I’ve never been the type to shed tears over movies or tear-jerking commercials. But ever since I embraced motherhood, I find myself becoming an emotional wreck at the most unexpected moments.
Just the other day, while I was out for a jog, I encountered a construction site with a gigantic bulldozer parked nearby, its lights flashing. Instinctively, I reached for my phone to capture the moment for my little one. But then it hit me: my toddler’s fascination with cars and trucks has faded. That phase ended months ago. As I jogged past the vivid yellow machine, tears welled up in my eyes. Just like that, a chapter of his childhood where every vehicle was a source of joy has closed.
Upon returning home, I received an email from the education department. Since my eldest started school, I’ve been on their pre-K information list, and every year I receive a reminder about registration. This time, however, the subject line bore the birth year of my youngest: 2012. How is it possible that my baby is old enough to register for school? And just like that, the tears flowed. Yes, I was brought to tears by an automated email.
There are countless other seemingly trivial moments that leave me misty-eyed:
- Watching my kids discover little bugs on the sidewalk and ask to gently carry them home.
- Feeling emotional when they stop using their adorable baby words. I’ll miss how my youngest said “lemalade” for lemonade and how my oldest called yogurt “yo-yurt.” Why can’t they stay little forever?
- Every birthday party pulls at my heartstrings, whether it’s my child’s or someone else’s. I’m a sucker for that moment when they blow out their candles, and I don’t even need to know the child!
- School performances. I didn’t expect to feel anything beyond embarrassment when my child stood on stage in a paper bag costume, but the mix of pride and anxiety is overwhelming.
- Old photographs. Sometimes I avoid opening the Timehop app because looking back at photos—even the blurry ones—brings back a flood of memories. Just a year ago, their faces were so different, their bodies so small. It makes me nostalgic for the days when my biggest worries were trivial.
- Any scent that evokes memories of their baby days can bring me to tears. I once caught a whiff of a familiar diaper cream at the grocery store, and it transported me back to my newborn days, leaving me an emotional mess.
- I even cry at milestones, despite having anticipated them. I felt a twinge of sadness when I discarded the last diaper, and I was definitely teary when my kids finally slept through the night for the first time.
- The first snowfall of the year and watching autumn leaves dance down from the trees remind me of the beauty seen through my children’s eyes, and it often brings tears.
When I held my newborn, I never anticipated the flood of emotions that would come from the smallest moments—and that they would continue to surface as my kids grow, no matter how seasoned I become as a parent. These little experiences touch me deeply, and sometimes I ponder if it’s just me. But then I remember: I’m simply a mother, and these kids mean the world to me.
So, I embrace these feelings and allow myself to cry over the little things. I know that as my kids grow, my emotional displays will likely embarrass them, but that’s just part of the journey. If they want me to tone it down, they’ll have to stop growing up—seriously, that would be great.
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In summary, motherhood has transformed me into a sentimental softie, shedding tears over moments both big and small. Rather than fight these feelings, I choose to embrace them, knowing that each tear is a testament to the love I have for my children.
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