My once-tiny, wailing baby, the one with the infectious grin and chubby hands that always reached for me, is now 3 years old. To be exact, he’s three and a half, which is a crucial detail at this age when growth and learning happen at lightning speed. I remember being three and a half—feeling like a whole person with my own emotions. Yet, while my little one insists, “Me not big. Me tiny!” his achievements, like mastering potty training and speaking clearly, tell a different story.
He no longer needs to be strapped to my back. He shares our bed, but sprawls independently, clutching his favorite Paw Patrol toy. I’ve traded in nursing bras and the constant concern of feeding access for more casual wear. Though he still seeks out hugs and kisses, he is creating his own world—like today, when he drew a person complete with limbs, eyes, and even a sword.
In an instant, my identity as a baby mom has shifted. I’m now the mom of three boys: 7, 5, and 3 and a half. This change didn’t happen overnight; it’s been a gradual transition. I was once an enthusiastic babywearing educator, the one who expertly wrapped my baby and welcomed new mothers into the fold. We bonded over feeding practices, diaper choices, and sleepless nights, finding common ground even with those who seemed worlds apart from me. My older children only amplified my credibility, as I shared my experiences with younger moms.
But as Sunny moved beyond his baby years, my role changed, and I found myself wearing the carrier less frequently. I let my certification lapse, realizing my baby was no longer the newborn that new moms cradled. While I cherished my son’s growth, it was bittersweet. The conversations that once flowed freely with my mom friends became sparse. Our shared experiences dwindled, and soon, we found little in common beyond our pasts in babyhood.
Suddenly, I was a mother of three without a tribe. I no longer scoured the baby aisles for deals or checked cloth diaper swaps. I had lost touch with many of my Facebook groups. Even though we homeschool, I struggled to connect with new moms. There’s the free-spirited kayaker whose daughter has caught my eldest’s eye, and the sweet mom whose son shares my middle child’s obsession with dinosaurs. I am thankful for these connections, but they feel more fragile. Playdates are harder to schedule as our children grow.
In those early days, I often helped my friends with small tasks, like cleaning their bathrooms or bringing them coffee when they were too exhausted to make their own. I miss that closeness. Now, without a baby, I don’t belong to a specific group. I don’t have the immediate support of preschool parents, and I find myself gravitating toward old friends—the photographer with a flair for fashion and her poetic husband, or the single dad from college whose son plays with Sunny. I find myself dressing up more, wearing makeup, and going out on dates with my husband. Although I enjoy these changes, I can’t shake the feeling of having lost my place in the world.
I used to be needed constantly. Now, my son is capable of being left with others, expressing his independence with a loud “go away” or demanding to watch his favorite shows. I didn’t realize how fundamental that need for being needed was to my identity. The absence of it has left a void I must now fill with friendships, passions like art and poetry, and those cherished date nights.
Filling that void is certainly more challenging than simply being needed used to be.
If you’re interested in exploring the journey of parenthood further, consider checking out resources on artificial insemination, which can provide insight on starting a family. You can find helpful information here and discover the at-home insemination kit options as well, which are great for those considering their path to parenthood.
In summary, transitioning away from babyhood is a bittersweet journey filled with new challenges and a longing for the connections that once defined my life as a mother. While I embrace the changes, I still seek to establish my new identity among old and new friends alike.
Keyphrase: Transitioning from Babyhood to Motherhood
Tags: [“home insemination kit” “home insemination syringe” “self insemination”]