I thought it might be fun to do some 2019 reflections! Best thing, most difficult, something I learned are some prompts 
Best thing: I had an amazing summer with DD! We did so many fun firsts together!
Most difficult: Work feels a bit unstable right now. I am not confident in the direction we're moving.
Something I learned: Denial is a powerful emotion that can severely hold people back from their potential.
pomelo / 5084 posts
@winter_wonder: I’ll play!
Best thing: Age 3-4 was the best yet for my son. Not sure 4-5 is heading that way
Worst thing: Losing my dog of 16 years.
What I learned: A good therapist is a game changer. I am a 100% believer in the power of therapy!
bananas / 9227 posts
Best: Seeing my child grow into a happy student
Most difficult: Accepting that some are just unable to see the value of people that do not fit neatly into their little box.
Something I learned: That I do not need those people in my life, and that's okay 
pear / 1930 posts
Best: DS1 getting his g-tube out at eight months old when doctors predicted he would need it well into toddler-hood
Worst: Getting pregnant while still experiencing PPD. All it did was amplify the PPD.
Something I learned: With three kids, there is no time to fight with OH. I really have to pick my battles now that we are outnumbered.
grapefruit / 4361 posts
Best thing: 3-week Colorado hiking roadtrip as our family of 4.
Most difficult: The exhaustion of having two toddlers and realizing that my marriage, my mental health, and my husband's mental health can't handle a 3rd child (as originally hoped)
Something I learned: that my dad isn't my bio father / I am donor-conceived / I have 8 half-siblings my general age, mainly sisters. 
GOLD / eggplant / 11517 posts
Best: having a surprise baby #2. We were one and done mostly because I found motherhood so difficult and had a traumatic birth. Baby #2 was the sweetest, easiest birth and I feel like I can actually be a good mom to both of my kids now that I have all this practice with my first.
Most difficult: our staggered move across the country! We lived apart from DH while I taught, coached, staged and sold our house, while pregnant and caring for a kindergartener.
Something I learned: two kids is sometimes easier than one because they entertain eachother!
persimmon / 1479 posts
I'm so glad you all joined in!
Reading these reflections is so interesting! @dillonlion: this gives me hope that if we have a 2nd it might be ok!
nectarine / 2242 posts
Best thing: our first trip to Disney - I had low expectations going with three small kids but it was so much better than I could have hoped for and made us really want to travel more with them. Also watching our third kiddo go from baby to toddler and develop a hilarious personality.
Most difficult: my grandmothers passing - she was the last of her generation and her death really had a big impact on my kids
Something I learned: that I need to continue to say NO to things, and to ask for and accept help from DH. It’s easy to fall into martyrdom and it makes me ragey when I do!
pomegranate / 3392 posts
Best thing: proving to myself that I could survive in a tough, demanding job. But also slowly getting clarity that I can and should transition out of this job. Travel with family. Turning 40.
Worst thing: realizing that conceiving baby #2 won't be easy or go on our timeline. All the mental health upheavals and self doubt that has come with the ttc journey.
Something I learned: To live in the moment because there is never a "right" time.
nectarine / 2180 posts
best thing: various travels with my husband and E, we hit the Bahamas, DC, Baltimore, Ontario, Cape Cod, the Poconos, and St. Augestine. I love getting to new places and back to old favorites and its nice to share all of that with E
worst/most difficult thing: Moving my grandfather out of his house and into an assisted living facility and then his death a month later and the accompanying bureaucracy and legal crap that follows death
lesson learned: who I was at 18 and the judgments I passed on people at that time are not permanent things at 31 and its possible to rebuild and restart old relationships
persimmon / 1380 posts
Best: completing our family! Our surprise #3 has just been the sweetest, snuggliest, most chill little bean. I feel very at peace as a family of five.
Most difficult: the small age gap between my 2nd and 3rd (17 months) and the extreme mom attachment and separation anxiety that DS2 has. It’s getting better but the end of summer and fall were hard months for me.
What I learned: to ask for what I want/need instead of assuming other people know or will figure it out. I don’t have time for that. Also, I think this is more of a mid 30s realization, but I’ve stopped caring a lot about what anyone thinks of me.
pear / 1622 posts
Best thing: My SO graduated from school and has a job he likes. DS2 is potty trained. Kids are doing well.
Most difficult: Job changes for me and my SO at the same time along with a school change for DS1. Feeling like I lost my work friends when I changed jobs.
Something I learned: Challenging ourselves is good to do.
I love that Matt Damon SNL skit Best Christmas Ever - I feel like that is how life is now.
persimmon / 1419 posts
Best thing: Bringing our daughter home after three losses and a very complicated pregnancy, and the past two months we’ve had the luxury to spend at home as a family of three.
Hardest thing: The stress of dealing with a Murphy’s Law pregnancy after three losses. I truly did not believe our daughter would come home until the day we were discharged from the NICU. But, against all odds, she’s here and perfect.
Something I learned: Not really a new lesson, but I’m still working on cutting myself slack when things don’t go to plan. For a while I was so set on BFing and put so much pressure on myself that I thought I was coming down with PPD when it wasn’t working. I started EPing (with a little BFing for snuggle time/in case it clicks) and as soon as I came to terms with it my feelings of failure went away entirely.
nectarine / 2431 posts
Best: Seeing my kids play together now that they are 4.5 and nearly 1.5
Most difficult: Coming to terms with our family being "done." Part of me wants a third, but my husband basically ran to the urologist for a vasectomy when DD was 4 months old. He was never going to be persuaded.
Something I learned: I honestly don't know! I might have to come back to this one.
pomegranate / 3973 posts
Best: Our first big family vacation to Colorado for 5 days. And both my sisters got engaged!
Most difficult: Dealing with DH's family and all their drama.
Something I learned: Just because a person is "family", does not mean they need to be a part of your life. (This is still hard to accept).
kiwi / 549 posts
Best: Watching DD grow into the cutest, most fun toddler and experiencing true joy in being her mom! I never imagined I would like it this much.
Hardest: Being across the country from family and feeling like we are doing DD a disservice by living here. Will probably feel like this every year.
Something I learned: It’s the little things! The more I focus on the day to day and stop worrying about every what if, the happier I am.
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