Introduction

Welcome to Chaos and Calm Chronicles!

Hello, my name is Kristen Holt, and this blog is a reflection of the two things I’m most passionate about: motherhood and mental health. Right now, my life is largely centered around motherhood, but I’ve come to realize that mental health remains a crucial part of my journey. As I navigate teaching social-emotional concepts to my toddler while trying to keep my own cool, the name Chaos and Calm Chronicles felt like the perfect fit.

A bit about me: I’m a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with experience working in school systems for five years before I had kids. After my first child was born, I transitioned to telehealth, and now I spend most of my time at home with my two little ones—one who is three and a half and another who just turned one.

I’ve found that journaling and writing have been incredibly therapeutic for me. It’s a way to celebrate what I call the wins in my life. After my second child was born, I struggled to find the good in each day—I craved moments to simply breathe or exist in peace. I remember listening to someone on NPR talking about something they called glimmers of hope (I’ll have to look it up to be sure), and it resonated with me. I realized I needed to find my own glimmers to help me refocus during the tough moments.

Many days, I would collapse into bed feeling like all I did was keep two tiny humans alive and unharmed. But when I started jotting down my wins—no matter how small—I noticed there was a lot of good happening.

This blog is an extension of that practice—a place to write about the calm and beautiful moments as well as the unpredictable chaos that motherhood brings. I’ll be sharing my experiences, a bit of research here and there, and hopefully a lot of honest, real-life reflections on raising little ones while keeping mental health in check.

Thank you for joining me on this journey!