Sleepless Nights, Sticky Fingers, and the Early Years of Motherhood

The Chaos and the Magic

Motherhood in the early years is nothing if not contradictory. It’s equal parts exhaustion and wonder, sticky hands tugging at your clothes while your heart swells so big it feels like it might burst. You learn quickly that “sleeping in” is a relic of the past, and that coffee is no longer optional—it’s survival.

Finding My Footing

In those early years, I didn’t just learn how to mother my kids—I learned how to mother myself, too. To forgive myself for the mistakes, to laugh when the diaper exploded at the worst possible moment, and to find joy in the smallest victories (like a toddler eating three bites of broccoli). The early years aren’t polished. They’re raw, messy, and honest—and that’s what makes them unforgettable.

Takeaway

If you’re in this season now, know this: perfection isn’t the goal. Connection is. Those endless days of Goldfish crumbs and bedtime battles are the foundation of a lifetime of love.