What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Mom

When I became a mom, I thought I had read every blog, watched every video, and asked every friend for advice. And yet… nothing can quite prepare you for the real, messy, beautiful, sleep-deprived ride that is motherhood.

If I could go back and give myself a little pep talk, here’s what I’d say:

1. Sleep isn’t gone—it just changes

When people say “you’ll never sleep again,” do not take that literally. You will sleep again—it just might look a little different. Instead of those 2 AM bedtimes and 11 AM wake-ups (ah, the pre-mom days 🥲), you’ll probably be in bed by 8 or 9 and up by 7 to keep your little ones on schedule.

In the first few months, yes—you’ll be waking up in the middle of the night, and if it’s your first baby, you’ll probably nap when they nap. If it’s not your first? Well, you’ll learn to grab sleep whenever you can (and laugh about it later).

But here’s the good news: you will sleep again, and that well-rested feeling does come back—eventually. Promise.

2. Schedules—your new best friend

This is not a drill—schedules will save your sanity! The first couple of months? It’s totally okay if there isn’t one. But in this house? We live by a schedule. And if there isn’t one in place… trust me, I’m making one. 😂

Here’s what our daily routine looks like:

Wake-up: 7:30 AM (Cole) & 8:15 AM (Ellie)

Breakfast: 9 AM (everyone)

Bottles (Cole): 7:30 AM, 11 AM, 3 PM, 5:30 PM, 7 PM

Naps: 9:30–11 AM & 1–3:30 PM

Lunch: 11:30 AM

Dinner: 5 PM

Bath time: 7 PM

Bedtime: 8 PM

Once you start paying attention to your baby’s cues and matching them up with the clock, it’s like magic. You’ll know exactly what they need without the guesswork. My best friend used to tell me, “Get them on a schedule!” and I’d just nod like, “Okay… but what does that even mean?” Now I get it.

A schedule will make motherhood so much easier because you can actually plan out your day—and even sneak in a little time for yourself. 🙌

3. They do NOT need everything on Amazon

Yes, it’s all cute. Yes, they’ll look absolutely adorable in those tiny outfits. And yes, every toy will swear it’s “a must for development.” But here’s the truth: they grow out of clothes faster than you can rip the tags off. Seriously.

Save yourself (and your bank account) and lean into hand-me-downs or secondhand finds from places like Just Between Friends events or Kid to Kid. You’ll get way more bang for your buck—and honestly, babies don’t care if their onesie came from Amazon or Aunt Susan.

And the toys? Sure, a few will help with development… but nine times out of ten, they’ll play with it for 10 seconds before crawling off to bang on a pot from the kitchen cabinet. 🤷‍♀️ So don’t overload your living room with gadgets and gizmos. Save that money for when they’re older—because trust me, the big kid toys come with big kid price tags.

4. If this is your second kid… just throw out the rulebook

Everything you learned with your first? Hahahaha—yeah, that’s cute, but toss it out the window. Your second baby will be a whole new ballgame.

My first was a girl—tiny, petite, and her appetite was nothing like her brother’s. Then came my second, a boy, and OMG. This kid is stocky. At just 8 months old, he downs about 28 oz of milk and eats 3–4 Serenity Kids pouches a day… and I’m talking about the 5g protein ones.

And here’s the funny part: baby #1 will usually be your “OMG I want another baby!” moment. Baby #2? Well… that one’s a gamble. They might be sweet one minute and “testy testy” the next—or they might be like mine: so good that you start daydreaming about baby #3. 😂

So yes, every child is different. Take what you learned from your first, use it as a “flow chart,” and be ready to adjust. Because baby #2 is going to teach you just as much—if not more—than baby #1 ever did.

5. Diapers!

There are a million different diaper brands out there, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably end up with a mountain of them from baby showers or generous friends and family. It’s amazing… but here’s what I wish I knew:

At the hospital, they will give you Pampers—use them. You’re technically paying for them anyway because they’re included in your hospital room. Do not bring your own personal stash from home; I did that with my first, and guess what? They never left the car. The hospital has everything your baby needs, so save your stash for when you get home.

And about those diaper sizes: babies either grow out of them so fast you feel like you blinked, or they stay in one size forever. Don’t stress over it—they grow at their own pace. Case in point: both of my kids? Same size diapers. 🤷‍♀️

As for brands—Pampers, Huggies, Costco brand, Millie Moon—they all do the same thing: catch either #1 or #2. So don’t splurge on the “fancy” ones unless you want to. Buy the affordable ones, call it a day, and remember: those diapers are going in the trash, not in a scrapbook. 😂

Motherhood in a Nutshell

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that motherhood is the ultimate mix of chaos, coffee, and cuddles. You’ll get advice from every corner of the world (and the internet), but the truth is—you learn as you go.

You’ll figure out how to sleep again. You’ll swear by your schedule like it’s gospel. You’ll laugh when your baby ignores their fancy toy and plays with a cardboard box. You’ll compare your first and second baby and wonder how two tiny humans from the same parents can be so completely different. And you’ll buy more diapers than you ever thought humanly possible.

But through it all, you’ll also find your rhythm. You’ll surprise yourself with how strong you are. And one day, you’ll look at your babies—whether it’s during a quiet nap or in the middle of a full-on meltdown—and think, “This. This is everything I didn’t know I needed.”

Motherhood isn’t perfect, but it’s perfectly yours. And honestly? That’s the best part. 💛