Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Mom…
An honest, uplifting letter from one mama to another, and a reminder that you're not alone.
Before I became a mom, I thought I had prepared for everything. I devoured the blogs, listened closely to advice from friends and family, stocked drawers with tiny onesies, and followed every sleep training account like it was gospel. I thought if I had the right gear, the right plan, the right mindset, I’d be ready.
But nothing on any checklist could have prepared me for what motherhood would actually feel like, the raw beauty, the unexpected shifts, the exhaustion that collides with joy, the quiet, sacred moments that change you forever.
Now, after years of motherhood and countless hours behind the lens as a family and newborn photographer, I’ve come to realize there are things I wish I’d known back then. These are the lessons I’ve learned in the middle of night feedings, during early morning snuggles, and while witnessing other families welcome their little ones.
So here’s a piece of my heart: 8 things I wish I knew before becoming a mom. Whether you’re waiting for your first baby or knee-deep in toddlerhood, I hope you’ll find comfort and connection here.
1. I didn’t know how much love my heart could hold.
Everyone tells you, “You’ll love them so much.” But love before motherhood and love after feel like two completely different things. The moment you hold your baby for the first time, something shifts. It’s fierce and fragile, overflowing and humbling.
And that love doesn’t just stay the same, it grows. It deepens as you watch your newborn breathe against your chest, as you cheer your toddler on while they take wobbly steps, as you listen to the endless questions of a preschooler. Your heart expands in ways you didn’t know were possible, and suddenly, love becomes the pulse of your every day.
2. I didn’t know how much joy lived in the small moments.
Before motherhood, I thought joy came in milestones, the first word, the first birthday, the first day of school. And while those are beautiful, I’ve learned that joy hides in the tiniest corners of your day.
It’s in the way their hand wraps around your finger, the sleepy stretch after a nap, the squeal of delight when they discover something new. It’s the belly laughs during bath time, the way their eyes light up when you walk into the room, the quiet hum of bedtime songs.
These little moments, the ones you might miss if you blink, turn out to be the ones you treasure the most.
3. I didn’t know how strong I already was.
Motherhood doesn’t give you strength so much as it reveals the strength that’s been inside you all along.
You find it when you make it through the sleepless nights, when you carry the weight of endless decisions, when you comfort your child through tears and tantrums. You find it in the way you juggle, sacrifice, and show up, even when you’re running on empty.
Strength in motherhood isn’t about never feeling weak. It’s about getting back up again and again, because love propels you forward.
4. I didn’t know I’d grow right alongside my child.
When my baby grew, I grew too. With every stage they entered, I found myself learning and changing right along with them.
Motherhood stretches you. It softens your edges and strengthens your heart. It changes how you see the world and how you see yourself. Some days it makes you braver, others it makes you quieter, and often, it makes you all of those things at once.
You realize motherhood is not just their journey of becoming, it’s yours too.
5. I didn’t know motherhood would teach me to slow down.
Before kids, I measured my worth in busyness. The more I did, the more accomplished I felt. Motherhood turned that on its head.
Now, I’ve come to love slow days. I crave the simple rhythms: the morning snuggles, the long stroller walks, the endless stories before bed. I’ve learned that memories aren’t built in the rush, they’re built in the stillness. The quiet rituals of home become the soundtrack to your children’s childhood.
6. I didn’t know I’d be creating memories just by being there.
I used to think I had to plan big outings or orchestrate picture-perfect activities. But I’ve learned that it’s not about the Pinterest crafts or the elaborate birthday parties.
Your presence is the magic. Your voice, your smile, your laugh, your hand reaching down when they need you, that’s what they remember. They don’t need more from you; they just need you.
And that is more than enough.
7. I didn’t know I’d want to hold onto these days forever.
Even on the hardest days, even when I’m counting the minutes to bedtime, there’s something sacred about this season. One day, the house will be quieter. The toys won’t litter the floor. The tiny clothes will be packed away.
And I know I’ll ache to step back into the chaos, to hear the giggles and the cries, to rock them to sleep one more time, to fold those tiny onesies again. These days are exhausting, but they’re holy too. And one day, you’ll wish you could relive them.
And if you’re in the middle of that season right now, the sleepless nights, the hazy days, the overwhelming love and exhaustion all tangled together, I put together another blog, [My Tried and True Favorite Postpartum Products] These are the simple comforts and essentials that helped me feel a little more supported, cared for, and sane during those early days. Maybe they’ll bring you the same kind of peace.
8. I didn’t know how grateful I’d be for the photos.
As a photographer, I’ve always believed in the importance of documenting life. But as a mom, I feel it in my bones.
Photos freeze the fleeting. They let you hold onto the gummy grin, the way their newborn fingers curled around yours, the pure joy in their eyes. These aren’t just pictures — they’re pieces of your story, evidence of a love so deep it deserved to be remembered.
If you’ve been putting off booking a session, let this be your reminder: you’ll never regret preserving these moments.
Final Thoughts
Motherhood is a journey of discovery, of your baby, of yourself, of love in its rawest form. These are the lessons I wish I knew before becoming a mom, but I’m also glad I had to learn them along the way.
Because the truth is, the beauty of motherhood is not in having all the answers, but in letting yourself be changed by the questions, the chaos, and the love.
So whether you’re waiting for your first, in the thick of newborn days, or chasing after toddlers, I hope you remember this: you’re doing better than you think, these moments matter more than you know, and love will carry you through.
If you’re a mama in the early years, whether you’re expecting, holding your newborn, or chasing toddlers, I hope these words remind you that you’re not alone and that every moment, big or small, matters. These seasons pass quickly, but the love and lessons stay with you forever.
At Studio Brae, I would be honored to help you hold onto this chapter, not just with words, but with photographs that preserve the beauty, the chaos, and the sacred in-between. Because one day, when the house is quiet and your babies are grown, these images will bring you right back to the love that changed everything.
Let’s create something beautiful together. ✨
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