Seven years ago, I was deep in the trenches of new motherhood, feeling like I had to say all the right things, do all the right things, and keep it all together. Looking back now, it’s wild how much I’ve grown—not just as a mom, but as a person. The things I once believed or worried about have shifted, and with time and experience, I see them in a new light.

Then: I need to be the perfect mom.
Now: I'm enough as I am. Perfect doesn’t exist—present and loving does.

Then: I have to do everything by myself.
Now: It’s okay to ask for help. It takes a village, and that’s a good thing.

Then: I should always have it together.
Now: It’s okay to have hard days, messy days, and days where you just get through.

Then: I do not want them to see me struggling.
Now: It’s okay for them to see me struggle. Life has challenges, but we keep going, and it’s okay to ask for help.

Then: OMG, I will never feel like me again.
Now: I’m still me, but a more expanded version. Motherhood hasn’t erased me, it’s added layers.

Then: Ugh, we haven't done it in months... I guess our mojo is dead.
Now: Our connection isn’t just physical. Intimacy can ebb and flow—it’s the long game that matters.

Then: Shop closed.
Now: The shop is on a flexible schedule! Priorities shift, but the spark is still there. We find our way back to each other.

Then: Why do I always have to do this? Like put the kids to bed.
Now: It’s exhausting, but these moments won’t last forever. I can ask for help and remind myself that bedtime might be the sweetest part of my day.

Then: OMG, I’ve been eating like a pig, pig is me.
Now: I deserve to nourish myself. Some days it’s cake, some days it’s veggies, and both are fine.

Then: I can’t do this.
Now: It’s hard, but I can do it, and I will do it. I’ve already overcome so much.

Then: How do I get this cool mom to like me?
Now: I’m enough just as I am. I don’t need to mold myself to fit in. If they don’t see my worth, they’re not my people.

Then: What if I fail?
Now: Failure is part of the process. It’s how I learn and grow. Fear won’t hold me back anymore.

Then: What if my child gets hurt?
Now: I can’t protect them from everything. But I can give them the tools to navigate the world, trust in their resilience, and be there when they need me.

Then: What if I’m not doing enough?
Now: I am doing more than enough. My kids don’t need a superhero; they need a present, loving parent. That’s more than enough.

Then: What if my kids don’t turn out okay?
Now: I can only guide them. The rest is up to them and life. I trust that they will find their way, just as I did.

Then: I’m going to lose myself in motherhood.
Now: Motherhood is part of me, but not all of me. I make space for my passions, my career, and my relationships. I’m still me, just with more depth.

Then: I don’t know what I’m doing!
Now: None of us do at first. Parenting is a learning journey, and I get better with time and experience. It’s okay not to have it all figured out.

It’s amazing to look back and see how much things have shifted, isn’t it? Motherhood, marriage, and life itself have a way of evolving us—sometimes in the quiet moments and sometimes in the messy, loud ones.

Here’s to growing, learning, and embracing the now 💛 #MommyThoughts #GrowthJourney #LifeWillTell