Letting Motherhood Happen

Welp, this morning has not exactly gone according to plan.

In all honesty, I woke up late, I’ve been sitting at my computer for 30 minutes staring at a video I need to edit, and I look exactly the same as I did when I rolled out of bed this morning.

My thoughts are not on work right now…

They’re on the baby performing his latest acrobatic routine in my stomach.

It’s a wild feeling, being pregnant. I was recently talking to a friend about pregnancy when she explained that she’d heard it described as something that happens to you, not necessarily by you.

I took a moment to soak that in. Trust me, I certainly feel things happening to me.

Each day brings a new wave of emotions, changes, and discoveries about my own body and the body I am growing. Take last night, for example: I think I slept a solid 45 minutes. The other hours were filled with bathroom breaks, wild/exhausting dreams, baby’s kickboxing class, back pain, discomfort, and racing thoughts that never seemed to slow.

But through it all, I was growing a human. Without even thinking about it!

Losing sleep is hard, but there’s magic in those early morning moments when it’s just you and the little one fluttering in your tummy. Seeing your body change is challenging, but knowing you’re providing life to a growing being is breathtaking (sometimes literally, lol). People can say things that make your eyes widen or your blood boil, but nothing compares to the kindness shown by a stranger who congratulates you with genuine excitement on this new stage.

A few weeks ago, a woman came up and asked me how far along I was. As quickly as I responded, she grabbed my shoulder, looked me in the eye, and said, “Soak in every moment. This is the closest you’ll ever be to your baby.”

I could feel the passion behind her words, and it brought tears to my eyes. Pregnancy is hard, but it’s also nine months of uninterrupted time between you and your child, where you are literally the closest you will ever be to one another.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with many incredible mothers to hear their stories. There have been moments during interviews where the depth of a mother's love is so strong, I can literally feel it radiating from her entire being. That’s why I especially love it when children are present during their parents’ interview. They don’t just witness the stories—they get to experience and feel the love their parents have for them.

From these conversations, I’ve gathered so many beautiful insights. Here are just a few favorite lessons I’ve learned from some of the moms I’ve recently interviewed:

• You never stop being a parent, but sooner or later, you realize you’re not in charge.

• The two people who know your child best are you and God. Listen closely and follow your heart.

• Moms need passions and hobbies outside their role as mothers.

• Time moves fast, so try not to wish away each moment.

• A mother’s love can truly be the greatest force on the planet.

  
  

Listen, I know these can all sound a bit cliché—like the caption on every Mother’s Day post or the words in every card. But what’s fascinating is how often these same themes come up across completely different interviews, with women from all walks of life.

It makes me think: if these truths were really that simple or easy to grasp, would we need to keep repeating them? Would they keep showing up time and time again?

I think it’s easy to hear these things and let them pass us by—until we hit those more reflective seasons of life. That’s when we finally see how real and deeply true they’ve been all along.

I admire my mom for many reasons, one of them being the way she’s been able to cherish each stage of life she’s been placed in. As the oldest, I’ve been able to soak in the times it was just her and me—best buddies from the very first day in 2000. I’ve watched her connect with, care for, and spend time with each of my siblings, the last being born in 2011. Through diaper changes, piano recitals, field trips, and hospital visits, I admire the way she’s been able to soak up every part of life.

I’m sure if one were to ask her, there would be moments she wishes she could go back to—but from the outside looking in, it’s clear to me she’s lived her life with intention. Not wishing away the hard, but instead embracing the beauty those moments can bring.

As I look to the next seven weeks—and the days, months, and years beyond—that is my goal for motherhood: to soak in every moment.

Life moves fast, and it’s true—you have to be intentional, plan ahead, and make things happen. I’m a firm believer that hard work is one of the most powerful tools for shaping the life you want. Time and again, I’ve seen how consistent, focused effort can turn goals into reality. The results might not come overnight, but the difference that hard work makes is undeniable.

But this season of life has reminded me that sometimes, beautiful things just happen to you when you let them.

I promise, no amount of hard work is going to give you a sunny day. No amount of concentrated effort is going to bring those little moments that bring special surprises. Sometimes, good things just happen—a free ice cream cone in the Chick-fil-A drive-through, a smile from a stranger, a song you needed to hear coming on at just the right time. These are things you honestly can’t plan for—they simply come, unannounced, reminding you that life isn’t only about working hard. It’s also about being open, staying present, and allowing the beautiful, happy parts of life to happen to you.

Do I know there are going to be hard times? Of course. And sometimes, despite our best efforts, those things just happen to us too.

But at the end of the day, I’m excited (and yes, a little nervous) to let alllllll the stages of motherhood happen to me. To soak in every moment—diaper changes, late-night feeds, and all—and to feel every feeling that comes.

This Mother’s Day, I’m reflecting on the lessons I’ve been told time and time again, while also looking forward to the unexpected, beautiful moments that will happen. The first eight months of my motherhood journey have been filled with so many sweet, surprising moments—but I know the best ones are still to come.

Do me a quick favor: send your mom a text to say thank you. Because at the end of the day, every life, every story, every family tree begins with a mother. And that’s something worth honoring.

Photo credit: The amazing Brooke Bills! Click here for her work!