Having twins is incredibly time-consuming, but having preemies was even more demanding. We were both exhausted. For the first three months, all they did was sleep. I was extremely lucky to have my husband home the first five months. If it wasn’t for him putting in most of the effort, I don’t think I would have survived.

Despite the chaos of new motherhood, I was determined not to lose myself after pregnancy. We made it a priority to get out and do things with the twins as soon as they came home from the NICU. I believe not being cooped up in the house played the biggest role in preserving my mental health. It also helped that I made time for myself, which I know can be difficult for mothers who exclusively breastfeed. While I couldn’t breastfeed, that did allow me the flexibility to carve out time for my hobbies.

One of the biggest ways I stayed true to myself was by continuing to freedive. Freediving required minimal gear and preparation, making it easy to fit into our new routine. As a team, my husband and I developed a simple but effective plan to make it work.

The night before, we packed everything and set it by the front door for an easy morning load-up. In the morning, we’d change, feed, and prep bottles for later, knowing the girls would need to eat again while we were out. By 6:30 a.m., we’d be at the beach, feeding them their bottles before they dozed off under their canopy. While they slept, I’d freedive at the reef while my husband stayed with them. When I finished, we’d switch, he’d swim while I watched the girls. By 9:00 a.m., we packed up before the Florida heat hits, grabbed coffee, and headed home.

That simple routine made my entire week. It was a small slice of my old life, seamlessly blended into my new one. We kept it up every Sunday for months, and it became one of the best parts of our new life as parents.

If you’re a mom struggling to find time for yourself, I encourage you to start small. It doesn’t have to be freediving, maybe it’s a morning swim, a paddleboard session, or even just taking a moment to walk along the shore. The key is prioritizing yourself, even in the smallest ways. The ocean has always been a place of healing and connection. You deserve it.