Before becoming a mom, I never quite understood the love or even obsession that moms had with their babies and children. From the outside looking in, it sure looked like a LOT of work for very little reward. It’s cliché, but it is one of those things that can be hard to fully understand until you experience it.  At least it was for me.

My oldest is now 14 years old and like most moms, becoming a mom changed me instantly. All of the worries I had about losing sleep and having my life change due to motherhood seemed so insignificant. It was no longer about me. Every worry shifted to her. I had new worries and real ones. Will I make enough milk? Will I be able to make sure she is always taken care of? How will I ever leave her to go to work? Is she growing enough? Is she developing appropriately? Will the cradle cap improve?

ALL THE WORRIES. Those worries never go away, but they change and you change and adapt. With a teenager, an almost teen, and a 7-year-old, my worries are about their safety. Will they have good friends? Will they be bullied? Are they doing well in school?

When I say becoming a mom changed me, I mean it changed every decision and every life choice I ever made from that point on. I was weighing everything with a new importance and a new lens. Prior to having children, I was a special educator. I LOVED my students and I loved teaching. After having children, I still loved my students but I missed my own children more. I couldn’t leave my own children for 10 or more hours every day.

Having my children changed me and sparked a new passion within me. Birth and babies were something I unexpectedly became passionate about. Making sure that families were cared for and had options during pregnancy, birth and postpartum became my new focus. I am actually more passionate about this now than I was even 14 years ago when I started this journey. My children gave me this unexpected gift.

My children have given me so many unexpected gifts over the years. New passions, new perspectives, new strengths, new beliefs, new worries, new hobbies, new friends, and a love so deep that I had no idea that it existed until I met them.

This Mother’s Day, I reflect on my Italian grandmother who raised 7 children, and my mother who raised 5! I am so grateful to have had them as role models in my life, teaching me kindness, love and the importance of family. If you are an expecting mother, know that you are continuing the legacy of motherhood as you start your own family. Yes it can be challenging and a rollercoaster, but it’s a wild ride that is worth every single moment. Happy Mother’s Day!