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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.
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...
Plant Mama :: My 4 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,...
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...
Approaching the Seven-Year Itch :: Putting Our Marriage Front And Center
While I don't consider getting married an accomplishment, I have come to consider staying married an accomplishment. Choosing to stay in a relationship and love someone through years of change is pretty incredible. We...
The Real Post-Holiday Must Haves for Toddler Moms
We all know to stock up on batteries of various sizes and to buy an extra roll of tape before the holidays. But this is not all a toddler mom needs in her post-holiday...
Holiday Gatherings With Your Newborn :: 6 Tips for Less Stress
Introducing the newest member of your family to the outside world was daunting before the pandemic. Now, at a time when gatherings require more prep than ever, many parents are wondering how to include...
Struggling in Gentle Parenting and Attempting It Anyway
For me, gentle parenting feels like a lot of negotiating with irrational toddlers. And honestly, I find it hard.
What parent doesn't want to be gentle? I want my child to be eased into personhood,...
Start ‘Em Young :: Getting the Boys Involved on Chore Days
I am the kind of mom who can’t think straight if the house is too disorganized. I live by the mantra, "A place for everything, and everything in its place." As much as I’ve...
I Didn’t Think I Could Bake, and Then I Got Allergies
I have always been a self-proclaimed non-baker. The only thing my mom has ever baked from scratch is sweet potato pie — this is reserved for holidays and is absolutely delicious! My grandma will...