My name is Kelly M. Sicard (she/her), and I’m a wife, mom, and freelance writer from New Hampshire.

The deepest parts of my courage and faith journey began a decade ago when I became a mom. After seven years of infertility, loss, and a difficult pregnancy, life would settle down once my daughter arrived, or so I hoped.

But along with the joy of motherhood also came the superfecta of challenges: unrealistic expectations and unexpected grief from years of infertility, common but difficult shifts in career, finances, marriage dynamics, and sleep that I found few women around me spoke about, an explosion of family challenges, and the realization that my experience as a highly sensitive person turned parent would require me to start over.

With the hope of better managing this new chapter, I left my non-profit fundraising job of nearly 13 years for one that allowed a little more time at home, but it wasn’t enough. After some time, I had to take another step back. Thanks to my support system, I stayed home for a year to care for my daughter and heal in the way I needed.

That year of healing led me back to my writing passion. I cashed in a small 401K to help my family stay afloat while I attended full-time graduate school for my M.A. in English and Creative Writing. Upon graduation, I secured a job at the university and a few years later started my own writing business. Each year that goes on feels more fulfilling than the last as I grow in courage.

My courage journey over the past decade has included setting boundaries, attending therapy, embracing creativity, taking risks, moving beyond fear, allowing myself to be seen, understanding my needs as a highly sensitive person turned parent, and so much more.

Faith has played a key role in my life from my youngest years, but nothing has made me grow in trust—in myself and God’s plan—more than this season of life.

Your courage journey is your own. You may be just beginning or have been on this road for years. No matter where you are, I hope you find this an uplifting space for reflection, learning, prayer, and creativity.