Carrying Him Through the Life I Love
By Meredith Calderas Precit
I don’t take becoming a mother lightly.
I’ve always wanted to be a mom, but the gravity of the decision weighed heavily on me for years. Am I ready for my life to change? For my body to change? Am I even able to get pregnant? I love my life. Everything will be different. I was spiraling.
A friend helped put it into perspective. “Don’t you want to share this life you live with your child? For them to experience everything you love?”
That question changed how I imagined motherhood.
Sharing the Life I Love
When I got pregnant, I took that idea to heart. I told myself I wanted to continue everything that brings me joy and share it with my baby boy — both in the womb and earth side.
The health of my baby has always been my number one priority throughout pregnancy, and that includes tending to my own mental health. For me, that means staying active as long as I can: lifting weights, dancing, aerial arts, performing, running my business, attending concerts, camping, and more.
I can’t wait to tell him everything we did together before he was born.
We saw The Offspring, Hozier, Glass Animals, Rob Zombie, and Blink 182. I flew 80 feet above a waterfall on aerial silks. I swam with sharks. I shared all of this with him before he ever took his first breath.
When Staying Active Isn’t Easy
As you may have picked up already, slowing down has never been easy for me.
And although I’ve continued to do so much while pregnant, it hasn’t been entirely smooth sailing. Starting around four months, I began experiencing pelvic pain. I could feel my bones moving and expanding — first in the front and bottom of my pelvis, then deeper inside. Now, at eight months pregnant, the pain has shifted to my sacrum and hips.
Strength, Adaptation, and Trusting My Body
I’ve been weightlifting consistently since 2019 and have competed and placed in two bodybuilding competitions. I’ve lifted my entire pregnancy, and it has supported not only my mental wellness, but also helped keep my body strong, flexible, and capable.
As my belly grows, it gets in the way during simple things like sitting up in bed. If you’ve ever crunched while pregnant, you’ve probably noticed your belly “coning.” It both looks and feels strange, so I’ve avoided that position and focused instead on full-body strength. Every exercise is a core exercise if you’re doing it right, and I’ve kept my core strong while steering clear of traditional crunches as much as possible.
I want to prove to myself that I can stay strong during pregnancy so I can continue to be strong after.
Loving My Body Through Change
I do my best to show up for myself as I watch my body change.
I recognize the beauty and miracle of being pregnant, but for me, it has also come with insecurity and moments of feeling unattractive. That can be a hard line to walk. As best I can, I remind myself that this season is temporary, extraordinary, and that I am capable.
Becoming a Mother Without Losing Myself
As I adapt to motherhood in 2026, my identity won’t disappear, it will only broaden.
Through community and a whole lot of grace, I plan to share everything I love with my son. Things are changing, and I feel that more than ever in my third trimester. It’s scary, exciting, unknown, and I’m learning to relinquish some control (which is hard for me 😂).
I know I’ll learn and grow in ways I never knew possible — ways that only parenthood can teach. I will be tested. I will break down. I will stand back up. I will be his mom forever.
There’s no closer bond than that of a mother and her child. I am literally growing him inside me, and it’s the biggest mind-boggle of my life.
I might not know much yet about being a mother, but what I do know is this: I will give my everything to this next chapter. I’ll share it all with him, and we’ll do it together as a family.
About Meredith
Hi, I’m Mere.
I’ve lived in Tahoe since 2013, and it’s exactly where I want to be. Like many people who live here full-time, I juggle multiple jobs and passions. I work full-time as a Program Manager for Fandango Rewards, and I co-own a performance company called Moonlight Movement, where we bring aerial arts and dance to local, private, and corporate events and festivals.
I’m also a personal trainer, aerial arts and dance teacher, yoga teacher, and bodybuilder. Physical activity keeps me grounded — especially while balancing a desk job — and it’s a huge part of how I care for myself.
You can find me on Instagram at @intheairwithmere and @moonlight.mvmt.
At The Mothership Collective, we share stories, experiences, and resources to support parents and caregivers, but our content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always reach out to a qualified healthcare provider with questions about your health, pregnancy, postpartum experience, or your child’s well-being.
1 comment
This is so beautifully said. The way you held both the magic and the hard parts of pregnancy with so much honesty is really powerful, and now seeing you step into motherhood with that same awareness is so inspiring. Your body just did something incredible, and that strength does not disappear postpartum, even on the days it feels hard.
I love how you said your identity would broaden, not disappear, you are already living that, and it shows. Your son is so lucky to have a mom who is this thoughtful, strong, and open to growth. You are doing such an amazing job.