I’m not sure if I’m the only one, but being a mom of multiple children—each with their own unique personality, needs, and ways of communicating—can be a real challenge.

Over the past almost 21 years of being a mom, one thing has become crystal clear to me: you can absolutely love all your children equally, but you will not—and should not—love them all the same way.

As moms, we are so good at recognizing when our kids are changing. We adjust their routines, buy the next size up in shoes, learn their new favorite snacks, help with harder homework, and stay up praying when they’re facing challenges. We show them grace at every stage—because we understand that growth brings change.

But when it comes to our own shifts, especially in the seasons of motherhood, we don’t always offer ourselves that same grace.

Why is that?