Entertainment
When Did You Feel Like Yourself After Having Kids?
After a year of middle-of-the-night feeds, leaky breasts, and stretchy pants, I’m finally starting to feel like myself again. Since giving birth to my second child, Emiliano, I’ve been waiting (longing? counting the days in desperation?) until the moment I finally come out of the fog of new parenthood.
Jannelle and Ella
When my now four-year-old daughter was a baby, I felt grounded in my new reality around seven months. Before Ella, I had never changed a diaper or rocked a newborn. But somehow, seven months after we brought her home from the hospital, I felt like me. Maybe even a better version of me. More capable, someone who got the hang of new skills like bathing a wiggly baby or shaking open a stroller with one hand. Every month, I’d share photos of Ella and me on Instagram, partly because I adored showing her off, but also, because I felt so happy — and to be honest, proud — of how quickly I came back to myself. I wanted to show all my friends ‘See, the old me is still here! You can have a baby and still meet up with friends for movie nights! And take your baby on hikes! And hang out in cafés.” I thought I’d mastered the art of weaving the baby into my life.
Today? I’m 14 months postpartum and still feel completely different from that old version of Jannelle. For example, I’m definitely more scatter-brained. Throughout college, I juggled full course loads of classes while holding down a part-time job — and never missed a deadline or shift. And in my early career, I worked full time, went to the gym five times a week, read books (!), and met up with friends. But this year, I can barely stay on top of the littlest things. This summer I accidentally left the fridge door open THREE times, while in a rush to get out the door. After the third time it happened, I broke down in tears in our kitchen, sobbing to my husband Max, “I’m running with half my brain. This isn’t me.” Ten months after Emiliano was born, I finally realized that during this stage in life, I can’t do everything I did in my pre-baby life. And that’s been a hard pill to swallow.
Thankfully, over time, I’ve found a few things that help me feel at home in my mind and body. Going on three-mile runs remind me that my body can climb hills and burst into sprints. And wearing my gold hoops every day adds glamour to my uniform of jeans and a T-shirt. The biggest game changer? Finally embracing the fact that I might not ever return to the woman I was pre-kids. At first, even the thought made me feel like a failure — like motherhood had consumed my entire identity. But now it feels liberating. I feel open to creating new rituals, like waking early to sneak in a chapter of a dreamy novel. It also gives me the motivation and peace to say no to old habits that aren’t serving me (like watching Traitors episodes until 1 a.m.) I’m only two months into no longer trying to feel like “pre-kid Jannelle,” but so far these two months have made my head feel clearer and more fulfilled in my role as a mom.
Curious to hear the perspective of a more seasoned parent, I reached out to Abbey Nova, a mom of 15-year-old and seven-year-old boys, and she shares similar feelings: “I felt like I ‘should’ go back to ‘normal,’ but motherhood forever changed me. Motherhood stripped away the decorative elements and revealed the structural bones of who I was. It’s a version of yourself — not your pre-kid self exactly, but a more distilled, focused version. The parts of yourself that matter the most have a way of reasserting themselves over time. And, for me, this happened with both kids around the time they were seven.”
Becoming a parent has brought so much goodness into my life. Like experiencing the magic of my daughter recognizing me for the first time, and tracing my son’s profile while he’s sleeping, so perfect it actually brings tears to my eyes. But parenthood also comes with growing pains, and it’s reassuring to hear that I’m not the only one trying to find myself again. Even the goddess Rihanna said motherhood threw her into a 180-degree identity shift.
Jannelle and Emiliano
If you have kids, do you feel like you’ve returned to your old self? Or do you feel like a different version of yourself since becoming a parent? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Motherhood is so personal and nuanced and having a safe space to share the highs and lows is such a gift. xoxo
P.S. Trying out slow parenting, and when did you bond with your baby?
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
