There’s something about this season of motherhood that I wish I could bottle up and keep forever. Not necessarily because it’s easy or because I have everything figured out, but because I know one day I’ll look back and realize these were some of the moments I wish I could experience all over again.
Right now, our days are a mixture of school drop-offs, baseball, gymnastics, baby giggles, laundry that never seems to end, and someone constantly asking me for a snack. Some days I feel like I have a pretty good handle on everything, and other days I’m counting down the minutes until bedtime. And sometimes, both of those feelings happen within the same hour.
But somewhere in the middle of all of it, I’m realizing just how special this season really is.
Three Kids, Three Completely Different Seasons
One of the things I wasn’t prepared for when having three kids was how different their needs would be at the same time. Jaxon is getting older, becoming more independent, and starting to have his own little world outside of our home. Easton is finding his independence, too, and watching him grow into this next stage of childhood has been so much fun. And then there’s Evie, who reminds me every single day how quickly those baby years come and go.
It’s such a strange feeling to be watching one child grow out of a stage while another is just beginning it.
I’m helping with schoolwork and talking about things that suddenly feel so grown up, while also celebrating the smallest milestones with Evie. One minute I’m reminding the boys to grab their backpacks, and the next I’m sitting on the floor surrounded by baby toys.
There are moments when I look at the boys and wonder how they got so big, especially because I can still remember when they were the little ones needing me for absolutely everything. Now I get to experience some of those stages again with their little sister, but from a completely different perspective.
And I think that’s what has made this season so meaningful. I have a much better understanding of just how quickly it all changes.
Motherhood Looks Different Than I Imagined
If you had told me a few years ago that I would leave teaching after eleven years to stay home with my kids while building a business of my own, I’m not sure I would have believed you.
For so long, teaching was a huge part of my identity. I loved having a career, my routines, and something that was mine outside of motherhood. And while stepping away from the classroom was a big change, being home with my kids has given me a different perspective on our everyday life.
Of course, being a stay-at-home mom doesn’t mean our days are slow or that I suddenly have all this extra time. Between taking care of Evie, working on brand partnerships, keeping up with our schedules, and everything that comes with running a household, most days are just as busy as they’ve ever been.
But I get to be here for more of it. The ordinary mornings, the afternoons when everyone comes home, and all those little moments that might not seem important at the time.
And I’ve realized that those are the moments that make up so much of our lives.
Learning That Every Season Can Be Both Beautiful and Hard
I think there’s this expectation that we’re supposed to love every second of motherhood because we know how quickly it goes by. And while I understand the sentiment behind that, I also think it’s okay to admit that some days are just plain exhausting.
You can be incredibly grateful for your children and still feel overwhelmed. You can love being home with them and still miss having a little more independence. You can wish the days would slow down while simultaneously looking forward to bedtime.
None of those feelings take away from how much we love our families.
I’ve been trying to remind myself of that more often, especially on the days when everything feels like a lot. I don’t want to spend these years putting pressure on myself to make every moment perfect. I want to enjoy our family for who we are right now, even when the house is a mess, our schedules are packed, and dinner doesn’t go according to plan.
Because I know there will come a day when the house is quieter, when the boys don’t need rides to practices anymore, and when Evie isn’t following me from room to room.
And as much as I know there are wonderful things waiting for us in those next chapters, I also know I’ll miss parts of this one.
The Little Things I’ll Want Back One Day
I think about all the things that feel so ordinary right now. The backpacks by the door. The sound of the kids playing together. The toys scattered across the living room. The bedtime routines that somehow take longer than they should. The conversations in the car on the way home from school.
None of those moments necessarily feel extraordinary while they’re happening. They’re simply part of our day.
But I have a feeling those are the memories that will stick with me.
Not whether my house was perfectly clean or whether I checked everything off my to-do list. Not how productive I was or how much I managed to get done.
Just the feeling of having everyone home, the noise, the laughter, and even a little bit of the chaos.
Right Where We’re Supposed to Be
I don’t want to spend this season constantly wishing for the next one. Wishing for things to get easier, for schedules to settle down, or for the house to stay clean for longer than twenty minutes.
Of course, there are things I’m looking forward to, and I know our family will continue to change as the kids grow. But I’m also learning to appreciate where we are right now.
We’re in the middle of so many different stages of childhood, and I get a front-row seat to all of them.
This season is busy, loud, unpredictable, and sometimes completely overwhelming. But it’s also filled with so much love, laughter, and little moments I never want to forget.
And maybe that’s what motherhood is really about. Not waiting for the perfect season, but learning to see the beauty in the one we’re already living.
Because these are the days we’re going to look back on someday. And I hope when I do, I remember just how much I loved being their mom, right here in the middle of it all.