The Unexpected Joys of Parenting
Finding Light in the Chaos
Motherhood has a way of knocking the breath out of you — and I'm not just talking about the labor part. One minute you're staring into an open fridge, wondering if #stringcheese4evah (it is), and the next minute you're sobbing into a baby onesie because your toddler just said, "You my best friend." It is a wild, relentless, gorgeous mess.
Nobody tells you that when you're in the thick of the diapey trenches — strung out, overstimulated and covered in who-knows-what — there will be these moments of such pure joy they freeze time. It's not always the big milestones that hit the hardest. Sometimes it's the itty-bitty, you'll-miss-it-if-you-blink type of things: your baby giggling at your awkward dance, your toddler presents you with a slobbery goldfish as if he was 10 carats of bling. These are not the moments you prepare for — but they are the ones that keep you going.
So, in the name of sharing stories from mamas to mamas, here are some actual experiences from other moms who saw comedy and love amid the total chaos. May these stories make you remember: you're not alone, you're doing better than you think and there is joy tucked into the folds of even the hardest days.
When the Meltdown Became a Mini Concert
"My daughter was throwing a fit because I wouldn't let her have a second popsicle. We were both on the floor — she was screaming, I was trying not to — when on a dime she wipes her face and belts out 'Let It Go' like she's on Broadway. So I ugly-laughed until I snorted. That broke both of us. She laughed too. We wound up spooning as we sucked popsicles."
—Renae, FTM
It's always about more than the popsicle. It's about control, information overload and a little human trying to feel powerful in a world where they have very little say. But the comic relief? It's as if it's the magic reset both of you need at times.
The Diaper Blowout That Led to True Love
"We were at a friends' wedding. Our 4-month-old had a massive blowout during the vows — as in full outfit annihilation. My husband and I made a mad dash to the car, we tag-teamed the clean up with a pair of wipes and the desperation of a mother confident her child would soon be fever free and asleep, and we ended up laughing so hard by the end of it that we just forgot how exhausted we were. We kissed behind the minivan. It was ridiculous. But weirdly romantic?"
—Lena, mom of 2
Spoiler: the romance does not end with kids. It appears only as stolen moments, exchanged looks, and teamwork under pressure. And hey, if you can make it through a public poop disaster together, you're solid.
Toddler Truth Bombs
"After a long day, I completely lost my cool. Snapping at one's tail, barking orders 87. My 3-year-old reached over and placed her hand on top of mine, then uttered, "Mommy, maybe you need a nap?" I wanted to be mad. But she wasn't wrong."
—Jessica, working mom
Kids are tiny mirrors — and therapists. They'll straight-up call you out with no filter and 100% truth. Let them. Sometimes they see us more clearly than we see ourselves.
A Hug More Powerful Than a Victory
"We were running late, the baby had just thrown up on my bra, and I was one chipped coffee cup away from a meltdown. Then my preschooler cupped my face with her sticky hands and whispered, 'I love you even when you yell.' I just started crying on the floor."
—Kim, solo mom
You may not always be calm. Or patient. Or Pinterest-level prepared. But to your kids? You're home. You're safety. You are their whole world — hot mess days and all.
Joy to Keep Is Real, but It's Not Fancy
The glory of parenting is not contained in the Instagram moments. It's in:
- The half-eaten banana you've been handed to treat you like a prize.
- The baby breath on your neck while they are taking a nap.
- That 7-second kitchen dance party before somebody drops.
- That drawling one that says: "Can you stay for just a little while?"
These are not baby book memories but your bones will remember.
Caitlyn's Mental Load Moment (And the Reset That Finally Worked)
I bit everyone's head off last week — partner included. The laundry was backlogged, work was overdue, the toddler was licking the floor (again). For five minutes I sat there in the bathroom and did nothing. Just breathed. Then I ate a snack (fine, it was a wine gummy and a cold slab of pizza) and gazed at a picture my kid drew. It was a blob with a smile. She said to me, "It's you, happy."
Sometimes all it takes is a minute and a memory. You are doing enough. You are enough.
Here's Your Permission Slip
You don't have to be perfect to show up. You don't have to love every minute to find gratitude. And you certainly don't have to refrain from bawling at commercials or googling "can toddlers survive on mac and cheese."
Motherhood is a minefield and a miracle. And somewhere between the spilled milk and bedtime negotiations, joy places you.
So here's to the small moments — the odd, gooey, beautiful ones. They're not bonus content. They are the content.
PS: Got a story like this? Text it to your best mom friend. Or better yet—write it down. Your kid might get to that one day and say, "Wow, you were so cool." (Or "You were funny." We'll take it.)
And for coffee's sake, do have that snack break today. You've earned it.