Eight Things Motherhood Teaches You!

 

Motherhood has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding journeys I have ever embarked upon. When my kiddos are playing nicely together and there’s no trail of legos or crushed Cheerios in sight, being a mom feels magical and beautiful. But then there are days when I’m exhausted, and all I want to do is lock myself in the bathroom and cry till their daddy gets home. No matter how many times I plan and try to stay positive, some days are just hard. Being a mother is one of my greatest honors in life, despite the difficulties and challenges that come along with it. 

Nonetheless, there are a few things on this journey that I’ve learned on the way. Sometimes, I wish someone would have told me these things. Other times I feel like it’s all a process, so I might as well buckle up and enjoy the ride. I hope these truths will serve as beautiful reminders for you that motherhood is both challenging and beautiful at the same time. Enjoy eight things motherhood teaches you! 

1. The days are long, but the years are short. 

There are long days! I mean the kind of days where the clock doesn’t move, but the screaming, crying, and tantrum-throwing keeps going and going. You’re exhausted. You’re sleep-deprived. You’re at the end of your rope. All you want on those long, hard days is for nap time or bedtime to appear and sweep your little one away magically. But the reality is long days are just gifts of borrowed time that unfortunately don’t offer any refund. So, on those days, take a deep breath, look up at heaven, and savor this season. You’ll look back when they’re all grown up, and the hard, long days will look more like a blessing. 

2. Relax! Relax! Relax!

The truth is whether you breastfeed or formula feed, make homemade baby food or turn to the God-sent food in a jar, send your child to preschool or keep them at home till 5, or start potty training at two versus waiting till “they’re ready,” your child will be OK! It is hard to believe, especially when you’re new to this mommy thing. I’ve felt the Instagram pressure, too. But the truth is no one goes off to college wearing a diaper. So really, breathe in and breathe out! Sit back and do what works for you. Your child will turn out just fine. 

3. It’s OK to have a sink of dirty dishes.

Girl, forget maintaining a clean house! This one took a lot of work for me. Before babies, I was obsessed with keeping a tidy house and a clean kitchen. But then baby one came, and the dishes started looking more like Mount Everest. At first, this stressed me out more than the baby. It was more about my life was changing and being a mom was becoming more of a priority. So, do the dishes in the morning, when the baby sleeps, or whenever you can. If a neighbor or friend stops by and wonders how to help, point to the sink and take a nap. 

4. Embrace the hard moments and enjoy the small things.

This is so hard, especially when you look around and everyone you know is either already done raising kids or haven’t started yet. It can feel like the world left you behind with dirty diapers and milk-stained bras. Let’s not mention the friend whose body “snatched” back into pre-college shape. And here you are, feeling the heaviest you’ve ever felt. You’re feeding, changing, chasing, yelling, playing, laughing, and just doing all the mommy things every waking moment. Yet, in your mind, you’re wondering if it all matters. Are you making a difference? Are you changing the world? Or are you just here keeping this little human alive and well-loved? The truth is you’re doing both. All of it matters! And you’re doing a great job! 

5. Always have dry shampoo on hand and deodorant nearby.

OK, mamas! Showering as a new mama or any mama is like trying to fly to the moon without a spaceship. There are days when I look in the mirror and see a human with a food-stained shirt, messy hair, sweaty armpits, and wearing yesterday’s clothes. Here’s the secret, when you look good, you feel good. This might look different for every mama, and it doesn’t have to be a big deal. Just brushing your teeth, applying deodorant, changing into a fresh, clean shirt, and applying lipstick (OK, that might be a little too much) could make you feel like a million bucks. It might not make sense. You’re probably not going anywhere. Hey, no one is even going to notice. But make the effort, and do it for yourself. Because even when you don’t feel like it, you’re beautiful; and you matter, too! 

6. Give yourself extra grace

Sweet friend, you’re going to mess up. This mama life doesn’t come with a manual. There’s no perfect way to mother, and there’s no perfect mother. I can’t tell you how often I’ve said the wrong thing or made a poor choice. Some days, I feel like a failure when it comes to this mama life. But you know what, I keep going! I look at my little ones and remember that they are counting on me to be present and active not perfect. Remember to give yourself a little grace if you feel like you aren’t good at this whole mama thing. 

7. Mama friends are a gift!

The saying “it takes a village to raise a child” should also include “it takes other mamas to keep the mama alive.” We weren’t meant to travel this journey alone. On good days and bad days, we need other mamas by our sides. We need to hear someone say that we are doing a great job or are not alone. Hearing the words “Oh, my child does that too” or just sitting and crying without being judged are gifts that only mamas understand. Find your people, look for your tribe, and link arms with other mamas. You’ll soon see that this mama’s life is better together. 

8. This is the season you were made for!

Sweet friend, at the end of the day, you were made to be a mama on the good and hard days. This was your destiny all along. You have been called to do this. This season might not be what you expected. There will be days when you question how you got here (and on those days, you can always blame their daddy, Lol!). But know that in God’s perfect wisdom, He chose you (out of all the women in the world) to be this little one’s mama. Guess what? God doesn’t want you to measure up or be good at this mama thing. He wants you to embrace this season, lean on Him, and remember that it’s only for a short time. Breathe in and breathe out, and don’t forget you were made for this! 

One day you’ll look back on this season filled with dirty hands, crushed cherries, and constant screaming, and you’ll  wish it never ended. So today, savor all the moments. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Because one day, you’ll miss them.