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.
5667 comments
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146553923/posts/32028830
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146553923/posts/32028846
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146553923/posts/32028847
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146553923/posts/32028849
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146553923/posts/32028850
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146553904/posts/32028873
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146553904/posts/32028880
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146553904/posts/32028881
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146553904/posts/32028882
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146553904/posts/32028883
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555618/posts/32028924
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555618/posts/32028926
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555618/posts/32028927
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555618/posts/32028928
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555618/posts/32028930
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555676/posts/32028945
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555676/posts/32028947
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555676/posts/32028948
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555676/posts/32028950
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555884/posts/32028999
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555884/posts/32029012
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555884/posts/32029013
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555884/posts/32029015
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555916/posts/32029029
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555916/posts/32029030
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555916/posts/32029046
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555916/posts/32029047
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555916/posts/32029048
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146555916/posts/32029049
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556192/posts/32029078
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556192/posts/32029096
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556192/posts/32029098
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556192/posts/32029099
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556192/posts/32029100
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556226/posts/32029107
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556226/posts/32029129
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556226/posts/32029130
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556226/posts/32029131
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556226/posts/32029132
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556455/posts/32029165
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556455/posts/32029371
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556455/posts/32029374
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556455/posts/32029375
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556455/posts/32029378
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556455/posts/32029380
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556453/posts/32029400
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556453/posts/32029401
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556453/posts/32029403
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556453/posts/32029404
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146556453/posts/32029405
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3618320266166273/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3618320545087488/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3618320794255361/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3618321696030721/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3618321930944512/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3618323286065152/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3618323491618817/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3618323692945409/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3618323912753152/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3618324430749697/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3618329902219265/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3618330896269312/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3618331728805889/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3618334706794496/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3618335688228865/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3618336502317056/
https://www.honor.com/uk/club/topicdetail/topicid-3618337391509505/
https://paiza.io/projects/Y7MCczNTzuh78Ljp2FRSFw
https://jsbin.com/witobuc/edit?html,output
https://etextpad.com/lhca0znmx4
https://glot.io/snippets/gzl9oja657
https://jsfiddle.net/n8uvopcz/
https://dev.bukkit.org/paste/7fccc790
https://paste.feed-the-beast.com/view/d50003f7
https://pastelink.net/u0v6jlz3
https://binshare.net/CQoNgQDzhfOh9u3ovRln
https://matters.town/a/jagfwbuog06a
https://friendpaste.com/40BLMryrjzkoG9PYiUQ0iX
https://yamcode.com/sdgsdfg-60
https://telegra.ph/sfsf-09-03
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146384246/posts/32030757
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146384246/posts/32030765
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146384246/posts/32030771
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146384246/posts/32030787
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146384246/posts/32030807
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146384683/posts/32030831
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146384683/posts/32030829
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146384683/posts/32030841
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146384683/posts/32030846
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383084/posts/32030867
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383084/posts/32030880
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383084/posts/32030881
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383084/posts/32030888
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383084/posts/32030889
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383084/posts/32030896
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146564018/posts/32030966
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146564018/posts/32030967
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146564018/posts/32030988
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146564018/posts/32030991
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146564018/posts/32030998
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146564018/posts/32031017
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146564018/posts/32031040
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146564018/posts/32031048
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146564018/posts/32031065
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146564018/posts/32031072
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383708/posts/32031091
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383708/posts/32031099
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383708/posts/32031104
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383708/posts/32031105
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146383708/posts/32031108
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146564942/posts/32031222
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146564942/posts/32031270
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146564942/posts/32031279
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146564942/posts/32031287
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146564942/posts/32031317
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146564942/posts/32031343
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146565935/posts/32031425
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146565935/posts/32031438
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146565935/posts/32031445
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146565935/posts/32031459
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146566255/posts/32031495
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146566255/posts/32031503
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146566255/posts/32031510
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146566255/posts/32031518
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146566685/posts/32031584
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146566685/posts/32031601
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146566685/posts/32031613
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146566685/posts/32031620
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146567024/posts/32031675
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146567024/posts/32031683
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146567024/posts/32031695
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146567024/posts/32031707
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146567024/posts/32031714
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146567024/posts/32031719
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146567717/posts/32031780
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146567717/posts/32031795
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146567717/posts/32031801
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146567717/posts/32031813
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146567717/posts/32031842
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146567717/posts/32031865
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146567717/posts/32031896
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146567717/posts/32031906
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146568512/posts/32031944
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146568512/posts/32031954
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146568512/posts/32031963
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146568512/posts/32031982
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146568512/posts/32031998
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146569054/posts/32032038
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146569054/posts/32032045
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146569054/posts/32032053
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146569054/posts/32032066
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146570475/posts/32032343
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146570475/posts/32032380
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146570475/posts/32032385
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146570475/posts/32032395
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146570475/posts/32032416
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146570475/posts/32032428
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146570475/posts/32032438
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146570475/posts/32032459
https://www.strava.com/athletes/146571173/posts/32032491
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hd-v-e-r-bitelchus-bitelchus-2024-pelicula-nueva-4kpelisflix
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/ver720p-hd-bitelchusbitelchus-2024-nueva-pelicula-4k-sub-l-i-n-e-a
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/cuevana-v-e-r-hd-el-cuervo-the-crow-2024la-pel%C3%ADcula-4k-1080p-y-latinosub
https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/4k-v-e-r-nuevo-4k-diabolica-peliculas-2024-hd-espanolmp4castellano
https://newspicks.com/user/10630664
https://newspicks.com/user/10630678
https://newspicks.com/user/10630697
https://newspicks.com/user/10630704
https://newspicks.com/user/10630720
https://newspicks.com/user/10630750
https://utolihaxoucm8com-shop.fourthwall.com/products/voir-films-hd-beetlejuice-beetlejuice-2024-en-s-r-e-a-m-i-n-g-vf-francais
https://utolihaxoucm8com-shop.fourthwall.com/products/voir-1080p-beetlejuice-beetlejuice-film-complet-2024-en-ligne-vf-francais-sub
https://utolihaxoucm8com-shop.fourthwall.com/products/voir-film-hd-the-crow2024-online720p-film-streaming-vf
https://utolihaxoucm8com-shop.fourthwall.com/products/the-crow-regarder-film-complet-vf-2024-francais-full-hd-1080p
https://utolihaxoucm8com-shop.fourthwall.com/products/voir-film-speak-no-evil-2024-complet-hd720p-en-fr
https://billetto.co.uk/users/el-cuervo-the-crow-online-_-ver-hd-1080p-pelis-2024-en-linea/details
https://billetto.co.uk/users/streamcloud-ver-hd-diabolica-2024-nuevo-pelicula-4k-gratis-linea/details
https://billetto.co.uk/users/ver-rebel-ridge-hd-pelicula-2024-sub-linea-4k-mp4-audio/details
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ftymW3DrJgLvK8zq95s8P
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7ftymW3DrJgLvK8zq95s8P
https://open.spotify.com/episode/47ljS5MArwvIZ9ahFnw0B6
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1BYbxQUic0n7IT4NFlXh8x
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2B8EkwgFnjlf3NP5Op7dQi
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ujpQiFglRDhKM4xo7R5dY
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3yE82NUYlAN1EzXf5bw7Qy
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2DZ6HY36GjyyYlO6Coe8z3
https://open.spotify.com/episode/08G3lnlNpq163ZpF2lr9r0
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4933sazbxFbTLTmk2785XZ
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2XKgCl4oAUrf870A3Wf7HO
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6pPV45h7qN0eQTQKVjZ7r1
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2MlcKlLSWQCxG1RT7vJsf3
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6FAgqphSa2rAUPVWLqreNv
https://open.spotify.com/episode/46bgIIFd9XUllAH73vhqnq
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0MTKv4wSHPh9sodmDIWhsx
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3V9nbGeAHtThijjXx5kRwA
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6zwCjxxJxWsuq86fjM3tT7
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5knRvIKeiGvzpLA2EFVHLn
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ermavmEchBXKBwGGDHAD6
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7pA9Kid7gwdPfPZDLHOQp7
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1B0SVgJXvkKo0eYVZWj2HE
https://open.spotify.com/episode/517U9L8P1eIkmRYi6J72Du
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1e6d8w2E7GOLWaOP893ntX
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1uPpTYS4nDzozIYR8PZo8e
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0HoEFZinyY4LNplzzfYJSP
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3M3w2HCeWURkmNyH9IGPtY
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4q9uNWROKlqbLlOi4cC92n
https://open.spotify.com/episode/23BjC2cRzjX7FtYrLYbYT5
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ecHAPODOvp47L8CPnJ5x0
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5YoWcDTconN6GTK5YSVawH
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1N4CUj7z6MwSe546OGrSul
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ZWRKSyzO6djTPMCUSK2gG
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0EzYnCDEAZzMDL3mI4LofN
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0mRaUaBXfZ7WzKIdtsUm7u
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ZO2UhPrlp4hA5ecHtWOX8
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0c4ZyhxuVhO9Rou3gvqmyf
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1FeMh34b1wHCGyOXG2evFN
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2MtY4XQuhfE9i7JI8EGagS
https://open.spotify.com/episode/63CRzEvIshoHbLzOZI4c2f