Motherhood has a way of stretching us in every direction — emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually. Some seasons feel soft and calm. Others feel overwhelming and loud. But each one carries moments worth holding onto, even if we don’t always see them in the moment.

Today, on Thanksgiving, I’m giving myself permission to pause long enough to notice the things I’m thankful for in this exact season of motherhood — not the idealized version I imagined years ago, not the version on Pinterest, not the version I think I “should” be living… but the real one I’m standing in right now.

These are the things I’m grateful for today.

1. The little rituals that make our days feel warm

The early-morning cuddles before anyone else wakes up.
The tiny hands that tangle in my hair.
The soft pajamas and messy bedhead.
The scent of warm coffee in a quiet kitchen.

These rituals aren’t grand or glamorous — but they make my days feel like home.

2. The growth I never expected

Motherhood has softened me in places I didn’t know were sharp.
It’s stretched my patience, expanded my empathy, and asked me to slow down in ways I resisted for years.

I’m thankful for the growth that arrived quietly, in the moments I once thought were insignificant — a deep breath instead of a frustration, a gentle tone instead of a rushed one, a pause where there used to be pressure.

3. The version of myself motherhood helped me find

Some days I feel like I’ve lost pieces of who I was — but in the same breath, I’ve discovered parts of myself I never had before.
A tenderness.
A deeper strength.
A softer way of being.

Motherhood hasn’t taken my identity away from me.
It’s rebuilt it — gently, slowly, intentionally.

4. The connection that makes everything worth it

The way they run to me when they’re hurt.
The way they bury their faces into my neck when they’re tired.
The way they whisper “mama” like it’s a safe place — because it is.

Even on the hard days, especially on the hard days, I’m grateful for the connection that roots us together.

5. The hard moments that taught me something

The tears, the tantrums, the exhaustion, the loneliness.
The days I feel overwhelmed or overstimulated.
The mental load I didn’t expect.

These moments have taught me resilience, acceptance, forgiveness, compassion — for myself and for them.

I’m thankful for the lessons that came wrapped in difficulty, because they shaped me into the mother I am today.

6. The simple joys that keep me grounded

Tiny discoveries on our walks.
The joy in their eyes when they learn something new.
The little giggles.
The spontaneous hugs.
The dancing in the kitchen.

Motherhood reminds me, again and again, that life’s sweetness usually hides in the simplest places.

A final thought

Motherhood is messy and tender and loud and beautiful.
It’s easy to lose sight of gratitude when you’re tired — truly tired — in every sense of the word.

But today, I’m reminding myself that gratitude doesn’t require perfect days.
It just asks me to notice the small things.
The quiet things.
The real things.

Wherever you are in your own season of motherhood, I hope today brings you something warm to hold onto.

Happy Thanksgiving. 🤍