WE MADE IT, WE SURVIVED: Celebrating Three Years of Motherhood

What did Hezekiah Walker say? “WE MADE IT! WE SURVIVED!”

Braylen is three years old today 🥹 Please help me wish my sweet boy a very Happy Birthday!

These past few years of motherhood have stretched me, softened me, humbled me, and grown me in ways I never could have imagined. Not because everything was perfect, but because parenting has a way of revealing your heart. Somewhere between sleepless nights, toddler emotions, and moments of overwhelming love, I’ve learned lessons I didn’t even know I needed.

One of the biggest realizations for me was that it truly takes time to get to know your child. When I first became a mom, I was so confident I’d immediately be able to say, “I know my child.” But the truth? I had to actually get to know him. Every day felt like an introduction to a new version of Braylen. One day he loved something, the next day he didn’t. One day he wanted all the cuddles, the next day he needed space. One day he ate everything in sight, the next day he survived on what felt like two crackers and a dream.

Over time, I stopped expecting him to respond a certain way and started observing instead of assuming. That shift changed everything. Love may be instant, but understanding develops over time, and that’s okay.

Another lesson that deeply transformed my experience was learning to let go of mom guilt. For the first year and a half, I carried guilt about everything. Guilt for resting. Guilt for working. Guilt for wanting time to myself. It was exhausting. Then one day, I heard a mother say she balances life well because she simply doesn’t carry mom guilt. That statement stopped me in my tracks. When I really sat with the question, “Why do I feel guilty?” I realized I didn’t have a solid, honest answer. My child was loved, cared for, safe, and supported. Yet guilt had somehow become my default emotion. That realization freed me. If your child is loved and you are doing your best, you do not have to live under the weight of guilt. You are not failing, you are human.

I’ve also learned the beauty of giving your child experiences. People often say, “They won’t remember.” And maybe they won’t remember every detail, but we will. We will remember the joy on their faces, the laughter, the wonder they find in the smallest things. Experiences don’t have to be extravagant vacations. They can be themed movie nights, baking cookies together, crafting at the kitchen table, spontaneous dance parties, or silly traditions that belong only to your family. Children find magic in moments we might consider ordinary. What feels small to us can feel enormous to them.

Along this journey, I’ve become more aware of how easy it is to fall into comparison. Comparing milestones, parenting styles, routines, and even children’s personalities can quietly steal joy. But parenting isn’t meant to be copied and pasted. Your family is unique. Your child is unique. Your rhythm is unique. Embracing that truth brings so much peace.

If there is one lesson that anchors all the others, it is this:

God guides the journey. 

Biblical principles remain constant, but the way those principles unfold in each home may look different. God knows our children better than we ever could, and He faithfully leads us when we seek Him.

Biblical Principles That Anchor My Parenting

Proverbs 15:1A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Children are learning emotional regulation. Our tone teaches them how to respond to frustration.

Philippians 2:14–15Do everything without grumbling or arguing…

Parenting is hard. But gratitude shifts the posture of our hearts.

Proverbs 22:6Train up a child in the way he should go…

We are shaping habits, values, faith, and character — daily.

Ephesians 6:4Do not provoke your children to anger…

Correction should build a bond, not break.

Final Thoughts

I don’t know everything. I’m only a few years into this motherhood journey. But if you’re reading this in the middle of toddler chaos, exhaustion, or self-doubt…

You’re not alone. You’re doing better than you think. Grace covers you, too.

And stay tuned, next week I’m sharing my birth story 🫶🏽