Motherhood is often measured in milestones, but the quiet, in-between moments are where so much of the real story lives. The parts that change you, redirect you, and sometimes surprise you.
This Mother’s Day, I wanted to go beyond the highlight reel. I asked fourteen women in different seasons of motherhood to share their honest reflections on what has surprised them, what this season feels like, and how they are holding it all right now. Their shared truths are a reminder that while every journey looks different, so many of the emotions connect us.
The Truths That Surprised Us….
Motherhood has a way of teaching lessons no one can fully prepare you for. When asked what surprised them most, these moms shared truths that were honest, unexpected, and deeply relatable.
“How quickly the seasons change. One minute you’re in the thick of the little years, and before you know it, they’re more independent and needing you in completely different ways.” – Married mom of 2 school-aged children
“It causes your priorities to shift from self needs to your children’s needs. Motherhood has given me a depth of love I didn’t know existed.” – Widowed boy mom of 2
“Motherhood doesn’t have the option of clocking out; the job is permanent, and you don’t get to retire. And that is the weight and beauty of it.” – Mom of preteen and college-aged kids
“They remember the little things, you showing up for their sixth-grade music program more than any materialistic thing you can buy.” – Mother of 2; Primary Caregiver of Grandson
“No two days are ever the same… It comes with its challenges; you want to protect your children, yet you’re also raising them to be leaders, make sound decisions, and solve problems on their own.” – Married mom
“That you can love someone without ever meeting them” – Soon to be mommy
“Motherhood mixed with your own personal battles.. Sometimes, no one can understand. It made me realize how lonely you can feel during the most beautiful times.” – Single Mom to 6-month-old
“I didn’t realize parenting my children would also mean having to reparent myself. It can feel like a tug-of-war experience. Giving your child the things they need or desire while trying to heal your inner child.” – Married mom of 1 girl and 1 boy
“Parents grow old and the season of life where they are no longer there to guide you in raising your kids can be one of the hardest seasons of life to blossom from and move on to give your children the best version of you.” – Mom of preteen and college-aged kids
“Your children grow with you while you’re raising them. I became a mom at 17, and I learned that motherhood isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about learning, loving, and evolving together.” – Divorced Mom of 2. adult daughter age 24 and 10-year-old boy
While their experiences differ, many of these truths point to the same thing: motherhood stretches you in ways you can’t fully prepare for.
The Season We’re In….
Motherhood is never static. It shifts and evolves with each stage. What feels overwhelming in one season can feel fleeting in the next. When asked what their current season feels like, these moms captured the beauty, the tension, and everything in between.
“Feels busy but really rewarding. There’s a sense of pride watching them grow into who they’re becoming, but also a quiet awareness of how fast it’s all going.” – Married mom of 2 school-aged children
“The busy but beautiful phase. I am running on empty most days; however, this season is full of school goals, practices, and Girl Scout activities, but also rich with moments where my daughter is growing. It’s demanding, yet meaningful” – Married mom
“Looks busy! Trying to manage all the sports and activities can be a lot at times.” – Married mom of 1 girl and 1 boy
“Feels complex, but also like a new beginning.” – Single mom to 6-month-old
“Anxiously awaiting while patiently enjoying these moments until her arrival” – Soon to be mommy
“Feels the same as when my boys were babies. Yet, instead of them being on my lap, they’re on my hearts. Mothering my sons will never end.” – Widowed boy mom of 2
“Children haven’t been doing great in the adulthood category. I am still trying to slip in lessons when I can. Because that’s a mother’s heart. Always wanting to see their children at their best.” – Single mother of adult children with health issues
“Feels like a beautiful payoff! Seeing my teenage son grow into his own identity and knowing I helped shape his heart and character is deeply fulfilling!” – Mom to a teen
“You think when kids enter college the stress and worries disappear, I feel like this season is one of the hardest. You worry for your kids and pray that they make the right decisions in those moments that can be life-changing.”- Mom of preteen and college-aged kids
“Feels like a beautiful balancing act between letting go and holding close. I’m guiding an adult daughter into her own life while still nurturing my younger child through the everyday moments that still need mom.” – Divorced Mom of 2. adult daughter age 24 and 10 year old boy
“This season of motherhood feels exhausting! I’m 47 years old and raising my two year old grandson. However, the peace of mind knowing he is being loved and nurtured is indescribable. I’m embracing this new journey of motherhood 2.0”- Mother of 2; Primary Caregiver of Grandson
“I can see a very slow shift from being the caregiver to being the receiver of care” -Grandmother of 5
For some, this season is survival. For others, it is slowing down and soaking it in. For many, it is a mix of both, holding gratitude in one hand while navigating exhaustion, uncertainty, or change in the other.
What stands out is how much motherhood asks of you in every phase. It asks you to adjust, to grow, to let go, and to hold on all at the same time. So while each season may look different on the surface, there is a shared understanding beneath it all. This moment, however full or challenging, is shaping both mother and child in ways that often are not fully seen until later.
This Mother’s Day, I feel…
“Extremely grateful to have been blessed with the opportunity to be a mom and living to celebrate another Mother’s Day with my children and grandchildren” – Grandmother of 5
“Grateful for the chaos, the growth, and the opportunity to be their mom through all of it.” – Married mom of 2 school-aged children
“I feel grateful! Even with all the challenges that comes with parenting, I enjoy it!” – Married mom of 1 girl and 1 boy
“I feel sad. Even though I’ll be celebrated as a Mom, my Mom isn’t here for me to celebrate her.” – Widowed boy mom of 2
“Grateful that after years of challenges, I’m called to be her mom” – Soon to be mommy
“I feel hopeful. I will celebrate the wonderful mothers I know and love, and grieve the ones I lost.” – Mother of 2; Primary Caregiver of Grandson
“I feel.. determined. Determined to be better in all aspects of motherhood, but also give myself flowers and grace while doing so.” – Single Mom to 6-month-old
“That mothers sacrifice so much, and it’s never talked about enough, I hate that motherhood has these high expectations placed on us, and here we are constantly trying to meet them!” – Mom of preteen and college-aged kids
“I feel incredibly grateful, blessed, and filled with joy. I never realized how much I needed my daughter until she came into my life.” – Married mom
“I feel grateful for every version of motherhood I’ve experienced, from growing up alongside my oldest to cherishing the present with my youngest. I also feel proud of the woman and mother those seasons have shaped me into.” – Divorced Mom of 2, adult daughter age 24, and 10 year old boy
Motherhood doesn’t fit into one definition; it is a mix of seasons, emotions, and experiences that are always evolving. There are moments that feel overwhelming, moments that feel fleeting, and moments you wish you could hold onto just a little longer.
And while no two journeys look the same, there is a quiet connection that exists between them all. In the middle of the chaos, the growth, the questions, and the love, there are pieces of each season that matter, pieces that are shaping you just as much as you are shaping your children.
If there is one thing these voices make clear, it is this: wherever you are in your journey, you are not alone. There is strength in your showing up, beauty in your becoming, and meaning in the season you are in right now, even if it does not always feel that way.
And maybe that is what Mother’s Day is really about. Not perfection, not comparison, but taking a moment to recognize all that you are, all that you give, and all that you are still growing into.
May this Mother’s Day pour into you what you’ve selflessly poured into the world. Find some great options to celebrate at Indianapolis Moms
