Embracing the Temporary Moments of Motherhood
There’s a chapter from Feeding the Soul by Tabitha Brown that stopped me in my tracks:
“Permanent Lessons from Temporary Seasons.” Whew—if that ain’t motherhood, I don’t know what is.
There are seasons in a mother’s life that test us in ways we never saw coming. Diaper blowouts at 3 a.m., toddler tantrums in the middle of Target, juggling conference calls while cutting crust off PB&Js, or sitting in the car line for what feels like an eternity—those are real moments. And while those days can feel endless, they’re actually temporary.
But here’s the thing: even though the season is temporary, the lessons we carry out of it are permanent. They shape us. Stretch us. Humble us. And if we let them, they refine us for the next season of growth and freedom.
The Early Years of Motherhood: Planting Seeds in the Dark
In early motherhood, it often feels like we’re buried. The sleep deprivation, the daily chaos, the constant giving—it’s easy to forget that we’re not buried, we’re planted.
Those long, exhausting days are not wasted. Every time you show up with love, every meltdown you navigate, every whispered prayer you utter while rocking your child back to sleep—it’s all planting seeds. Seeds of safety. Seeds of love. Seeds of identity and trust. And yes, seeds of strength in you, too.
In these early years, we often put our dreams on pause. Not because we’ve given up, but because we know this season requires a different kind of sacrifice. And that’s okay. Sacrifice doesn’t cancel purpose. It deepens it.
The In-Between: Stretching and Surrender
As our kids get older, the demands begin to shift. You’re no longer changing diapers, but now you’re navigating middle school moods, sports practices, or curfews. Maybe you’re starting to get a little more breathing room—only to realize you don’t quite know what to do with it yet.
This “in-between” can be disorienting. You’re no longer in the thick of the baby stage, but you’re also not quite at the finish line of parenting. And for many women I work with in therapy, this is the season where the questions get louder:
Who am I now that my kids don’t need me as much?
What dreams have I buried?
Is it too late to pursue them?
Can I even allow myself to want something more?
Let me lovingly say this: It’s not too late. You’re not too old, too busy, or too far behind. You’re in transition. And transitions require grace. Grace to shift. Grace to rediscover. Grace to dream again.
The Growth Years: Reclaiming Your Purpose
As your children grow and become more independent, something beautiful happens—you begin to find space again. Space to think. Space to breathe. Space to dream.
But stepping back into yourself doesn’t happen automatically. It’s not like one day you wake up with a planner full of free time and a perfect roadmap for rediscovery. No—reclaiming your purpose takes intentionality.
That’s where the lessons from the earlier seasons come in. The patience you learned. The strength you built. The resilience you developed. All of it was preparation. Preparation to use that same patience, same strength, and that same resilience to press play on the dream you paused.
And here’s the truth: your kids benefit from watching you rediscover your purpose. When they see you taking care of your soul, saying yes to your calling, and showing up for yourself—they’re learning what it looks like to live fully. That’s a legacy worth passing on.
Honoring the Season You’re In
One of the most important parts of this journey is learning to honor the season you’re in. Not rush it. Not resent it. Just recognize that it’s temporary—and it still holds value.
Each stage of motherhood invites us to release something and embrace something new.
In the early years, we release perfection and embrace presence.
In the in-between, we release control and embrace trust.
In the growth years, we release guilt and embrace freedom.
It’s okay to grieve the loss of earlier seasons while also celebrating the new ones. It’s okay to feel stretched and still hopeful. And it’s more than okay to need help along the way.
When Therapy Becomes a Safe Place to Breathe
If you find yourself stuck—emotionally, spiritually, or mentally—it doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human.
Therapy with a Christian counselor can be a sacred space where you process the shifts, sit with the hard questions, and reconnect with your God-given identity. You don’t have to carry it all alone. You don’t have to figure it all out before taking the first step.
Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do for yourself—and your family—is to sit down and say,
“Here’s what I’ve been carrying.”
And I’ll remind you: God is still writing your story. The pen never left His hand. And the lessons from this season? They’re preparing you for something even greater.
Ready to Explore What’s Next?
If you’re navigating a new season and unsure of where to begin, let’s talk. Therapy can be the first step toward clarity, healing, and rediscovery. Also, check out my blog, Shifting in Seasons: What Working from Home Taught Me About Motherhood, to see firsthand how I navigated shifting in a new season of motherhood.
💛 You were never meant to stay stuck. You were meant to grow.
Reach out today and take one small step toward becoming more of you.
