The Ups and Downs of Motherhood

In this short essay, I discuss the ups and downs of motherhood and the rollercoaster ride that it is. Keep reading for the truth about how the hard and wonderful parts of motherhood all exist together.

If you’re a mom, you’re no stranger to the ups and downs of motherhood. You’ve probably noticed that motherhood is often painted as either a dream come true or an endless struggle. That you can either romanticize it or become a victim of it. But the truth is, it’s both. Motherhood is not all black and white. There is so much in between that somehow gets lost in our culture, the online world, and maybe even in us.

Motherhood is a journey filled with immense joy and overwhelming exhaustion, deep love and deep frustration. No one hands you a manual on how to navigate it all, yet every day, you wake up and do it again. Because even in the hardest moments, the love you have for your children far outweighs everything else. In this blog, let’s discuss the ups and down of motherhood and the true reality that they exist together!

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The Ups of Motherhood: The Moments That Make It All Worth It

There are moments in motherhood that feel like such magic. Honestly, I think a lot of motherhood feels like magic, if you can take the time to stop and take it all in. The first time your baby locks eyes with you and truly sees you. The way their little fingers wrap around yours, their uncontrollable giggles, the whispered “I love you” and snuggles before bedtime.

It’s the quiet moments, the way their head rests perfectly on your chest, the spontaneous hugs, the belly laughs that shake their whole tiny body. It’s watching them learn, grow, and become their own little person. The jokes they tell and the friends they make. It’s knowing that, even when you feel like you’re messing it all up, to them, you are everything. I could go on and on but all those little, mundane moments are everything.

The Downs of Motherhood: The Moments That Test You

There are so many ups in motherhood, but then there are those low moments too. You know, the moments no one puts on Instagram, no matter how “real” and honest they want to be. The moments when you lock yourself in the bathroom just to breathe or maybe cry. The nights when you are so exhausted that you sob in the closet because your baby won’t sleep. Those toddler meltdowns in the middle of Target or the quiet library that leaves you feeling small and embarrassed. That lovely backtalk from your older child who you swore would never speak to you like that! The loneliness that sneaks up on you even when you’re never actually alone.

Those downs and lows of motherhood can leave you feeling overstimulated, touched-out, and completely overwhelmed. Yet you still have to show up (and you do!) The lows cause the guilt that gnaws at you when you snap, when you feel so angry and a voice comes out of you that you didn’t know existed. Which then leaves you to wonder if you’re doing enough, if you are enough, because how could you act like that? It’s losing pieces of yourself and struggling to find them again because you just don’t feel like yourself anymore.

The Reality: The Ups and Downs of Motherhood Both Can Exist Together

The truth of all this is, between the ups and the downs, there’s so much in between! Motherhood is both. It’s the breathtaking highs and the gut-wrenching lows. And it’s everything else in the middle. And that’s okay! You can love your kids fiercely and still crave a break. You can be grateful for the life you’re living and still struggle. And you can cherish this season while also counting down the minutes to bedtime. Because it’s hard! And it’s amazing. And it will test every bit of your patience and make you feel a love you’ve never felt before.

If you’re in the thick of it, feeling like you’re riding an emotional rollercoaster, you’re not alone. Every mom feels this! The ups and downs of motherhood are not a sign that you’re failing, mama. They are just a sign that you’re a mother and a damn good one! At the end of the day, even the really long ones, through all the chaos and exhaustion, they’ll remember your love.

Final Thoughts

Motherhood is a wild, fun, amazing ride that will stretch you in ways you never imagined. Some days, you’ll feel like you have it all figured out, and other days, you’ll feel like you’re barely keeping your head above water. But no matter what mode you are in, you are doing an incredible job. At the end of the day it’s important to remember that your kids don’t need a perfect mom. They just need you. And that’s more than enough.

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