Dashanna Hanlon
Dashanna was born in Michigan and raised between there and Virginia. She moved to Massachusetts in 2011 after getting a bachelor’s degree in English and gender studies from the University of Pittsburgh. She married her favorite Massachusetts native (Tom) seven years ago. Together they have two sons, Lucas and Isaiah, born in 2018 and 2019. Becoming a parent ignited a passion for supporting others, and Dashanna became a doula before the birth of her second son. She is now the owner of Caring for Mamas, working with families all over Massachusetts and New Hampshire. She loves fresh-squeezed lemonade, good music, and helping and supporting families.
Plant Mama :: My 8 Favorite Plant Shops in Metro Boston
When my husband and I got married, we moved into an apartment with enough space for a garden. I wasn't sold on buying dirt and putting in a vegetable garden that we'd eventually leave,...
5 Ways to Worry Less About Newborn Sleep
Before I became a parent, if you had asked me when a baby might begin to sleep through the night, I would have made a random guess, like "2 months old." As a first-time...
Learning to Celebrate Others… After a Birthday Gone Wrong
I love celebrating birthdays — for myself and for others. It's like your own personal new year! Each year for my birthday, I reflect on all that has happened over the past year, and...
Things I Learned About Myself Through Buying My First Home
I never imagined myself as a homeowner. It’s a lot of work! Between the never-ending projects and unexpected expenses I heard about regularly from friends, I wasn’t sure this was the best move for...
Social Media Balance as a Mom and Entrepreneur
In the last couple of years I've had more than a few mom friends start businesses or passion projects. Whether it's a side hustle or your full-time job, there has to be some amount...
5 Tips for Introducing Your Pet to Your Newborn Baby
Becoming a parent is a wonderful and beautiful experience! However, there are at least a few things to consider when introducing your newest family member to your furry family member(s).
Some pets seem to know...
Standing in the Nap Gap :: How We Survived an Early Nap Strike
Neither of my kids has napped past the age of 2.5. That’s when naps in our house get really wonky. When my first child stopped napping before age 3, I thought it was a...
Getting Dressed :: Rediscovering My Style as a Mom
I recently came across a "get ready with me" video where a new mom was getting ready for her first post-baby date night — in full glam. I was happy to see she was...
Black Hair Salons for Postpartum Moms in Boston
Ten years ago, just two weeks after moving to Massachusetts, I walked into a hair salon and got the worst haircut of my life. I had no idea how I would feel good about...
Gender Reveals — and How to Cope With Emotional Fallout
"Are you having a boy or a girl?!"
If you've been pregnant, you probably heard this question on repeat throughout your pregnancy.
While plenty of parents prefer to know their baby's gender as early as possible...
Skincare in Pregnancy and Postpartum
If you were looking forward to that "pregnancy glow" but are finding more perspiration and acne, you should know you are far from alone. Our bodies go through so many changes in pregnancy and...
Breaking Up With Birth Control and Learning to Love My Entire Cycle
Until recently, I had never imagined a life without continuous birth control. When I started birth control, I was 19 and in college. My doctor prescribed it and told me the pill was the...