Chatting with a friend today, I was reminded of something I hadn't thought of in a while, the saving power of a baby's first smile. Being a first time mom is hard — soul-crushing, overwhelming and desperately hard — especially if you're the first one in your family or friend group to have kids. You're tired and sore, totally clueless and nobody in your immediate circle really knows what you're feeling. You want so badly to get it right, but the baby can only cry, which makes a new mom feel as though they are getting it all wrong. There is no positive feedback, whatsoever. A newborn can't even really maintain eye contact. Soft snores are about the only indicator you haven't screwed up within the last five minutes. Then there is the hesitance to say anything, because we are supposed to be so happy and so in love, like our whole world is wrapped in rose colored gauze. Me as a new mom, holding on for dear life. It doesn't seem possible this was ...