Mother’s Day Reflections: From Mom of Three to Grandma

Mother’s Day has always meant something special—but this year, it feels a little different in the best way.

I’m a mom of three. Two of my kids are still at home, filling the house with noise, laughter, and the everyday chaos that comes with it. And then there’s my third and oldest—living her own life now, and a mom herself. Watching her step into motherhood has been one of the hardest but also most beautiful things I have ever experienced.

Motherhood changes over time. It doesn’t stay the same—it grows, it strengthens, and somehow it asks you to hold on and let go at the same time.

When my kids were little, Mother’s Day looked like sticky fingers, handmade cards, and being completely exhausted by the end of the day. I was needed all the time. And even when I wished for a break, I missed them the second things got quiet. Truthfully, that hasn’t changed—the quiet just feels different now that they’re more independent.

Now, life looks a bit different. I still have the busy days with the two at home—driving here and there, talks at the kitchen counter, reminders, laughter, and yes, the occasional attitude and slammed door. But there’s something new too—this deep sense of pride.

Watching my daughter become a mom has been emotional in a way I didn’t expect. It’s like getting to see your heart outside your body all over again. I see pieces of myself in her, but also so much that is just her. And she amazes me.

And then there’s my granddaughter. This new little life that brings so much love with her. Holding her feels like everything at once—past, present, and future.

Becoming a mom didn’t just change how I see my kids—it changed how I see my own mom too.

Growing up, I didn’t always understand her. I was strong-willed, a little feisty, and definitely questioned a lot of her decisions. I didn’t always see the “why” behind what she did.

But when I had my first child, things started to make more sense!

I began to understand just how hard it is to be a mom and even harder to be a good one. The decisions, the worry, the constant showing up—even when you’re tired or unsure. It gave me a whole new perspective on her and everything she did for myself and my younger sister when we were growing up!

Now, our relationship means so much more. She’s the person I talk to the most. The one I call to share life—the good, the hard, and everything in between. Especially when it comes to motherhood, she just gets it. And she has wisdom that only comes from a lifetime of raising us and her own grandkids to pass along.

This journey really does connect us in a different way.

This Mother’s Day, I’m thinking about all of it.

The busy days and the quiet ones.
The kids still at home and the one who now has a home of her own.
The mom I used to be, and the mom I’m still becoming.

And the woman who raised me—who I understand so much better now.

Motherhood isn’t perfect. It’s messy, emotional, exhausting, and beautiful all at once. It's mistakes and words we wished we could take back and replace with the unconditional love we feel for these humans we are raising to the best of our ability!

To my kids—thank you for everything you’ve taught me and for letting me be your mom. And for seeing past my mistakes, because we all make mistakes!

To my oldest daughter—you made me a mom, and that will always be one of the greatest gifts of my life. You are one of the kindest, most beautiful women I know, and watching the way you love and care for your own baby warms my heart more than you can know!

To my middle daughter—thank you for your strength, your beauty, your heart, and for being exactly who you are. You bring so much light into my life.

To my son—thank you for your love, your energy, and all the ways you make me smile. Watching you grow into a young man with big ideas and a mind that never stops dreaming has been truly amazing.

And to my own mom—thank you for your patience, your strength, and for being there through all of it. I see you now, in a way I didn’t before, and I’m so grateful.

Happy Mother’s Day 🤍

Carrie