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Jam Kotenko

Jam is a brand-new mom to a lovely boy named Jasper (currently 2 years old) and Chance, a rambunctious Jack Russell Terrier-Chihuahua mix. When she's not writing about her life experiences or trying out tech things, she can be found binge-watching TV shows on Netflix or Hulu, raiding the kitchen for snacks, posting photos of her babies on Instagram, or trying her damnedest to nap. She hasn't had a decent nap since getting pregnant in 2015.

The $10 Dress That Every New Mom Needs

Let’s be very, very honest about this — pregnancy and childbirth change your body. Regardless of what tabloid headlines about celebrities’ post-baby bodies and Instagram #fitspo posts might tell you, the reality is that your body’s going to look and…
By Jam Kotenko

I Want Another Baby, But It’s So Hard To Schedule Time To Make One

My husband and I have been successful so far in planning our shared life milestones (and making them happen) ever since we got together eight years ago. We online dated for three months before meeting in person, waited five months before moving in…
By Jam Kotenko

The Book That Got Me Through My Mom Funk

Reading a book 200 times is a surefire way to find out whether you love it or want to throw its rhyming llama couplets into the diaper pail. Children's books especially do a tricky dance for an audience of squinty-eyed parents and wide-eyed tots:…
By Jam Kotenko

Kids Need To Hear About Consent Way Younger Than We Think — I Learned That The Hard Way

"What shall we do about our Large Grown Sons?" the internet has wondered these past weeks. "Surely they aren't all bad." We have all been so busy deconstructing past sexual encounters that people have begun to worry that we are in a "sex panic." Let…
By Jam Kotenko

I Drank Dark Beer For A Week To Boost My Milk Supply, & Here's What Happened

My son is now almost 17 months old, and I'm still breastfeeding him. While I’ve successfully been his only source of liquid nourishment for the first six months of his life, my supply recently took a dip following a stressful family move, and I've…
By Jam Kotenko

Dear People Who Insist I Cut My Son’s Hair

Dear friends, family, and random strangers alike, The next time you see me and my handsome baby, whether it's in person while running errands at the grocery, or virtually on Facebook video chat or Instagram stories, please do me this one favor: stop…
By Jam Kotenko

I Sacrificed My Health To Keep Nursing

I usually love breastfeeding. I love how my 16-month-old son mewls and jumps into my lap when he wants to suckle and be comforted. When he breastfeeds, I feel important and needed and like I’m his favorite person in the world. Breastfeeding is…
By Jam Kotenko

The Pants That Saved Me Postpartum

Let’s be very, very honest about this — pregnancy and childbirth change your body. Regardless of what tabloid headlines about celebrities’ post-baby bodies and Instagram #fitspo posts might tell you, the reality is that your body’s going to look and…
By Jam Kotenko

These $6 Lipsticks Are Giving Me Life

I appreciate the power of makeup. When I'm on Youtube, I always end up in a tutorial K-hole. I can spend hours watching people expertly blend foundation over their blemishes, swipe on eyeliner and mascara without stray lines or clumps, and contour…
By Jam Kotenko

I'm Supplementing So I Can Have A Life Outside Of Motherhood

Since my first baby was born 14 months ago, I have exclusively breastfed him. Today, however, I bought my first can of formula. I decided to supplement because I want to feel like I have a life outside of breastfeeding. When I became pregnant, there…
By Jam Kotenko

We Found The Perfect Postpartum Swimsuit

I like to think of myself as a pretty confident person, so I don’t usually worry about being "swimsuit-ready" for the summer. Although certain areas of my body are flabbier than others, I'm comfortable in my own skin, and that means not caring that…
By Jam Kotenko

I Just Got My First Postpartum Period, But I'm Not Ready To Wean

When I became pregnant, one of the things I was most excited about was breastfeeding. I made an early decision to exclusively breastfeed because I knew it was highly beneficial for me and the baby, and I knew I had the necessary…
By Jam Kotenko

I'm Obsessed With This Blanket-Style Cardigan

Let’s be very, very honest about this — pregnancy and childbirth change your body. Regardless of what tabloid headlines about celebrities’ post-baby bodies and Instagram #fitspo posts might tell you, the reality is that your body’s going to look and…
By Jam Kotenko

My Son's Heart Surgery Showed Me My Own Strength

Finding out you're pregnant when you're trying to have a baby is pretty much like being given a luxuriously wrapped birthday present 10 months early and being told not to open it until the day of. To cope with the torture of waiting, you imagine all…
By Jam Kotenko

My Parents Shamed Me For Scheduling My C-Section

When I first got pregnant, the first image that popped into my mind was a scene I used to draw as a child of two mountains next to each other, with a sun peeking right in the middle. It was probably because it looked a lot like a woman giving birth…
By Jam Kotenko

My Gestational Diabetes Was Actually A Blessing

I’ve always had a hyperactive sweet tooth. I eat Hershey’s Kisses like popcorn. Chocolate pretzels are my go-to treats. And if there’s a buffet, you can bet your ass that I’ll be at the dessert table, sampling all the pastries available and piling…
By Jam Kotenko

Ryan Reynolds And Blake Lively Are Totally Right — You Shouldn't Reveal Your Baby Name

It's a truth universally acknowledged that Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are all kinds of #relationshipgoals. They're best buds, they make each other laugh and despite their celebrity status, they keep their private lives private, especially when…
By Jam Kotenko