3 Ways Mother’s Day Changes When You Become a Mom


3 Ways Mother's Day Changes When You Become a Mom From talking to other moms, I’ve come to realize that motherhood begins at a different time for each of us.

Some women feel like moms the moment they learn they’re expecting their first child.

Others realize they’re moms once they get the baby home from the hospital—and quickly realize that caring for a newborn isn’t for the faint of heart!

For still others, motherhood begins long before conception even takes place, as they long for a baby for months or years before one comes along for them.

I knew in my mind that I was a mom the moment I looked down and saw that positive pregnancy test. I had relied on the First Response Early Pregnancy Test, so I was able to learn the news pretty early in the process—which was wonderful!

But I don’t think I truly felt like a mom until my son was a few weeks old. I remember taking him out for a stroll through the neighborhood, and during the last stretch of our walk a yellow jacket began buzzing around his stroller.

I frantically began shooing it away, terrified of my little guy getting stung. I remember thinking fiercely, “I will squash that bee with my bare hands before I will let it touch my baby!” The feeling of maternal protection overwhelmed me. And in that moment, I truly felt like a mom.

That baby boy is now two years old, and he’s got a little sister coming in just a few weeks. Thinking back on that experience with the bee—and looking ahead to my first Mother’s Day as a mom of two—I thought about the interesting ways Mother’s Day changes once you yourself step into the role of mom.

3 Ways Mother’s Day Changes When You Become a Mom

1. Simple gifts mean the most.

I’m finding that once you’re a mom, the smallest tokens of affection make your overflowing heart swell even more. A homemade card or a genuine “I love you, Mom!” mean the world to you. When I was expecting my first, my husband surprised me with this beautiful necklace for Mother’s Day. It says “Mother” in various languages, and I still love wearing it as a symbol of my favorite role. So simple, yet so meaningful. Mother's Day Necklace

2. You reminisce.

For some moms, Mother’s Day gets them thinking about the day their first child was born seven years ago. Others find themselves pondering the day they learned they were pregnant seven months ago. No matter how much time has passed, once you’re a mom Mother’s Day becomes a day to relive those special motherhood moments.

3. You thank your own mom—and really mean it.

There’s nothing like becoming a mom to instill a deep sense of gratitude in you for your own mother. Years ago I may have thanked my mom for all she’s done for me, but these days, my gratefulness runs much truer. Now that I understand firsthand the love, the worry, and the sacrifice that went into raising me, I can’t help but thank her in a way that’s more genuine than it ever could have been before.

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194 responses to “3 Ways Mother’s Day Changes When You Become a Mom”

  1. I first gave myself the mom title when my baby was born, 6 months ago 🙂 before that it just was surreal.

  2. I had wanted a baby for so long, almost 10 years from the time we were married. I went to a specialist who said that she was able to help me, and within months, I was pregnant. The doc took the blood test herself, had her tech run it immediately, came in carrying a pink rose and said, you’re pregnant, momma!! I started coming myself momma at that moment! The rest of the story? I filled my husband’s car with pink and blue balloons so when he came to get in his car after work, when he opened the door the balloons spilled out. When it dawned on him what it was, he spun around looking for me. What a lot of celebrating we did on that moment on the parking lot!!

  3. I think I first FELT like a mom the moment my son entered the world. I heard him cry and they laid him on my chest and I knew that I was this little guy’s caretaker forever.
    And I totally agree about being truly grateful to your own mother. I always felt like I had a thankful heart and always showed appreciation to my parents growing up, but it wasn’t until I became a om myself hat I was really overcome with HOW MUCH they really did for me and just how thankful I really was.

  4. I am not a mom yet but the first time I realized I was an aunt was when my niece hugged me and told me she loved me as much as her own mom.

  5. I treasure all my mom memories, that’s for sure. I’m a scrapbooker, so reliving them through my photos is really easy and fun!

  6. Between you and me, I think I always knew I was going to be a mom. I was ten years older than my little brother and constantly ‘mothered’ him. Now, as a mom of three, I couldn’t be any happier… 🙂

  7. I totally agree. I love gifts that are personal with my name or my kids names on them. These gifts will have a lifetime of enjoyment.
    Thanks for sharing!
    Diane Roark
    recipesforourdailybread
    ouramericantravels

  8. My mother always said she loved our homemade gifts. I just that she was saying that because she is a mother.

  9. I was visiting my parents in Sweden. I bought a pregnancy test there and then had to find a dictionary to make sure I had read it right. I had been trying to get pregnant for years, and it was so exciting!

  10. I don’t have a child yet .. but i actually find these relatable. Simple gifts always mean the most and we are always thankful to our mothers after a certain threshold in our lives. These are all great tips

  11. These are so true. I thank my mom all the time now that I really understand what she went through.

  12. So true how much more you appreciate them once you become a mom! Saying thank you and really meaning it! Yup! right there with you!

  13. I think I felt like a mom for the first time when they sent us home from the hospital with our son. I was thinking, “Really? that’s it? You don’t want to test me on anything and make sure I can do this?” It was then that I knew I was responsible for his life. WHOA!

  14. I first knew I was a mom when I was in the hospital with my firstborn. I was just a kid myself (18) and didn’t know thing one about momming but it was instantly meant to be and four kids later is still going strong. It’s my most favorite thing to be/do in the whole wide world. 🙂

  15. I first knew I was a Mom when they handed me my son all wrapped up with a benie on his head! He was so adorable!!

  16. My appreciation for my own mom has grown leaps and bounds since my boys were born. She was the best single mom ever–and still is!

  17. i am not a Mom nor will I ever be at this stage of my life. But I do appreciate my Mom and all the the Mom’s out there who protect the littlle ones come hell or high water

  18. Not A Mom so I can’t really say if anything would have changed for me or when. i can appreciate that a Mom’s total mindset is on their kids from conception onwards —

  19. This is wonderful. I agree completely, while jewelry and flowers are nice, its the homemade gifts that really make my heart swell! Happy (early) Mother’s Day to you!

  20. Those are perfect gift ideas. I knew I was a mom the moment I confirmed from the doctor that I was pregnant.

  21. I’ve never been a mom, but I love to be a dad. I felt like one the moment I saw the pregnancy test. No, I didn’t pee on the stick, but still.

    I know the handmade gifts mean so much to me, but every little thing the girls give me is precious. I found out after my dad died he must have felt the same. We found so many little things we’d given him over the years, my sister and I.

    He kept it all.

  22. I enjoyed reading your entry and you nailed it. I became a mom at an early age, it wasn’t easy but it was all worth it. You nailed all 3. Simple gifts do matter, even if it’s just a candy wrapper. But when my son said it’s a gift for me, it became a special-one-of-a kind candy wrapper! And having two kids, I finally understood it all and I thank my mom for everything—and YES I really mean it. 🙂 Motherhood is amazing!

  23. You are definitely right about what kind of gifts mean the most! Who would of ever guessed the piece of paper with a scribble on it would be cherished more than a new bag?! I love it when my daughter makes me things 🙂

  24. #3 is a biggie for me. When I became a Mom I quickly understood what unconditional love meant and recognized it from my Mom. Now that she’s gone, I can only hope she knew how much she meant to me. 🙂

  25. This is my first Mother’s Day as a mom and I’m thrilled just to have the opportunity to spend the day with my girl and my husband. Oh, how true #3 is – never appreciated (or empathized with) my mother as much as I do now!

  26. This is so true—people feel like a mom at different stages. I felt like a mom like you, when I found out I was pregnant. Those pregnancy months already had so much at stake, with us making sure we’re taking care of our babies growing in our wombs.

    Happy advanced mother’s day, Katie!

  27. I first knew i was a mom the first time i felt my baby move and kick inside of my belly.

  28. I knew when certain parts of my body started getting sore, so I quickly took the pregnancy test and I was right! My hubby and I were so thrilled!

  29. IT FELT LIKE TIME STOPPED AND I HAD FOREVER IN FEW MOMENTS… IT DIDN’T PAN OUT, BUT IT WAS STILL VERY DEAR TO ME… MEMORIES…

  30. They were bringing my daughter back to the hospital room from a checkup in the nursery down the hall. I heard her cry in the hallway and instantly knew that that was *my* baby. It was such a powerful moment for me.

  31. I knew when they put him in my arms and I held his hand for the very first time. The way his little hand clutched mine really really touched me.

  32. when I first knew I was a mom, I was more scared than happy. I thought I wan’t ready…and until this day, I still think that way. But it was totally a blessing and love every minute of it. Yes, it changed how I look at Mother’s day now. 🙂

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

  33. I first new I was a mom when my pregnancy test showed positive!
    cshell090869 at aol dot com

  34. I first knew I was a mom when I suddenly really appreciated and understood everything my mom ever did for me my entire life, and the sacrifices she made for me.

  35. I truly felt it when my daughter told me she loved me. I knew it before but that was just the most defining moment. Thank you!

  36. I first knew I was a mom coming out of the delivery room with our baby wrapped in my arms. We are talking feeling big love!
    thank you

  37. when i took the pregnancy test and it was positive, and i had a voice or thought say it’s a girl (and she is)

  38. My 1st Mother’s Day. It lo my BFF;s 1st. Our husband went golfing. Promised us it would be 9 holes…really did 36. We got to be REAL mommies that day (and many afterward). Yes, we’re both still married to the same selfish guys. And our “babies” are now 33.

  39. Ooh Simple gifts really do mean the most to me too 🙂 – It’s so hard to say! It grew on me… but I really felt it when it was time for my daughter to go off to school! I was excited for her but terrified and a bit lonely and I really felt motherhood then 🙂

  40. I first knew I was a Mom in the hospital when everyone had left and it was just my son and me in my room. I looked over at him sleeping in his little bassinet and I had this warm feeling come over me that he was mine and I was a Mom.

  41. I first knew I was a Mom while pregnant and reading a book about Motherhood that made me decide to stop working and to stay home with my baby once she arrived.

  42. I had gone to see the doctor for some queasiness I had been feeling in my stomach. I went home knowing I was a proud mom-to-be.
    sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com

  43. I felt like a mom as soon as I knew I was pregnant. I lost a baby ehen I was younger and then kept trying and trying to no avail. Finally, the doctors said I could not have a child. I was devastated, so my mom took me shopping a few weeks later. Nothing fit right and I told her that I thought the dry cleaner had shrunk my skirts. My wise mom said I looked pregnant and we went to buy a home pregnancy test. I was pregnant! So much for what doctors say. I was ecststic
    .

  44. I realized it when I felt the first stirrings of life within me. That was over 38 years and three additional children ago. I loved it then and always will. It is core to who I was, am and always will be. 🙂

  45. I first knew I was a mom the day I took my newborn son home and my dad met him for the first time. He had a hard time even walking, but he met us at the door with a big smile on his face. It damned on me then that I was truly a mom and had given my dad the greatest gift of being a grandpa.

  46. I knew I was a mom the 1st time I got to be alone with my son and check him out and look at his tint hands n feet! what an Amazing feeling!

  47. I’m not a mom and won’t be, but I knew I was going to be an Auntie and I love my little niece as if she was my own. I enjoy her so much and so thankful she is in my life.

  48. I have never had children of my own, so I can’t really answer this based on human babies but I do have cats that are my children of choice and have had them all of my life. I first became a mother of a fur baby on my own as an adult my freshman year of college when I was 18. 😀

  49. #SweepstakesEntry

    Not a mom yet of a human child lol but I am a *pet parent* and I can say that I’ve always felt a maternal, nurturing connection with babies of all kinds

    KC
    kacor7@hotmail.com

  50. The first time I knew I was a mom was when my son looked up at me and our eyes met. I knew I was a mom in love.

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