I have never been one to shed tears during films or get misty-eyed over sentimental advertisements. However, since becoming a mother, I find myself overwhelmed with emotion at the simplest of moments.
Just the other day, while jogging, I encountered a construction site with a huge bulldozer, its lights flashing brightly. Instinctively, I reached for my phone to capture the moment for my toddler. But then it hit me—he’s not into cars and trucks anymore; that fascination faded months ago. As I passed that vivid yellow machine, I felt tears welling up. It dawned on me that the phase of his childhood where every vehicle was a reason to celebrate has come to an end. Just like that.
Upon returning home, I received an email from the Department of Education regarding pre-K registration. Having been on their mailing list since my first child started school, I was familiar with the routine. Yet, when I noticed the subject line indicated my younger son’s birth year—2012—I was taken aback. How can my baby be ready for school already? The tears started flowing in response to an automated message.
There are countless other seemingly trivial moments that leave me misty-eyed:
- I get emotional when my children discover little bugs and ask me to help carry them home.
- I feel a lump in my throat when they stop using their adorable baby words. I cherished how my youngest used to say “lemalade” for lemonade and how my eldest called yogurt “yo-yurt.” Why can’t they hold onto those charming phrases forever?
- Every birthday party brings me to tears, regardless of whether it’s for my child or someone else’s. I can’t help but get choked up when kids blow out their candles, even if I don’t know them.
- School performances surprise me with how proud I feel. I never anticipated feeling such a mix of pride and embarrassment watching my child awkwardly dressed as a turkey on stage.
- Nostalgic photos can be overwhelming. I sometimes avoid the Timehop app because the images of my kids remind me of how quickly they grow. Just a year ago, they looked so different, and those fleeting moments feel monumental in hindsight.
- Any scent reminiscent of their baby days can evoke tears. Recently, I caught a whiff of diaper cream in the store, and it transported me right back to my newborn’s early days, leaving me quite emotional.
- I shed tears at milestones, even ones I eagerly anticipated. Tossing out the last diaper was bittersweet, and I felt a pang of sadness each time they slept through the night for the first time, obsessively checking to ensure they were still breathing.
- The first snowfall or the sight of autumn leaves swirling down evokes a profound sense of beauty, seen anew through my children’s eyes.
When I first held my crying newborn, I had no idea how many seemingly insignificant occurrences would bring me to tears—and that these moments would continue as my children grew older. I sometimes question if my emotional responses are excessive, but then I remind myself that they are simply a testament to how much these little ones mean to me.
Therefore, I embrace these feelings, allowing myself to cry over the smallest things. As my children mature, they may find my emotional outbursts embarrassing, but that’s just part of the journey. If they want me to tone down the sentimentality, they’ll have to agree to stop growing up. I think we can all agree that would be appreciated.
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In summary, motherhood transforms our perception of seemingly mundane moments into profound experiences. The journey is filled with sentimental reflections that remind us of the fleeting nature of childhood and the deep love we hold for our children.
Keyphrase: motherhood sentimentality
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