all the stuff that doesn’t fit into your lifestyle or serve you.
Learn more about Emily by visiting emilynolan.com. Don’t forget to read her new blog: 7 Things Every New Mom Needs to Know.