Birmingham Moms Blog :: Introducing Leesha

Birmingham

“Guess what? I took the job. We’re moving to Birmingham!” I stared at my husband, shocked and in disbelief, as those words rolled out of his mouth.  We’ve lived in two states our entire lives, North Carolina and Georgia. While we have visited many, including Alabama, I never thought we would LIVE in Alabama. Now, ten years later, I haven’t looked back. I call Birmingham a hidden gem. Those not originally from the area know very little of its appeal; but I have fallen in love with the Magic City. From its storied past to Birmingham Barons baseball, a burgeoning culinary scene, it’s topography, and the Summit shopping center, Birmingham owes me nothing (as the proverbial saying goes).

Within this ten-year time span, my family has grown from a party of three to a party of five. My husband and I believe in cultivating a rich experience for our children, filled with memories they will tuck inside their hearts for a lifetime. But we don’t have to go too far; it starts right here at home. There are parks and playgrounds, the McWane Science Center and the Birmingham Zoo, the Birmingham Museum of Art and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the Red Mountain Theatre Company, and so much more. Our kids are learning, growing, and creating beautiful friendships. Life is meant to be lived, and living in Birmingham has been and continues to be quite the adventure for our family.

Moms

Married for sixteen years. Mother to three. Physician. Author. Blogger. Speaker. Mompreneur. This momma wears a lot of hats. Sometimes I still chuckle at my present reality. I’ve always been ambitious so the list of roles is of no surprise, but I would have never imagined that I would be a mother to three children. I knew I would be a mommy, but the number was always two. I used to be so organized, my life’s course planned out in exquisite detail. Graduate from college – check. Attend medical school – check. Get married – check. Start a family – check. Raise two kids, a girl and a boy – nope, try three! I am so thankful for unexpected blessings!

We have two daughters, ages four and eleven, and a son who is eight. Motherhood has a way of inspiring and humbling you at the same time. It’s both what I love about this parenting journey and what I find so incredibly challenging. Out of love came these three beautiful babies. It is such a gift to see and experience the world through their lens. They marvel at the simplest things and find joy in the everyday and the extraordinary. My heart nearly bursts with the depth of my all-consuming love for them. I love snuggling, hugs and kisses, reading stories, and dance parties. But it’s also never-ending piles of laundry, wondering if my house will ever be clean again, the invisible costs of motherhood, and raising them with no family close by.  And it’s having tough conversations because the world is not always kind, mending broken hearts, and coming to terms with my own parenting missteps and shortcomings. My life is imperfect and messy, but it’s all mine and I wouldn’t change a thing . . . okay maybe I would change a few things!

Blog

As a practicing board-certified psychiatrist, I treat moms dealing with mental illness daily. I have witnessed the burden that is depression and anxiety and how these disorders can negatively affect our self-esteem and our ability to parent. As a mom myself, I know, first-hand, how tough parenting can be – exhausted, overwhelmed, and riddled with mommy guilt. And yet my experiences are not unique. Parenting is wonderful and amazing, but it’s also challenging and frustrating. I truly have a heart for moms, and I want to create a safe space for us to engage in real conversations about motherhood — the good, bad, and the ugly.

But we can’t stop there. More than talking, I want to make things better. It’s time to change the narrative for all moms, creating a story where we no longer subscribe to unrealistic expectations of motherhood; where we practice real self-care that means saying “no” and making our health and well-being a priority beyond spa days and girls’ nights out; and where we intentionally and consistently surround ourselves with a rock-star mommy tribe who uplift and support each other.

Serving as a contributor for the Birmingham Moms Blog amplifies my voice and the voice of mothers in this city. I will use this platform to educate and to inspire, to tackle the hard topics with humor and truth. Here’s to becoming happy, healthy moms striving to raise happy, healthy children.