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.
12592 comments
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa8/95ab5e62db5707c20e22fe78bda20886
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa8/9214e48e0404b0021cdd3783ae6598a3
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa8/e45461f5eee329447e1d587c4b94d9d0
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa8/48734aa2f3535fcc23e7908c8edecd5c
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa8/f4dd89fe3c5f49979caeeb392638963e
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa8/306bd7017b17a13e095784200d8b1a39
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa8/dbb023ac3943d0294f7cf686fc3610d6
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa8/527f9daa6a44158eddd7cd28355b70b7
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa8/39e696e766b12ad9a0450d0f52541204
.
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa/12e3d72280342cf4852b6c5903962728
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa/5634565d48a98adcc38be8bd6b74034a
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa/a4455cc14b3a9dc985b66dd9f1c18789
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa/7ba856a27495cc63fe13ba89f8dda670
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa/6ef163690f96da6e7e6a43371bc1b83b
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa/0c395ddb72617fd0547191c526a49213
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa/4c7c8748c239639d9d670637442a6bc6
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa/f39920c9035363fffee806a2d77bbb05
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa/c1acb1d8b35b48db4c5c145ff46af360
.
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa0/156dd0216a8486b08b2dbfdbb899c377
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa0/95c662dcb2dff214d4702ee864feab8f
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa0/f11ec88edde7d37eda64634f8573bcb1
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa0/8df3f8f4cf48ecf6c65c231a2f58c6c6
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa0/d54d2e74590978ad796d0545e3ec371a
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa0/d280e82c8949c65f80e000c4ceec6ce1
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa0/4a9a3a76ba06479d6bb61a8fd74350e7
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa0/cbe8a5b07c3e0b82abe083507bb04fb5
https://gist.github.com/moppykossa0/e7a93ae5cb726d777579793b0b0cc590
https://www.are.na/looping
https://www.are.na/looping/channels
https://www.are.na/looping?4uos
https://www.are.na/astaron-brut-des-schreckens
https://www.are.na/astaron-brut-des-schreckens/channels
https://www.are.na/astaron-brut-des-schreckens?q8eq
https://www.are.na/drei-dirndl-in-paris
https://www.are.na/drei-dirndl-in-paris/channels
https://www.are.na/drei-dirndl-in-paris?02ch
https://www.are.na/julchen-und-jettchen-die-verliebten-apothekerstochter
https://www.are.na/julchen-und-jettchen-die-verliebten-apothekerstochter/channels
https://www.are.na/julchen-und-jettchen-die-verliebten-apothekerstochter?rucj
https://www.are.na/der-zauberberg
https://www.are.na/der-zauberberg/channels
https://www.are.na/der-zauberberg?cm2n
https://www.are.na/sei-zartlich-pinguin
https://www.are.na/sei-zartlich-pinguin/channels
https://www.are.na/sei-zartlich-pinguin?rc4z
https://www.are.na/die-sehnsucht-der-veronika-voss
https://www.are.na/die-sehnsucht-der-veronika-voss/channels
https://www.are.na/die-sehnsucht-der-veronika-voss?3o5k
https://www.are.na/tristan-und-isolde
https://www.are.na/tristan-und-isolde/channels
https://www.are.na/tristan-und-isolde?yd7b
https://www.are.na/cherie-gierig-und-erotisch
https://www.are.na/cherie-gierig-und-erotisch/channels
https://www.are.na/cherie-gierig-und-erotisch?nrh4
https://www.are.na/der-komodienstadel-die-tochter-des-bombardon
https://www.are.na/der-komodienstadel-die-tochter-des-bombardon/channels
https://www.are.na/der-komodienstadel-die-tochter-des-bombardon?xb16
https://www.are.na/fanny-hill
https://www.are.na/fanny-hill/channels
https://www.are.na/fanny-hill?88bm
https://www.are.na/holle-der-gewalt
https://www.are.na/holle-der-gewalt/channels
https://www.are.na/holle-der-gewalt?272r
https://www.are.na/das-verruckte-strandhotel
https://www.are.na/das-verruckte-strandhotel/channels
https://www.are.na/das-verruckte-strandhotel?w74s
https://www.are.na/nicht-verzagen-trudchen-fragen
https://www.are.na/nicht-verzagen-trudchen-fragen/channels
https://www.are.na/nicht-verzagen-trudchen-fragen?x5gy
https://www.are.na/lili-marleen?79aj
https://www.are.na/so-weit-das-auge-reicht
https://www.are.na/so-weit-das-auge-reicht/channels
https://www.are.na/so-weit-das-auge-reicht?slzz
https://www.are.na/douglas-sirk-uber-stars
https://www.are.na/douglas-sirk-uber-stars/channels
https://www.are.na/douglas-sirk-uber-stars?4r8m
https://www.are.na/die-weisse-rose
https://www.are.na/die-weisse-rose/channels
https://www.are.na/die-weisse-rose?rs8u
https://www.are.na/als-unku-edes-freundin-war
https://www.are.na/als-unku-edes-freundin-war/channels
https://www.are.na/als-unku-edes-freundin-war?ci90
https://www.are.na/engel-aus-eisen
https://www.are.na/engel-aus-eisen/channels
https://www.are.na/engel-aus-eisen?i54s
https://www.are.na/bananen-paul
https://www.are.na/bananen-paul/channels
https://www.are.na/bananen-paul?khyl
https://www.are.na/alles-im-eimer
https://www.are.na/alles-im-eimer/channels
https://www.are.na/alles-im-eimer?6ljf
https://www.are.na/christiane-f-wir-kinder-vom-bahnhof-zoo-gmyayz17kvq
https://www.are.na/christiane-f-wir-kinder-vom-bahnhof-zoo-gmyayz17kvq/channels
https://www.are.na/christiane-f-wir-kinder-vom-bahnhof-zoo-gmyayz17kvq?iwzn
https://www.are.na/pacific-motion
https://www.are.na/pacific-motion/channels
https://www.are.na/pacific-motion?0r7j
https://www.are.na/fitzcarraldo
https://www.are.na/fitzcarraldo/channels
https://www.are.na/fitzcarraldo?2sqk
https://www.are.na/star-rock
https://www.are.na/star-rock/channels
https://www.are.na/star-rock?tlus
https://www.are.na/the-metropolitan-opera-wagner-tannhauser
https://www.are.na/the-metropolitan-opera-wagner-tannhauser/channels
https://www.are.na/the-metropolitan-opera-wagner-tannhauser?lg3k
https://www.are.na/herkulespillen
https://www.are.na/herkulespillen/channels
https://www.are.na/herkulespillen?er7g
https://www.are.na/das-boot
https://www.are.na/das-boot/channels
https://www.are.na/das-boot?5uz5
https://www.are.na/der-kandidat
https://www.are.na/der-kandidat/channels
https://www.are.na/der-kandidat?f54t
https://www.are.na/die-formel
https://www.are.na/die-formel/channels
https://www.are.na/die-formel?6dix
https://www.are.na/haus-und-hof
https://www.are.na/haus-und-hof/channels
https://www.are.na/haus-und-hof?xcps
https://www.are.na/kaltgestellt
https://www.are.na/kaltgestellt/channels
https://www.are.na/kaltgestellt?td5j
https://www.are.na/der-floh-im-ohr
https://www.are.na/der-floh-im-ohr/channels
https://www.are.na/der-floh-im-ohr?b8ra
https://www.are.na/der-subjektive-faktor
https://www.are.na/der-subjektive-faktor/channels
https://www.are.na/der-subjektive-faktor?crvk
https://www.are.na/im-herzen-des-hurrican
https://www.are.na/im-herzen-des-hurrican/channels
https://www.are.na/im-herzen-des-hurrican?l9ko
https://www.are.na/mosch
https://www.are.na/mosch/channels
https://www.are.na/mosch?iunz
https://www.are.na/car-napping-bestellt-geklaut-geliefert
https://www.are.na/car-napping-bestellt-geklaut-geliefert/channels
https://www.are.na/car-napping-bestellt-geklaut-geliefert?pywk
https://www.are.na/meschkas-enkel
https://www.are.na/meschkas-enkel/channels
https://www.are.na/meschkas-enkel?uhtj
https://www.are.na/die-todesgottin-des-liebescamps
https://www.are.na/die-todesgottin-des-liebescamps/channels
https://www.are.na/die-todesgottin-des-liebescamps?tuvt
https://www.are.na/gefangene-frauen
https://www.are.na/gefangene-frauen/channels
https://www.are.na/gefangene-frauen?jg00
https://www.are.na/kalt-wie-eis
https://www.are.na/kalt-wie-eis/channels
https://www.are.na/kalt-wie-eis?lv85
https://www.are.na/lili-marleen
https://www.are.na/lili-marleen/channels
https://portfolium.com/entry/asistir-chainsaw-man-the-movie-reze-arc-filme
https://portfolium.com/entry/chainsaw-man-the-movie-reze-arc-assistir-filmes
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-chainsaw-man-the-movie-reze-arc-2025
https://portfolium.com/entry/hd-1080p-i-only-rest-in-the-storm-assistir-dub
https://portfolium.com/entry/i-only-rest-in-the-storm-2025-assistir-filme-em-pt
.
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-i-only-rest-in-the-storm-filme-completo
https://portfolium.com/entry/os-estranhos-captulo-2-assistir-completo-dublado
https://portfolium.com/entry/os-estranhos-captulo-2-assistir-filmes-em-pt
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-os-estranhos-captulo-2-2025-filme-hd
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-heidi-e-o-lince-da-montanha-2025-filme
.
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-heidi-e-o-lince-da-montanha-filmecomplet
https://portfolium.com/entry/heidi-e-o-lince-da-montanha-hd-grtis-filme-comp
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-as-aves-2025-filme-completo-online
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-as-aves-filme-completo-dublado
https://portfolium.com/entry/as-aves-hd-grtis-filme-completo
.
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-o-telefone-negro-2-2025-filme-complet
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-o-telefone-negro-2-filme-completo-dubla
https://portfolium.com/entry/o-telefone-negro-2-hd-grtis-filme-completo
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-o-telefone-negro-2-2025-filme-completo
.
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-tron-ares-2025-filme-completo-online
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-tron-ares-filme-completo-dublado
https://portfolium.com/entry/tron-ares-hd-grtis-filme-completo
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-tron-ares-2025-filme-completo-dub
.
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-primitive-war-2025-filme-completo-hd
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-primitive-war-filme-completo-dublado
https://portfolium.com/entry/primitive-war-hd-grtis-filme-completo
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-primitive-war-2025-filme-completo-dub
.
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-a-meia-irm-feia-2025-filme-completo
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-a-meia-irm-feia-filme-completo-dublado
https://portfolium.com/entry/a-meia-irm-feia-hd-grtis-filme-completo
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-a-meia-irm-feia-2025-filme-completo-du
.
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-demon-slayer-2025-filme-completo-hd
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-demon-slayer-filme-completo-dublado
https://portfolium.com/entry/demon-slayer-hd-grtis-filme-completo-1
https://portfolium.com/entry/assistir-demon-slayer-2025-filme-completo-dub-1