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.

new mom in hospital with newborn - birth stories

The power of the birth story: A tale of reclaiming mine

There is healing from even the heaviest wounds.

Updated Dec. 06, 2023
mom and young daughter sharing a smoothie on the beach laughing childhood magic

Moms, keep planning the magic—even when it doesn’t seem like your kids feel it anymore

What they’ll remember is that feeling of joy, no matter how brief. And so will you.

Updated Dec. 01, 2023
woman looking away - child leaving for college

To the mama with a heavy heart—it gets better

You don’t feel ready for them to start “adulting,” but hasn’t that been the goal all along?

Updated Nov. 30, 2023
women sitting on couch- build emotional resilience

Building emotional resilience in the most difficult times

Currently I am listening to my emotions, letting them guide me to act in alignment with my core values.

Updated Nov. 30, 2023
mom washing toddler's hands - potty training fails

Potty training fails from an overstimulated mom

In moments like this, you just have to laugh it off.

Updated Aug. 06, 2024
the gift of presence- dad kisses mom by christmas tree

Postpartum Holidays—the gift of presence

To focus on the gift of time, instead of the gift of things.

Updated Nov. 28, 2023
baby wearing mom texting on phone - my friend ghosted me

I was ghosted by a fellow mom—here’s what I learned

My kids asked about their friends for months, leaving me sad and speechless.

Updated Nov. 22, 2023
woman sick in bed- flu and exhaustion season

It’s flu and exhaustion season

The hours of the night stretched and warped, blurring into an endless loop of trying to soothe my child, all while battling the drowsiness threatening to pull me under.

Updated Nov. 27, 2023
woman with sunlight shining on her face - bliss visits

Bliss visits—A story of miscarriage

And as abruptly as she has joined us, she is gone.

Updated Nov. 21, 2023
elf on the shelf posing near christmas tree

You don’t have to hate the Elf on the Shelf, I promise

This time of year, everyone has big opinions on the Elf on a Shelf.

Updated Dec. 06, 2022
mom kissing her baby showing sad beige children trend

I’m a proud ‘sad beige parent’

No matter what colors fill our home, this remains true: It is not absent of fun-filled, cherishable moments, and it is not vacant of the deepest love.

Updated Nov. 21, 2023
young boy playing the piano - used to play piano

My son used to play piano

He was so good and getting better every day.

Updated Nov. 22, 2023
mom breastfeeding baby by Christmas tree unsolicited breastfeeding advice

How to deal with unsolicited breastfeeding advice over the holidays

Who’s ready for all those prying questions? You are.

Updated Mar. 27, 2025
woman managing bills - the money game

3 tips from a Wall Street alum to help moms manage money better

I started to apply what I learned at work (and in my personal life) to crack the code behind “the money game.”

Updated Nov. 21, 2023
mom in bed on a laptop

To the mama who stays up (way) past her bedtime

These late night hours are my time to be selfish. To think of me—and me only.

Updated Apr. 21, 2022
Teen boy gymnast practicing - when do we let our kids quit

When do we let our kids quit?

He loved gymnastics. Gymnastics was his life. His life was gymnastics.

Updated Jul. 22, 2024
mom baby and kids at home - i don't want to be a supermom

I don’t want to be your ‘supermom’

I didn’t know how heavy the load of parenting would be.

Updated Nov. 16, 2023
woman taking gifts out of a box- buy nothing gift

Buy Nothing: how my local Facebook group is saving the holiday season

My children can have a memorable Christmas without pushing us further into debt.

Updated Nov. 16, 2023
child's legs in a swimming pool - drowning is silent

The silence of drowning

Drowning is splashy and loud and frantic—isn’t it?

Updated Nov. 15, 2023
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