English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
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.
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...
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 can feel daunting. And at a time of year when it feels like colds, flus, RSV, and Covid are running rampant, many parents...