How hard can it be to be a mom? We grow up watching our mothers gracefully handling chores, managing us, taking care of the family, and it all looks so easy, right? I used to think the same—until I became a mother myself. And honestly, this has been the biggest decision that changed my entire life.
To be honest, I won’t recommend having a child unless one has patience and dedication. The whole journey is a rollercoaster! Pregnancy itself requires maintaining so many things like carrying extra weight, dealing with hormonal changes, preparing your body for normal delivery. In my case, I had to go through both labor pain and then a C-section. And God, C-section is the worst! You need rest to heal, but a newborn won’t let you sleep. My baby is eight months now and I still suffer from anesthesia pain. I can’t lift heavy things, sports got limited, breast milk overflow issue, hair fall is uncontrollable, postpartum depression hits, and the weight loss all these things are real. I miss family dinners, get-togethers, and the old life. Sometimes, the mental load becomes too heavy to handle.
Still, I am blessed because I have my family to share the load with. It’s hard to imagine how a single mother manages everything alone.
After all this hassle, how does anyone think of having another child? Well, maybe because all the pain fades the moment you see your child smile. For my baby, every day is an adventure—her first word, first crawl, first solid food—everything is precious. Watching her grow helps me forget the painful parts.
I was looking for this motherhood journey. I took courses like “Positive Parenting” and read tons of books on raising children, even before marriage. But parenting has no end to learning. There are so many things to remember, and it’s a trial-and-error process. Coming from an Asian background, there are many traditional beliefs about raising children that have been followed for ages. Debunking them sometimes hurts our elders’ feelings, but since my child’s well-being comes first, I often have to face some emotional conflict.
The positive part is that I have learned to overcome stress and overwhelm and rediscover myself. I am learning to turn the struggle into peace. The truth is, you have to let go of perfection. Your room won’t always be tidy—and that’s okay! I’m trying to eat healthy, exercise and avoid junk. I know I will eventually manage time for myself again, but this phase of my child’s life will never return. So I’m trying to enjoy every precious moment! Every day she is learning something new, and noting those things in my journal is an exciting job for me!
Motherhood has also helped me connect with my own mom on a deeper level. Now I understand her struggles, the sleepless nights, the patience, and the effort she put into raising us. I was just as restless as my daughter is now. Even today, she still does her best for us. Watching her and my baby together, seeing their unconditional love, is priceless. Grandparents’ love is truly important for a child’s upbringing. I have become more empathetic and soft-spoken with my mom, and I pray to Allah every day to keep her safe and healthy.
Motherhood changed me and revealed a new version of myself. I never imagined I could handle so much, and I am proud of myself. It was always my dream to raise my own child and teach her all the good things I’ve learned in life. And now it is happening. I have discovered a version of myself who is more caring, empathetic, responsible, and mature—and I am loving this new me, embracing every challenge and preparing for the adventure ahead.
(contest number #264)