Meet Valerie Metz.
A California beachside based content creator, lifestyle photographer, wife to Zach, and mama to her two kids Hendrix (3) and Rio (9months). I sat down with her (virtually) to hear her authentic truth, her story, her advice, her love. We hope that this conversation either guides you before becoming a mom or inspires you as a mom to know that you aren’t alone. #MomToMom
Q: Please introduce yourself, where you're from, and what you do.
Hi! My name is valerie metz. I live beachside in Costa Mesa, CA and i'm a lifestyle photographer and content creator.
Q: I am inspired by you and your hubby's love and your beautiful family. What's your story?
Thanks so much! My husband and I met when I was 18 and got engaged after FOUR months of dating! We got married really young and waited a few years before we (unexpectedly) added kids to our family. We now have two sweet babes and are in the process of fostering!
Q: What's your birth story? Was it easier with one kid than the other? Seamless all around? Any tips or thoughts you can share?
I had both kids in an amazing hospital with midwives. Both experiences went well- my first one was long and had a few hiccups and scares because it was taking so long to get him out but all went well. My second one was way easier and quicker, I think because my body already knew what it was doing. The best tip I could offer is to listen to your body! I had planned to go as natural as I could. The pain level with contractions was tolerable but I had NO idea I would feel so nauseous and be covered in chills. I was shaking uncontrollably and couldn't get my anxiety down so I ended up getting epidurals both times which calmed my mind and body down.
Q: How old were you when you had Hendrix? And how has the transition been seeing him as an older brother and now seeing yourself as a mommy of two?
I was 24 when I first became a mom! The transition has been really sweet. Hendrix has adjusted amazingly and loves his baby sis so well. He does crave one on one attention and acts naughty to me to get that attention so instead of getting bothered by his behavior, I prioritize quality time with him which always helps!
Q: What's been the most challenging parts of motherhood and the most rewarding parts?
The most challenging part of motherhood for me personally, has been the pressure it comes with. I sometimes romanticize what it would be like to raise kids 2 decades ago before social media. I have to be extra careful with what I allow myself to feel affected by because everyone's opinions will make me anxious and feel like I'm not doing enough. However, it is pretty amazing to have current research on parenting styles and effective discipline. The best parts have been watching my and my husbands personalities in tiny humans develop and it’s also been VERY healing for me to raise kids. There are some parts of my childhood that were rough and being able to learn and grow from those experiences has been redeeming.
Q: Do you feel like motherhood has transformed you in any way?
Yes its taught me (and currently still teaching me) what sacrifice is! I feel like i'm constantly learning to put my selfish and unhealthy aside and be the best version of myself for my family.
Q: What have you learned from your two lil's?
They've taught me to love endlessly!!! Even on bad days, I need to pull myself together and keep loving their pure and innocent souls. such good practice to love on others!
Q: Do you have a specific story or experience you want to share that either challenged you, uplifted you, was a beautiful moment –– anything.
I can’t recall a specific story but everyday is an adventure! (even on hard days) the most life giving moments are when we spend hours at the beach in the sunshine with the waves. our babes love playing there and we are just our happiest there!
Q: Do you have any advice for moms to be, current mamas, or women in general?
The best advice is to ASK FOR HELP! practice and normalize asking for extra hands! It's humbling for our kids to witness that and we take care of ourselves that way. Also listen to your body and your gut- only we know what's best for our families, we are all different!
Q: How do you take care of YOU? Do you have a routine that keeps you grounded?
Oh yes I do! I wake up (almost every morning) before the kids and sacrifice the extra hour of sleep for alone time. I do yoga, sip on some coffee, read, etc. I feel like I can start the day off better that way. My husband is also really good about pushing me to get alone time! I instantly feel refreshed after getting some alone time in or quality time with a close friend! 
all the babies.
11926 comments
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102281673/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102249177/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102405688/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102228445/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102282215/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102297076/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102290866/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102294994/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102292673/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102411139/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102479868/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102493229/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102248462/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102454926/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102458450/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102454922/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102248262/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102408881/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102461645/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102411720/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102411041/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102478769/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102411043/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102458254/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102458259/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102248962/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102461229/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102290049/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102290048/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102478721/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102478027/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102411726/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102454943/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102479824/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102249312/
https://www.imdb.com/list/ls4102465651/
https://gemtracks.com/dieuuoccuoicunghdfull
https://gemtracks.com/dieuuoccuoicungviethuyet
https://gemtracks.com/gatuthanhdqfull
https://gemtracks.com/gatuthanviethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/maxuongmiahdqfull
https://gemtracks.com/maxuongmiaviethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/thegioikhunghdqfull
https://gemtracks.com/thegioikhungviethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/trochoiconmucphan3hdqful
https://gemtracks.com/trochoiconmucphan3viethu
https://gemtracks.com/trochoiconmuctap16hdqful
https://gemtracks.com/trochoiconmuc16viethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/phmdienanhf1hdqfull
https://gemtracks.com/phmdienanhf1viethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/m3gan20hdqfull
https://gemtracks.com/m3gan20viethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/makhongduhdqfull
https://gemtracks.com/makhongduviethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/mnonruoudaykeohdqfull
https://gemtracks.com/mnonruoudaykeoviethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/28namsauhautanthehdqfull
https://gemtracks.com/28namsauhautanviethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/eliocaubedentutraihdfull
https://gemtracks.com/eliocaubedentuviethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/utlanoanlinhgiucuahdqful
https://gemtracks.com/utlanoanlinhgiuviethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/bo5sieudangcaphdqfull
https://gemtracks.com/bo5sieudangcapviethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/bikipluyenronghdqfull
https://gemtracks.com/bikipluyenrongviethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/ballerinahdqfull
https://gemtracks.com/ballerinaviethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/lilostitchhdqfull
https://gemtracks.com/lilostitchviethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/duoidayhohdqfull
https://gemtracks.com/duoidayhoviethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/motnuahoanhaohdqfull
https://gemtracks.com/motnuahoanhaoviethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/nhiemvubatkhathi8hdqfull
https://gemtracks.com/nhiemvubatkha8viethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/doraemonmovie44viethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/doraemonmovie44hdqfull
https://gemtracks.com/diadaomattroiviethuyul
https://gemtracks.com/diadaomattroiviethuyul
https://tensor.art/articles/903817295095141642
https://tensor.art/articles/903817474410029023
https://tensor.art/articles/903817568899310801
https://tensor.art/articles/903817705264546642
https://tensor.art/articles/903817762172842118
https://tensor.art/articles/903819835568335243
https://tensor.art/articles/903819892476652043
https://tensor.art/articles/903819969786063838
https://tensor.art/articles/903820033136831789
https://tensor.art/articles/903820096487580682
https://tensor.art/articles/903822078614964733
https://tensor.art/articles/903822151629409467
https://tensor.art/articles/903822195652857534
https://tensor.art/articles/903822230012596133
https://tensor.art/articles/903822271888494612
https://tensor.art/articles/903824196033875644
https://tensor.art/articles/903824272269572319
https://tensor.art/articles/903824333472830717
https://tensor.art/articles/903824411855996024
https://tensor.art/articles/903824466616817792
https://tensor.art/articles/903828539319528487
https://tensor.art/articles/903828722929412641
https://tensor.art/articles/903828775542731512
https://tensor.art/articles/903828827082339380
https://tensor.art/articles/903828909760504012
https://tensor.art/articles/903830753375186096
https://tensor.art/articles/903830811357242808
https://tensor.art/articles/903830889740434949
https://tensor.art/articles/903831003557013450
https://tensor.art/articles/903831076571459273
https://tensor.art/articles/903835783855611209
https://tensor.art/articles/903836248785874817
https://tensor.art/articles/903836333611431343
https://tensor.art/articles/903836371192434885
https://tensor.art/articles/903836416289600313
https://tensor.art/articles/903841633601107351
https://tensor.art/articles/903841679771972065
https://tensor.art/articles/903841748491449138
https://tensor.art/articles/903841805399800090
https://tensor.art/articles/903841855865631990
https://tensor.art/articles/903845031993982578
https://tensor.art/articles/903845083533590458
https://tensor.art/articles/903845154400530786
https://tensor.art/articles/903845211308882608
https://tensor.art/articles/903845365927705968
https://tensor.art/articles/903846796151757045
https://tensor.art/articles/903847135454175141
https://tensor.art/articles/903847394226010228
https://tensor.art/articles/903847453281756556
https://tensor.art/articles/903847670177656486
https://tensor.art/articles/903849150867580818
https://tensor.art/articles/903849219587057913
https://tensor.art/articles/903849289380272613
https://tensor.art/articles/903849364542213731
https://tensor.art/articles/903849442925358795
https://tensor.art/articles/903850912877917409
https://tensor.art/articles/903850953680120979
https://tensor.art/articles/903851009514696059
https://tensor.art/articles/903851063201773351
https://tensor.art/articles/903851106151446475
https://matters.town/a/1scktw5hogs5
https://www.nehannn.com/artist-detail/18.html
https://www.asteriskguru.com/tutorials/comment_add.php
https://peoplefirst-hamburg.de/index.php/guestbook/index/index
https://tooter.in/parfumharum
https://pastelink.net/iovhgzi8
https://snippet.host/fbfwsa
https://jsitor.com/16jlg_S3Y1u
https://paiza.io/projects/UJRGeJM_9p0Ipo2YeQ9UvA?language=php
https://www.wowace.com/paste/d08e1e7b
https://codepen.io/Cita-Citata/pen/OPyaJjb
https://anotepad.com/notes/ary6rbg5
https://paste.thezomg.com/366579/56716531/
https://paste.enginehub.org/Q3D5lz1X2
https://paste.laravel.io/ed59cb34-a6b4-4349-8918-61c8be9120bb
https://paste.vpsfree.cz/tZauJbR9
https://tensor.art/articles/903753540600621692
https://tensor.art/articles/903754654070901942
https://tensor.art/articles/903754673398260016
https://tensor.art/articles/903754691651863039
https://tensor.art/articles/903754707757998468
https://tensor.art/articles/903759436516980345
https://tensor.art/articles/903759500941490024
https://tensor.art/articles/903759554628599603
https://tensor.art/articles/903759599725738367
https://tensor.art/articles/903759655560313461
https://tensor.art/articles/903763317019961382
https://tensor.art/articles/903763384665651082
https://tensor.art/articles/903763455532607014
https://tensor.art/articles/903763513514670655
https://tensor.art/articles/903763594045295285
https://tensor.art/articles/903766340676880432
https://tensor.art/articles/903766390069042150
https://tensor.art/articles/903766452346030495
https://tensor.art/articles/903766764804932123
https://tensor.art/articles/903766812049572660
https://tensor.art/articles/903769225821206000
https://tensor.art/articles/903769280581999789
https://tensor.art/articles/903769341785323691
https://tensor.art/articles/903769386882489443
https://tensor.art/articles/903769444864539388
https://tensor.art/articles/903771220833473775
https://tensor.art/articles/903771337871351666
https://tensor.art/articles/903771395853400976
https://tensor.art/articles/903771457056676872
https://tensor.art/articles/903771502153885176
https://tensor.art/articles/903774206909483034
https://tensor.art/articles/903774358307087961
https://tensor.art/articles/903774423805352986
https://tensor.art/articles/903774486082358860
https://tensor.art/articles/903774584866607670
https://tensor.art/articles/903776135349814298
https://tensor.art/articles/903776378015478520
https://tensor.art/articles/903776428481336499
https://tensor.art/articles/903777225197801723
https://tensor.art/articles/903777328277017718
https://tensor.art/articles/903778708035245576
https://tensor.art/articles/903778761722333868
https://tensor.art/articles/903778828294331249
https://tensor.art/articles/903778879833939097
https://tensor.art/articles/903778954995862616
https://tensor.art/articles/903780632180615610
https://tensor.art/articles/903780692310161427
https://tensor.art/articles/903780748144737720
https://tensor.art/articles/903780805053035147
https://tensor.art/articles/903780858740097359
https://tensor.art/articles/903782597128139517
https://tensor.art/articles/903782679806245239
https://tensor.art/articles/903782775369255405
https://tensor.art/articles/903782836572576983
https://tensor.art/articles/903782885964676996
https://tensor.art/articles/903753540600621692
https://tensor.art/articles/903754654070901942
https://tensor.art/articles/903754673398260016
https://tensor.art/articles/903754691651863039
https://tensor.art/articles/903754707757998468
https://tensor.art/articles/903759436516980345
https://tensor.art/articles/903759500941490024
https://tensor.art/articles/903759554628599603
https://tensor.art/articles/903759599725738367
https://tensor.art/articles/903759655560313461
https://tensor.art/articles/903763317019961382
https://tensor.art/articles/903763384665651082
https://tensor.art/articles/903763455532607014
https://tensor.art/articles/903763513514670655
https://tensor.art/articles/903763594045295285
https://tensor.art/articles/903766340676880432
https://tensor.art/articles/903766390069042150
https://tensor.art/articles/903766452346030495
https://tensor.art/articles/903766764804932123
https://tensor.art/articles/903766812049572660
https://tensor.art/articles/903769225821206000
https://tensor.art/articles/903769280581999789
https://tensor.art/articles/903769341785323691
https://tensor.art/articles/903769386882489443
https://tensor.art/articles/903769444864539388
https://tensor.art/articles/903771220833473775
https://tensor.art/articles/903771337871351666
https://tensor.art/articles/903771395853400976
https://tensor.art/articles/903771457056676872
https://tensor.art/articles/903771502153885176
https://tensor.art/articles/903774206909483034
https://tensor.art/articles/903774358307087961
https://tensor.art/articles/903774423805352986
https://tensor.art/articles/903774486082358860
https://tensor.art/articles/903774584866607670
https://tensor.art/articles/903776135349814298
https://tensor.art/articles/903776378015478520
https://tensor.art/articles/903776428481336499
https://tensor.art/articles/903777225197801723
https://tensor.art/articles/903777328277017718
https://tensor.art/articles/903778708035245576
https://tensor.art/articles/903778761722333868
https://tensor.art/articles/903778828294331249
https://tensor.art/articles/903778879833939097
https://tensor.art/articles/903778954995862616
https://tensor.art/articles/903780632180615610
https://tensor.art/articles/903780692310161427
https://tensor.art/articles/903780748144737720
https://tensor.art/articles/903780805053035147
https://tensor.art/articles/903780858740097359
https://tensor.art/articles/903782597128139517
https://tensor.art/articles/903782679806245239
https://tensor.art/articles/903782775369255405
https://tensor.art/articles/903782836572576983
https://tensor.art/articles/903782885964676996