10 Reasons I am Thankful for Being Given the Gift of Motherhood

Parenthood is hard, but for every setback, there is a beautiful moral or experience to be had. Being a mother has taught me countless lessons and has given me so much insight into life. Here I will go over the top 10 reasons I am thankful for being given the gift of motherhood.   

Reason 1: I Appreciate the Little Things

Becoming a mother has opened my eyes to even the smallest moments. My baby’s face lights up when I walk into a room, my toddler gets excited when she knows it’s library day at school, and my teen looks forward to family movie nights. All these moments are small to the more experienced adult, but to a child, they are so special. Seeing life through their little eyes makes motherhood well worth it.

Reason 2: Motherhood Allows Me to Be Silly

Having kids around allows adults to be silly. It’s not always acceptable for adults to act goofy, but when a kid is around it is completely acceptable. I can spend my afternoon drinking pretend tea with Mr. Teddy Bear and my little one or spend the evening hunting monsters in my backyard. Playing make-believe and being silly with my kids is one of the best gifts that could come out of motherhood.

Reason 3: I’m Not Afraid to Voice my Opinions

Motherhood has taught me to have a voice and not to be afraid to speak up. Before becoming a mother, I would often just go with the flow even if it was something I didn’t believe in. Since becoming a mother, I have had to advocate for my children in school and in daily life. I’m no longer afraid to ask hard questions to their doctor or to stand up for them and other children in front of the PTA committee. Becoming a parent has brought out a voice in me that I never knew I was capable of having.

Reason 4: I will Forever Have a Best Friend

One of the best gifts that motherhood has given me is that I will always have a best friend. I love picking my daughter up from preschool and hearing all her stories of what happened that day. I cherish even more the gossip my high school daughter shares with me. I know that even though there will be times that my kids and I disagree, in the end they will always be there for me, and I will always be there for them.  

Reason 5: I Am Stronger Than I Thought

Motherhood has shown me that I am stronger than I thought I could ever be. In the early days of becoming a mother, I struggled with breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, and so much more. However, when one becomes a mother, one seems to become stronger. I was able to fight through all the struggles that arose and came out as a better person and a better mom.

Reason 6: I’m Encouraged to Get Out of My Comfort Zone

Being an introvert, there are many situations that make me uncomfortable. I’m not a huge fan of crowds and I certainly don’t like making small talk. However, when you become a parent there are just some things that you do for your kids that will make you get out of your comfort zone. My little girl loves playing sports, so this means that once or twice a week I must interact with other parents and test my comfort level. Parenthood has encouraged me to step out and do things that I may not have done childless, and I appreciate motherhood for that.

Reason 7: I Forever Have Unconditional Love From My Children

One of the best things to witness as a mother is the unconditional love that a child gives to their parents, siblings, and others. The first time my toddler told me she loved me without being prompted brought tears to my eyes. I was having a rough day and I may have just yelled at her moments before for not cleaning up her toys, but then out of nowhere she came up to me with a big hug and simple words, “I love you.” At that moment nothing else matters. The love that kids share with their parents makes parenthood completely worth it.  

Reason 8: I Have Learned to Accept What Can Not Be Changed

I know that I may never have a completely clean house again, or that there will always be laundry to clean. I know that my days of sleeping in may be over and that my mornings watching cartoons are my new normal. Having kids changes things, but it doesn’t have to be for the worst. Motherhood has taught me that I should accept the things that cannot be changed. That simple thought has made all the difference in my mental health.

Reason 9: I Have Learned to Have Patience

Parenthood has taught me to have more patience. It can be hard to watch your toddler throw a tantrum in the middle of the store because they did not get what they wanted, or even harder to listen to your teen get attitude, but if there is one thing that motherhood has taught me, it is that having patience is the key to successful parenting. It hasn’t always come easy, and can still be hard today, but modeling patience in front of the kids helps them become calmer themselves. Learning to have patience is one gift I’m thankful motherhood gave me.

Reason 10: Parenthood Has Kept Me Believing in Magic

One of my favorite things about motherhood is watching my little ones around the holidays. The innocent hearts of little ones keep the magic alive for Christmas and other celebrations. My daughter gets excited to leave milk and cookies for Santa or carrots for the Easter bunny. The magic is still very much alive for them and it’s a beautiful thing to see from a parent’s perspective.

There are many reasons for me to be thankful for the gift of motherhood, but these are just a few. Motherhood itself is a beautiful thing to experience and I’m so thankful that I have that gift.