Becoming a Mother Changed Everything

[AriBrewer]

Before having children, I lived by checklists, goals, and routines. I found comfort in structure and pride in productivity. But when I became a mother, all of that unraveled—beautifully and sometimes painfully. Life no longer moved in straight lines. It swirled, paused, reversed, and restarted. I didn’t just give birth to two children—I also began the slow and deep birth of a new version of myself.

Letting Go of “Perfect”
In the early days, I tried to parent by the book. I followed feeding schedules, developmental milestones, and every expert opinion I could find. But it didn’t take long for me to realize that parenting isn’t a formula. It’s a relationship. And relationships thrive not on perfection, but on presence. My children didn’t need me to do everything right. They needed me to be there, to stay soft when things got hard, to apologize when I messed up, and to keep showing up.

This shift in mindset changed how we lived. Our home became less about control and more about connection. We embraced slower mornings, open-ended play, and learning through life itself.

Capturing the Journey Visually
As I discovered the joy of play-based learning and Montessori-inspired living, I began curating ideas that aligned with our family rhythm. I found visual inspiration incredibly grounding—it helped me bring intention into our daily routines. Over time, I started collecting and organizing our favorite play setups, sensory activities, and nature-based crafts on Pinterest.

If you're looking for visual inspiration for gentle parenting and early childhood activities, you can explore the spaces I've created here:
https://www.pinterest.com/kukoomontessori/

These boards are more than just aesthetics—they reflect the values we live by: simplicity, curiosity, and connection through shared experience.

Living the Unfiltered Moments
But for all the curated inspiration, life with children is rarely tidy. Our days are filled with unpredictability—meltdowns before breakfast, impromptu dance parties, scraped knees, and a thousand questions before bedtime. And in those raw, chaotic, beautiful moments, I realized I wanted to capture something deeper than a perfect picture.

That’s when I turned to Instagram—not to build a brand, but to document our real, everyday moments of parenting life. From the messy baking sessions to gentle discipline in action, I share slices of our days that are honest, unfiltered, and deeply human.You can follow those lived snapshots here:https://www.instagram.com/kukoomontessori/

It’s a space where I connect with other parents who are walking the same path—those who are learning to be gentle with their children and with themselves.

Reflecting in Words
While images speak volumes, I also needed a place to process the emotional layers of motherhood in words. That’s how I found my way to Threads. I started writing small reflections—thoughts on guilt, joy, fatigue, identity, and the strange tenderness of watching your child grow while feeling like you’re growing too.

If you're drawn to honest reflections on motherhood, personal growth, and parenting without perfection, I invite you to read along: https://www.threads.net/@kukoomontessori

I write from the floor, the kitchen, the quiet of nap time—anywhere that motherhood allows me a moment to think. The words aren’t perfect, but they’re real. And in a world full of noise, realness feels like a breath of fresh air.

Motherhood as Transformation
The biggest surprise of motherhood hasn’t been the sleepless nights or the constant negotiations over snacks. It’s been the way it has reshaped me. I’ve become more patient, but also more fierce. I’ve become softer, yet more grounded. I’ve learned how to hold space for big emotions—my children’s and my own. And I’ve realized that mothering is a process of becoming, not just of raising.

Each day is a practice: of letting go, of showing up, of starting again. And through that practice, I’ve grown into a version of myself I never expected but have come to deeply respect.

A Hope for Connection
If you’re here reading this, I imagine you’re somewhere on your own parenting journey. Maybe you’re holding a newborn and wondering when it gets easier. Maybe you’re wrangling toddlers or negotiating with a strong-willed five-year-old. Wherever you are, I want you to know: you’re not alone. The days can feel long and invisible, but they matter. The work you’re doing matters.

That’s why I share. Not because I have answers—but because I believe in the power of stories. They remind us that we are connected. That love, even in its messiest form, is a worthy and sacred thing.