The Joy of Being a Mother – 20 Things to Remember on Those Hard Days

The joy of being a mother is something we discover a little at a time.

If you ever struggle to find joy in being a mother, please know that you are not alone.

Often we start our motherhood journey, excited and ready for all those perfect moments with our kids to just magically appear.

But then reality sets in, and we’re sleep-deprived and overwhelmed faster than your two-year-old can dump out every toy bin in the house!

While being a mom can be a difficult journey from time to time, there are also so many wonderful moments and blessings along the way.

20 Reasons that Motherhood IS joyful

So here is our list of the 20 Reasons to Find Joy in Being a Mother. It’s here to help you on those days when motherhood is downright tough – and for those days when you just need a quick pick-me-up, too.

It’s not arranged in any particular order.

That’s because these joys in motherhood don’t necessarily come in any particular order, either. Sometimes the joys of motherhood come unexpectedly, and sometimes they pass by in just a fleeting moment.

But being aware that they are happening is what matters.

We love this quote from M.R. Ballard:

“The joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction.”

So without further ado, here’s our list of the top 20 joys of being a mother!

1. Kids help you connect to a broader community

Whether it’s through your church, school, sports, lessons, or clubs, your kids are often the reason you may get involved in your community.

Getting out of your comfort zone, meeting new people, and having new, positive experiences are good for you and can bring you a lot of joy.

2. Kids are hilariously entertaining

Try to think back to something funny your kids said recently.

My guess is that you probably didn’t have to go back very far.

Kids are quirky and funny in so many ways.

You may have a child that is always laughing, is extremely creative, or is a natural performer. Maybe your child is hilariously honest or loves to tell jokes.

I happen to have a child who is super funny without trying to be, and I never know what’s going to come out of this mouth next.

For example, a few years ago when he was six, my son found himself in the middle of a group of 5th and 6th graders.

One of the 12-year-old girls looked at him and said, “Awwwww!!! He’s SO cute!”

To which, he indignantly replied, “Hey, I’m in kindergarten. Show some respect!”

How’s that for entertaining?!

3. Being reminded that it’s the little things that matter

Kids are so wonderful at finding joy in the little things of life.

Have you ever given your child a gift, only to find that what they enjoyed most was playing with the box?

Or think of a toddler laughing hysterically at a balloon quickly losing all of its air, or the joy your little one finds in finding a roly-poly in the middle of the backyard.

So often we may feel that events and gifts need to involve lots of time, effort, and money to be special.

But one of the great joys in being a mom is being constantly reminded that it’s the little things that matter in life.

4. Knowing you have the opportunity to make an impact

Sometimes it can be stressful to think of the great responsibility that raising kids can be.

But knowing that your kids will go out into the world and make an impact for good can bring so much purpose to those long, repetitive days of motherhood.

As James E. Faust so eloquently stated,

“There is no greater good in all the world than motherhood. The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation.”

5. Seeing your children feel pride in their accomplishments

No matter your kids’ ages, one of the most wonderful joys of motherhood is seeing your kids feel pride in their own accomplishments.

For little kids, learning to walk or feeding themselves with a spoon can bring huge feelings of pride.

For older kids, scoring a goal, mastering a piano piece, or getting a part in the school play is definitely a huge deal.

Of course, there are so many other accomplishments that your kids may feel pride in as they grow: school achievements, personal victories, and so many more.

Take those moments when they are proud of themselves and relish them, too!

6. Kids give you the motivation to better yourself

So often I see my kids and hope that I am setting an example of mental and physical health, physical fitness, and living an intentional life – not to mention exemplifying values such as courage, kindness, and faith.

Whether you go back to school alongside your kids, declutter your house, start a home business, or anything else that takes courage, having your kids watching you better yourself is great motivation to keep going and see it through!

7. Having a reason to create routines

Studies continually show that routines help us to be healthier, less stressed, and happier.

If you’ve ever wanted to create routines, having kids is a great reason to get started!

From morning and breakfast routines to getting ready for school, after-school, dinner, and bedtime – there are lots of opportunities to start routines for your kiddos.

As you start and stick to routines for your kids, it will likely be easier for you to find joy in your own routines too!

8. Being able to be silly

I had a friend tell me once that she was sillier with her kids than with anyone else on earth. And that was super inspiring to me to let my kids see me act silly more often.

There’s no doubt that our kids love it when we’re goofy!

Our kids don’t need us to keep up professional pretenses or to always be adult-like. So take this as permission to enjoy being goofy more often with your kids!

9. Experiencing love in a whole new way

There’s no doubt that the love you feel for your child is different than any other type of love you may have felt in your life.

This heartfelt poem by Helen Steiner Rice, titled “A Mother’s Love,” defines it beautifully:

A Mother’s love is something
that no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendoured miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God’s tender guiding hand.
-Helen Steiner Ricde

10. Finding other mom friends who get you

For many moms finding other mom friends can feel difficult.

But once you’ve found a mom friend who gets you, you feel a closeness that’s hard to replicate anywhere else.

It’s a wonderful feeling to have someone who understands what you’re going through as a mom.

Whether it’s potty training, dealing with tough situations at school, or teaching your kids to drive a car – all of those things seem easier when there’s someone else who knows what it’s like!

If you’re not sure where to find mom friends, look around at your kids’ activities for someone who seems lonely and needs a friend too!

11. Having new experiences all the time

Sometimes every day as a mom feels like a new adventure, especially when your kids are young!

Young kids have brand new experiences so often, and seeing your kids experience these new things is new for you too!

12. Helping your kids overcome struggles and hardships

There is nothing that feels better than helping your child work through something difficult and seeing them coming out on top.

Whether it’s studying for a test at school or dealing with a difficult friendship situation, the opportunity to help your kids work through their trials and conquer them can bring real fulfillment to your life.

As Michael Jordan wrote:

“My mother is my root, my foundation. She planted the seed that I base my life on, and that is the belief that the ability to achieve starts in your mind.”

My oldest daughter has been a competitive gymnast for a year now, and it’s taken a long time to get here.

One of the hardest things for her was the mental aspect of doing a backflip off the balance beam. She had the skill, but she struggled to feel confident and safe.

We bought the book A Girls’ Guide to a Growth Mindset: A Can-Do Approach to Building Confidence, Courage, and Grit, read it, and worked through the exercises together.

Over time, she has slowly grown more comfortable with trying new things, accepting failure, and having courage.

Despite doing all that work, she fell on her beam dismount at her first three competitions.

When she finally landed it at her fourth gymnastics meet, tears welled up in my eyes as I saw the look of accomplishment in hers.

Knowing that I got to be there for her every step of the way brought deep and fierce motherhood joy.

13. Kids keep you humble

Sometimes we may not love it, but our kids are usually pretty great at keeping us humble!

They let us know when they’re unimpressed with dinner or when they think we need to make a change in our lives.

If you have a child who is constantly delivering doses of reality, you can ask them to also tell you about positive things you are doing too!

14. Kids are refreshingly honest

One day at church, I was holding my five-year-old on my lap. I was sitting there thinking about how big he was getting and feeling all those motherhood feels.

I leaned down and whispered, “I love you so much. I’m so thankful you’re my boy.”

To which he flatly replied, “I just farted in your lap.”

Well, that’s honesty! We’d love to hear about a time your child was refreshingly honest too, so tell us in the comments below.

15. Kids teach us about unconditional love

As the beloved Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote:

“Youth fades; love droops; the leaves of friendship fall; a mother’s secret hope outlives them all.”

From the minute you held your first baby in your arms, you knew that you would love that child unconditionally.

When you tell your kids that you’ll love them no matter what, you absolutely, 1000% mean it!

16. Getting to do kid things again

Let’s face it: coloring, kite-flying, dance parties, puzzles, bubbles, and sidewalk chalk are FUN.

Taking time to do kids’ stuff can be wonderfully refreshing and give you a momentary break from all the adulting concerns you may be facing.

Being able to do kid things again is such a wonderful and simple joy of being a mother!

17. Growing closer to your partner

While parenthood isn’t a foolproof way to grow closer to your partner, there is great potential to find a deep bond with your spouse or partner.

You’re often united with a common goal to help your child be as healthy and happy as possible.

You may also feel a sense of teamwork – that you’re in this together and will support each other the best that you can.

18. Learning more about yourself

Being a mother can help you to learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible.

As you observe your kids learning and growing through life, you may pause to reflect on the things you have learned and how you have come to be the person that you are.

This introspection can inspire you to realize that you are still learning and growing too!

19. Finding out that you’re stronger than you think

While it may not feel like it at the moment, one of the joys of being a mother is finding out that you are actually stronger than you think.

Motherhood brings lots of moments where you find yourself doing the hard things you never thought you’d be able to do.

Long sleepless nights, nursing a baby, dealing with behavior issues, allowing your kids to fail and try again, dealing with financial issues, handling single motherhood – all of these are difficult things that mother’s often face.

But as we work through them, we realize that we have become stronger for having made it through and that we can do the hard things that motherhood sometimes requires.

20. Watching your children grow into wonderful humans

When I was a young mom, my older mom friends would tell me to enjoy every moment with my kids because it goes so fast. You’ve probably heard this too.

At the time, when my kids were young, I was convinced they were straight-up lying to my face.

There were times when it felt like an hour lasted forever!

But now that my kids are getting older, I am beginning to realize that time is playing tricks on me. Before I know it, my oldest child will be leaving my home.

While that hits my heart at the very core, I know that one of the greatest joys in being a mother is watching our children grow into wonderful humans who will then go on to bless the world – and perhaps their own children someday, too.

Final thoughts about the joy of being a mother

Motherhood CAN be so difficult, there’s no denying that fact. But there are also SO many joys that come with it!

We hope you feel inspired by this article to know that you’re NOT alone in your motherhood journey and that you can feel more joy in being a mother.

At Jen Bradley|MOMs, we’re here to come alongside you and provide you with resources to help make your mom and family life simpler and more enjoyable.

If you haven’t already joined our Free Printable Library, please do so now! You’ll find over 100 free resources like printable chore charts, games for kids, menu planners, and more!

What are some other joys of being a mother you’d add to the list?

The Joy of Being a Mother - 20 Things to Remember on Those Hard Days

Hi there! I’m Jen and I’m so glad you’re here. I am a mom who believes that meaningful connections with our families can happen in small and simple ways. Read More …