Motherly Stories - Essays About Being A Mom - Motherly
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Motherly Stories

Motherhood changes us. Celebrate the ups and downs with these honest, insightful essays about becoming—and being—a mom.

mom kissing baby's head contemplating the worst part of parenting

The worst part of being a parent that no one tells you about

“So, I’ve come to the conclusion that the worst part about having kids isn’t the mess or the noise or the lack of sleep. It’s not the never-ending cleaning or the overstimulation or the marker on your new console table.”

woman looking in mirror with postpartum depression using photography to help her cope with the postpartum period

I turned to photography in my darkest moments & it helped me heal

"Capturing my motherhood journey through photos allows me to honor and fall in love with my changes. It allows me to lend grace to this new territory that I am trying to gracefully navigate."

mom working with baby on her lap needing society to start advocating for working moms for equality

This Mother’s Day, give her what she really needs: An advocate

This Mother’s Day, all we want is for companies to do better by moms through active support and advocacy in the workplace. 

infertility poem mom kissing baby

I waited for you

For almost four years, I waited for you. You were just a dream at the beginning. Something I hoped for endlessly.

mom who wrote an infertility poem is thinking about her infertility struggles

On infertility

To the momma that is struggling: You are not alone. I've been there.

a former teacher who is a mom laughing with her daughter

I just left teaching: Here are 5 things that will stick with me forever

After a decade of teaching, I’ve realized: once a teacher, always a teacher.

mother smiles after c-section - hypnobirthing for c-section

How I used hypnobirthing for my planned C-section

People having C-sections are deserving of a positive birth experience, too.

mother smiling with son celebrating his birthday party without goodie bags

A case for retiring the birthday party goodie bag

I love to throw birthday parties but continue to wonder, are goodie bags really worth it for moms already stretched so thin?

child wants to be a vegetarian holding a broccoli

My 5-year-old asked to go plant-based: This is what we learned

If your child would like to make a similar choice, here are tips and takeaways from our experience as we supported our daughter in her meat-free journey.

mom kissing daughter spreading awareness on how to help families with autism

My son has autism: Here are 5 things you can do to help families like ours thrive

I believe that people are inherently good, and any missteps when dealing with autism come from people with good intentions just not sure what to do or say.

mom teaching her child sustainable habits by using Stasher bags

I made these simple sustainable tweaks to my family’s lifestyle—and we’re happier for it

Here’s how simple changes in your daily routine can create a big impact for your children and the world they live in.

mom holding infant on chest while using laptop - online mom groups

Online mom groups aren’t the ‘village’ we need them to be

Negative experiences on social media stress us out—so why do we continue to search for solace in groups overflowing with toxicity?

mom and tween son

To my tween: I miss who you were, but love who you’re becoming

“When you were young, we shared everything—kisses, hugs, my favorite comfy living-room lazy-boy, even my bed on most nights when you were scared of the dark and needed Mommy. That was then.”

5 stress-free ways to simplify your life

Feeling overwhelmed? Here are tips to simplify your days so you can maximize time with your family.

mom at computer thinking her career makes her a better mom

My career is my refuge and it makes me a better mom

"I enjoy making an impact outside of my house and that is nothing to be ashamed of."

mom hugging child to honor grieving mothers who lost children to gun violence

You can honor grieving mothers by saying their child’s name 

In addition to saying the names of these sweet children and staff members from The Covenant School, say the names of your own children. Say their names in ways you’ve never been forced to say them before.

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