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.

couple lying in bed

Yes, I’m a mother—but my marriage is still a priority

Prioritizing your spouse doesn’t mean that you’re neglecting your kids—it means you're nurturing their foundation.

Updated Sep. 07, 2022
mother holding child smiling

To my only child: Thank you for your patience as I learn how to be a mother

Because in becoming a mother, I am something and someone who I have never been before.

Updated Sep. 07, 2022
children graduating from preschool- preschool graduation

Preschool graduation is a bittersweet milestone

Sometimes, even the happy moments can bring us to tears because we are so invested in each phase of our child’s life.

Updated Jun. 03, 2024
woman sitting on couch

Mama, your time is precious too

You have 24 hours each day, but somehow they pass without you stealing a single second for yourself.

Updated Sep. 07, 2022
women laughing together

Women need other women in their lives who will support them unconditionally

Because as women, sisterhood is the fabric of our existence. It is the pillar of our foundation and the firmness of our being.

Updated Sep. 07, 2022
boy with baby sister

Dear Son: You didn’t ask to be a big brother but I’m so glad you are

The days are long right now, but it makes me so excited about seeing you two grow up together.

Updated Sep. 07, 2022
3 women leaders

My professional priorities have shifted since becoming a parent–but not how I expected them to

There’s no way to know with certainty what it will feel like to become a mother, let alone what it will feel like to become a working mother.

Updated Jan. 18, 2023
mom breastfeeding child

New breastfeeding recommendations may do more harm than good without support for moms

While there is much to celebrate with this updated guidance, there is something important missing from the equation: support. 

Updated Dec. 16, 2022
mom and daughter playing

What your daughter learns when she sees you confident in your body

Our girls are watching us and listening to how we treat ourselves.

Updated Sep. 07, 2022
grandparents with their grandkids

You have every right to set boundaries with your kids’ grandparents

Because a lot has changed since they’ve raised us—and a lot will continue to change.

Updated Jan. 06, 2023
woman looking away

I had an abortion at 21. I have never wanted to tell my story—until now

This isn’t how I wanted to put this story into the world. But after Roe v. Wade was overturned, I need people to understand.

Updated Jun. 30, 2022
husband loading dishwasher

My husband took on the housework after the birth of our son—and it bettered our relationship

In the words of Sarah MacLean, “The best partnerships aren't dependent on a mere common goal but on a shared path of equality, desire, and no small amount of passion.”

Updated Sep. 14, 2022
kids holding american flags- 4th of july memories

How 4th of July traditions defined my childhood

To some, it may have seemed like just a day, just another backyard picnic. But to me, it was everything my childhood was about.

Updated Jun. 18, 2024
mother and son taking selfie- parenting a child with autism

I’m the mom of a child with autism. Here are 3 things I want people to know

Like most mothers, I will fight to create opportunities for my son to thrive.

Updated Mar. 26, 2024
teens praying in school

SCOTUS’s decision to allow prayer in public school isn’t religious liberty

As a (non-Christian) person of faith, this decision absolutely terrifies me.

Updated Sep. 07, 2022
closeup of woman's postpartum body

My postpartum body made me feel less sexy—and I’m not alone

I was so proud of what my body had just done—yet I couldn’t seem to welcome my new form with grace. I was all-knowing of her strength—yet uncertain of her beauty. 

Updated Nov. 29, 2022
mom holding daughters hand

To the woman deciding what to do after a traumatic pregnancy or birth

"I know how tremendously isolating this experience is and how many judgements, questions or opinions you have faced and will face."

Updated Oct. 20, 2022
twins laying next to each other

What a high-anxiety pregnancy taught me about supporting my son

"There is nothing you can do to stop it, but your mind over processes everything as if you were in slow motion."

Updated Mar. 28, 2025
upset woman head in hands

Overturning Roe v. Wade is about so much more than abortion

I am weeping for all the women who have lost access to the care I received all those years ago.

Updated Jan. 03, 2023
mom holding sleeping baby

Let’s agree that new moms shouldn’t be expected to send thank you notes

The real gift lies in letting a new mom know that it’s okay to shed outdated and unrealistic expectations put on moms. 

Updated Sep. 07, 2022
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