Dear Old Me, I Miss You But I Am Becoming Someone Cooler.

A Blog Series for Moms Redefining Themselves

Welcome to “Dear Old Me, I Miss You But I Am Becoming Someone Cooler”—a heartfelt, humorous, and honest blog series for every mom navigating the wild terrain of transformation. Here, we celebrate the women we were, mourn the spontaneity we’ve lost, and embrace the incredible, resilient people we’re becoming with every sticky hug and midnight snack negotiation.

I’m Ceren. I had my first daughter during the height of the COVID pandemic, and like many new moms navigating the unknown, I made a huge decision—I left my job and became a full-time mom. What was meant to be temporary turned into five years of diapers, lullabies, and learning to be everything for two tiny humans (yes, I now have two beautiful kids).

Those years changed me in ways I never expected. I wasn’t prepared—but let’s be honest, motherhood doesn’t come with a blueprint. It doesn’t wait for readiness. It rewrites you.

Now, I’m stepping into a new chapter—as an entrepreneur, a storyteller, and a woman rediscovering the pieces of herself she once put on hold.

I’m a COVID mom. A rebuild-my-life-from-scratch mom. A “who even am I anymore?” mom. And somewhere along the way, I became someone completely different—stronger, more creative, and more myself than I’ve ever been.

This space isn’t just about looking back—it’s about connecting with other moms who are in it too, figuring things out one messy day at a time. It’s about honoring our old dreams even as we build dazzling new ones, and laughing at the beautiful mess of it all. Each entry is a letter—a love note to our past selves—because the journey from “dear old me” to “dear new me” is worth every word.

 

   Dear Old Me, I Miss My Spontaneity

 "Remember when we used to nap at 3PM because we could? Wild times."

Once upon a time, spontaneity was slipping out for coffee at 4PM, binge-watching movies on a whim, or taking impromptu weekend trips with zero guilt. Now, life is a symphony of schedules—playdates, grocery runs, and laundry marathons. Still, something magical has replaced that carefree spirit: purpose. The thrill of unpredictability has faded, but the satisfaction of shaping small lives, of being the safe place and the storyteller, is a new kind of wild. Both matter, and both are beautiful. Here, we’ll laugh and sigh over the before and after, and maybe—just maybe—find new ways to be spontaneous again, even if it’s just dancing in the kitchen at dinner time.

 Dear Old Me, About That Career Ladder…

"You once thought success was sleek office desks and heels. Now it’s baby giggles while answering emails."

 Oh, what we thought “making it” meant. There was a time when ambition was measured in promotions, polished shoes, and lunch breaks that didn’t involve cleaning up yogurt spills. But life has a funny way of redefining success.

Now, Zoom calls echo with baby babble. Emails are crafted one-handed, while the other builds a block tower or offers a snack negotiation. Maybe your path began as a stay-at-home mom, then shifted into entrepreneurship—or took a leap toward corporate life. Maybe it’s a zigzag through all of it.

This space is about that journey. About how our definitions of “achievement” evolve, how priorities reshuffle, and why some of the best conference calls happen in pajamas. This is your story, your brand, your beautifully chaotic balancing act.

 Dear Old Me, You Were So Hard on Yourself

"You measured worth in productivity. Now I count it in cuddles and chaos."

The old you chased checklists with a vengeance, thinking faster was better, and busy was best. Motherhood flips that script—now, victories are found in tiny triumphs: a tantrum averted, a bedtime story giggled through, a moment of peace amid the mess. Here, we’ll open up about the ways motherhood redefines self-worth and identity, and how learning to be gentle with ourselves is the biggest revolution of all. Because productivity isn’t always about output—it’s also about love.

 Dear Old Me, I Found New Confidence

"I once doubted if I could handle a tough client call. Now I negotiate with a toddler armed with a crayon and a grudge."

 Who knew that motherhood was the ultimate leadership bootcamp? Forget team meetings every morning and setting goals for everyone—try convincing a stubborn three-year-old to eat broccoli. The negotiations are tougher, the stakes feel higher, and the rewards? Immeasurable.

We’ll share stories of unlikely victories, laugh about the daily stand-offs, and celebrate the wild, powerful confidence that comes from thriving in the chaos. If you can survive snack time, tantrums, and bedtime negotiations—you can do anything.

 

What’s your “Dear Old Me” story? This space is more than mine—it’s ours. Every mom carries a version of herself that existed before the babies, before the chaos, before the transformation.

Maybe she loved solo travel. Maybe she rocked power suits. Maybe she just really liked sleeping in on Saturdays.

So tell me—Who was your “Dear Old Me”?And who are you becoming?

Drop a comment, send a message, or write your own letter. I’d love to share your story (anonymously or not) as part of this growing collection of honest reflections. Because your journey—every zigzag, every pivot, every beautiful mess—is worth celebrating too.

Ceren