5 Things Motherhood Has Taught Me (so far) as a Mom of 3

Let me just start by saying — becoming a mother is one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received and been tasked with. It’s truly an honor. Being a mom is rewarding in ways I could’ve never imagined, and I’m beyond grateful for the family that God has blessed me with.

So many people told me that motherhood would come naturally — and while some of it does, there’s also a lot that you learn along the way. I’m still learning every day — about my kids, about myself, and about the kind of mother God is calling me to be.

One thing’s for sure and two things are for certain (I’ve always wanted to say that 😄): motherhood is not for the weak at heart! (Don’t worry, new mamas-to-be — I’m not trying to scare you.) It’s the world’s most rewarding gift… and it’s not all sunshine and rainbows — emphasis on the rain. 🌧️

But hey, without a little rain, how could we ever grow beautiful flowers? 🌸

Here are 5 things that being a mom of 3 beautiful babes has taught me:

1. Grace > Perfection. Always.

Now, I was always taught to aim for perfection — even knowing we’ll never actually be perfect. I wanted to show up as the very best version of myself, not just for me, but for my family too.

But somewhere along the way, I found myself beating myself up for not meeting these imaginary expectations I had built in my head. I’d scroll through social media, seeing families looking flawless in their photos, and convince myself that they had it all together. (This is exactly why I have a love-hate relationship with family pictures posted on social media.)

Because let’s be real: people don’t see the background of those perfect pictures. They don’t see the toddler screaming over the wrong socks, the baby with a blowout right before (it happened to us way too many times) it’s time to leave, or the parents whisper-arguing over who forgot the snacks. 😂 Been there? SAME.
And don’t worry — this will always be a judgment-free zone!

What I’ve learned is this: the most important thing isn’t being the perfect mom. It’s showing yourself grace in those moments of discouragement and overwhelm.

Your kids don’t care if the breakfast was Pinterest-worthy. (I know, I have a lot of Pinterest pins too knowing my kids are picky eaters…smh). They care that you were there. Present. In the moment. (And speaking of routines… if you do want to build one, check out my blog post on creating a realistic morning routine — but no pressure, sis. No pressure. 😉)

2. Each Child is a Whole New World.

What worked with baby #1? Completely useless with baby #2. And baby #3? A whole plot twist we never saw coming… (but that’s another story for another blog post 😉).

Jalil is our third baby — our surprise in more ways than one. Anna, our middle, is our wild child (and I say that with all the love and energy she brings to our home). Jalil is definitely a wild card too — we never quite know what we’re gonna get with him. 😂 And Audrey, our firstborn, has always been more mellow overall… but don’t get it twisted — she’s got a big personality when it counts!

They each bring something so unique to the table. I used to think parenting was one-size-fits-all, but motherhood quickly humbled me. I had to realize that each of my children is their own person, and they need me to show up for them in different ways.

We used to read Uniquely You by Joyce Meyer to our kids all the time — and it’s honestly a message I’ve carried into how I mother them. I can’t discipline them the same, I can’t motivate them the same, and I can’t communicate with them the same. One child is more sensitive and needs extra hugs, another thrives off structure and to-do lists, and I’m pretty sure one of them will be running our family business one day. (But then again, they all might surprise me.)

Motherhood teaches you to let go of control and embrace who your children actually are, not who you imagined they would be. And believe me, there’s so much beauty in that.

3. If It’s Too Quiet… Be Suspicious.

The moment it gets too quiet, my internal mom alarm goes off. 😂 With three kids, silence usually means someone’s doing something they definitely shouldn’t be. And let me tell you — the creativity that kids pull out when they’re quietly up to something? Oh, that’s unmatched.

I’ve walked into rooms with Vaseline or lotion smeared across faces, toilet paper strung from the hallway to the bedroom like a parade route, and my personal favorite — lipstick and makeup all over the baby dolls (I have the video and pictures to prove all of this). Oh, there’s more… but this is supposed to be a blog post, not a book. 😅

Don’t get me wrong, I love a peaceful moment — I just prefer it when it’s earned (like during nap time or movie night), not when they randomly vanish into silence. So now, when things get quiet, I find myself doing a quick headcount and listening for the usual chaos. You know what I’m talking about… If I don’t hear anything within 90 seconds (yea you’re right, 60 seconds) it’s time to get up — and fast!

Because let’s be honest, silence in motherhood isn’t always golden… it’s suspicious. Unless you know something I don’t — and in that case, please share your secret with me!!!

4. You Can’t Pour from an Empty Cup

I used to think that taking care of myself was somehow selfish — like if I wasn’t doing something for my kids, my husband, or my household 24/7, then I wasn’t doing enough. But let me tell you, that kind of mindset will leave you running on fumes and mad at everyone and yourself. Mad because there aren’t enough hours and minutes in a day. I learned (the hard way) that burnout is real, and when mama’s cup is empty, the whole house feels it and that made me feel even worse.

You can’t give your best to your family when your tank is running on E. I have learned over the years as a mother that rest isn’t a reward — it’s a requirement. Whether it’s waking up 15 minutes early to read your Bible in peace, sneaking away for a solo Target run, or simply closing the bathroom door and taking a few deep breaths (even if little fingers start poking under it five minutes later 😅) — those moments matter. Please don’t let anyone, even your children make you feel bad for taking care of yourself. Let your kids know (your older ones of course) that Mommy just needs a moment to recharge.

Taking care of yourself allows you to show up as the mom, wife, and woman God has called you to be. And the best part? Your kids are watching. You’re teaching them that it’s okay to have needs, to rest, and to care for themselves too. So mama, fill your cup — unapologetically.

5. My Marriage Needs Nurturing Too

Whew — nobody really prepares you for how much marriage changes once kids come into the picture. It’s beautiful and full of purpose, but let’s be real… it takes work.

My husband and I were married for not even a year before we had our first baby, so as you can imagine, we barely had time to be just husband and wife before becoming Mommy and Daddy. And I realized pretty quickly that if we weren’t intentional (one of my husband’s favorite words to use) about pouring into each other, our marriage could easily slip into autopilot. That’s not the love story we signed up for.

There have been seasons of drought and seasons of plenty, but thank God for His grace — the same grace that has carried us through 10 years of marriage as of February 2025. Ten years of growth, change, challenges, laughter, and love — and we’re still learning and still choosing each other.

Nurturing our marriage isn’t about grand gestures (though I’ll never say no to a vacation 😍) — it’s about the little things. Holding hands again. Praying together. Laughing at inside jokes. Making eye contact in the chaos and silently saying, “We’re still in this together.”

It doesn’t mean everything is perfect — far from it. But taking time to prioritize our relationship reminds me that the best gift we can give our kids is a strong, loving foundation to grow from.