I’ve always loved journals. When I became a mother, I began journaling about my babies' development. In addition to the standard baby books, I kept a special blank book for writing about the baby development stages of each child.

This has been a wonderful way for me to chart their child development stages and to record the funny and heartwarming things they say.

I soon realized, however, that I was only recording half the story. While focusing on their growth, I neglected to record my own parent's development stemming from my experiences as a mother. After all, having children changes you in profound ways. And children add new stresses to life.

For example, my body changed during pregnancy and never returned to its original state. I adjusted and learned to view myself differently. Becoming a mother also brought a new depth of emotions. I felt overwhelming love for my babies and became very anxious about their well-being.

My relationships with others have changed as a result of motherhood. I don't have as much time to spend with girlfriends. When I do see them, I usually have my children in tow, so we can’t talk as freely. And we rarely get to have an uninterrupted conversation. Because of this, I’ve learned who my true friends are.

My husband and I have had to redefine our relationship to match our changing roles. We learned how to go from being a couple with endless amounts of time to being a family with very little time alone. We appreciate our alone time more now that it’s rare. We’ve learned more about each other by talking about our childhoods and the parenting we received and by working together to solve problems.

Although at times I think my brain is turning to mush, I have recently begun to pay attention to the new skills -- and stresses -- that have come along with motherhood. In addition to learning about childcare, I have also learned to be more patient. Because I have more than one child, I quickly learned how to distract angry children and resolve conflicts.

Motherhood has not only changed how I view myself, but also how I view the world. It is refreshing to see ordinary things through the eyes of children. They can make the most mundane events seem magical. My children have taught me to love unconditionally and about pure joy. They teach me many lessons and they do it in very subtle ways.

Like most mothers, I was so busy that I didn’t take the time to reflect on these lessons.

So I decided to keep a Parent’s Journal. I write in it frequently, focusing on the lessons I am learning from my children and how I am changing through my interactions with them. I write about the wonderful and the difficult days, hoping to learn something from both types of experiences. I write about the challenges, unexpected joys and rewards of motherhood.

Becoming a parent is a journey, and there are so many wonderful lessons to be learned along the way. My journal helps me slow down and thoughtfully enjoy each day.

Journaling Tips

  • Keep a notebook handy to jot down ideas or cute quotes from your children. You can transfer them to your journal at a later time. 
  • After a difficult day, ask yourself, “What have I learned from this experience?” or “What is my child trying to teach me?” 
  • Write about the positive and well as the negative.