Motherhood is a true blessing, but sometimes it doesn’t feel like it. No matter what season of motherhood you are in there will be difficult times. Yet, it is extremely important that as mothers we learn to embrace each season of motherhood and not focus on the struggles we face.
From the moment that you find out that you are expecting a child your motherhood journey begins. It is a journey that truly never ends. You don’t merely raise a child for 18 years and stop being a mother. Once a mother, always a mother. I haven’t even finished my first 18 years a mother yet, but I know this to be true because my mother is just as much a part of mine and my brother’s lives today as she was when we were growing up.
Throughout your pregnancy there will be difficult moments along the way. Some women’s bodies handle pregnancy better than others, but every mother has hard times while pregnant. Whether you struggle with morning sickness, loss of sleep or sciatica nerve pain, the pregnancy season of motherhood has unique difficulties. In the midst of those long nine months it is hard to understand how you could possibly miss this season of motherhood, but you do. The moments you will miss include feeling the first butterflies of your child moving in your womb to your babe kicking inside of you and their hiccups that shake your entire body from the inside out! Once your child is in your arms, these are moments you won’t have again…and you’ll miss them.
The infant stage of motherhood is full of lots of sleepless nights and you’ll wonder time and time again if you’ll ever sleep from dusk to dawn. The amount of diapers you will change is astounding and because of them your house often your house does not smell clean and fresh. This season is often one that you struggle to remember because you were so sleep deprived, but later in the life you’ll look back and realize just how amazing it was. You’ll miss the smell of your freshly washed babe in your arms, the way they snuggled up close to you and all the times you rocked them to sleep because they needed the safety only you could provide.
Toddlers keep a mother busy from sunup to sundown. They are into every nook, cranny and cupboard that they can get their pudgy fingers into. Often they don’t like to eat what we feed them and each mealtime requires another bath. Most mothers have to choose whether to sleep or deal with a messy house throughout the toddler years. What you’ll miss are the moments when your little one takes their first few steps, the light in their eyes each time they learn to do something new and the first words they speak!
The early years are full of adventure and wonder for children! Their vocabulary is constantly growing and they want to discover everything about the world they live in all at once! You’ll be asked “Why?” more times than you ever thought humanly possible and stubbornness will likely begin to show it’s colors as independence starts to take root in every child. You’ll find yourself missing your children’s discovery stages, the funny ways they say specific words and their desire to help with everyday tasks.
As you entire the school-aged season of motherhood you’ll spend a lot of time teaching your children, having “play dates” and playing games throughout this time. You may begin to encounter attitude as your children approach puberty. The things you’re likely to miss from this season are the times that your children want to talk and do things with you, them asking for snuggles at bedtime and their willingness to hold your hand or hug you in public.
Middle schoolers are unique and you’ll face struggles that you never imagined. You’ll also find that your children are more willing to take on responsibilities as tweens! Likely the biggest difficulty you’ll face during this time are the moments when your children feel like they don’t have to listen to you as their independence continues to grow. Puberty will continue throughout the middle school years presenting hard moments often when you least expect it. This is the season of motherhood that I am currently in and it is not easy, so I’m not exactly sure what all that I will miss. I love the heart to heart talks that we have and that they still want and enjoy spending time with me.
The teenage years are a struggle, I remember what I was like as a teenager and all of the difficulties I went through with my mother. There were a lot of times when I said things that I didn’t mean, I made decisions that didn’t make sense and my attitude was not pleasant. Yet, I know that as a teenager, I really did love my mom and her support meant the world to me. I’m sure that my mother felt lost and defeated at times in my teenage years and I’m confident that I will feel those things too when I reach this season of motherhood.
As I think about reaching the teenage years as the mother, I want to ensure that I slow down and make the most of every moment. I want to enjoy the teenage season of motherhood, I want to do it well and succeed. After those years pass, I will still be a mom, but it will be different. My children will already have spread their wings out on their own…I want to reach that moment and smile as my heart bursts with pride.
When a mother’s children become adults, they will be out on their own. One day they will realize that they need her now, just as much (if not more) than they did way back when. They’ll long to hold her hand, to feel her fingers run through their hair and have her lips pressed against their forehead. Once a mother, always a mother.
Sweet momma, embrace each season of motherhood for once it has passed, it will never come back again.
Misty, your reflection on the diverse seasons of motherhood resonates deeply. Each stage, from pregnancy to the teenage years, brings unique challenges and joys. Your heartfelt reminder to embrace every moment serves as a beautiful guide for mothers navigating the intricate journey of raising children. 🌸💖