Hello there, Mama.
You might not recognize me, but I understand you intimately. I’ve walked alongside you—albeit at a slow pace to keep up with your little one’s tiny strides. I’ve donned the baby carrier, feeling the weight of my growing child pressing against my hips and shoulders. I’ve navigated your car, crammed with car seats, strollers, toys, diaper bags, sippy cups, and scattered Cheerios. I’ve shared your bed, waking repeatedly to nurse, comfort, fend off nightmares, or merely to confirm my presence in the world.
I’ve experienced the highs and lows of your love.
That love—oh, that boundless love. At times, it can feel overwhelming, can’t it? The love comes with a heavy load of worries, frustrations, and exhaustion. Love is a weighty affair, Mama. It’s all-encompassing, magnificent, and terrifying. It brings joy, affirmation, blessings, and a sense of the sacred. A mother’s love is a formidable challenge from the very start and continues to be so throughout the journey. This treasure trove of feelings is rich beyond measure, but it’s not light, and it’s not easy. You cannot separate that love from its weight; they are intertwined.
Yet, these early years, Mama, they will fortify you. The strength you’re building now will empower you to carry that love across uncharted territories. It is immense and burdensome, but believe me when I say you will shoulder it and traverse mountains. You will navigate turbulent waters with it tethered to your heart. It will propel you into breathtaking, magical, and even daunting realms. These formative years are conditioning you, enhancing your resilience to carry that love through every trial.
I understand it can be tough—perhaps more often than not. But I also know it’s filled with indescribable beauty on countless occasions. While I may not have all the answers, I assure you that motherhood is a continuous cycle of ups and downs, light and shadow, joy and sorrow. It’s a blend of smooth sailing and fierce storms—always accompanied by that love. That heavy, beautiful vessel overflowing with hope and awe. The burden doesn’t lighten, but you will grow stronger, I promise.
I know it’s a challenge now, but resist the urge to wish for a different time or season. Don’t fall into the trap of believing that at some point, this love will cease to challenge you. I won’t say to cherish these days because they fly by, but I want you to recognize that when the moments feel burdensome—that’s love preparing you to keep carrying it. It’s undeniably hard, but your strength and capacity are far greater than you realize. Motherhood will reveal this to you, if it hasn’t already. The struggle is a hidden blessing.
And then there’s joy—thank goodness for joy! It’s the most effective parenting tool if utilized wisely. Cling to each joyful moment as it occurs and let it permeate your being. You won’t encounter joy in every instant of motherhood, but when you do, immerse yourself completely. Those joyful instances act as supports that make carrying love so much lighter.
And please, Mama, seek out other mothers who understand the weight of this love. Share your experiences, discuss the beauty and the burdens, and acknowledge both aspects with equal respect. It’s not meant to be a walk in the park, but we can uplift one another by sharing our joys, reminding each other of our strength, and affirming, “Yes, I see you, Sister. I understand. It’s hard.” On days when your love feels effortless, offer some of your strength to a fellow mom struggling to push hers uphill. We need each other, Mama. Every one of us.
Reflecting on my early motherhood days stirs up a multitude of emotions. Those little ones are pure, their futures boundless, and the love we have for them is filled with wonder and worry. I remember feeling, at times, as if that love was too heavy for me to bear. Even after years of growth, I still experience that feeling occasionally. But this love has been through so much with me. It has made me resilient, and it continues to strengthen me every day.
And it will do the same for you, I promise.
Keep going, Mama.