The Joy and Pain of Motherhood

It’s the holiday season again, and if you’re a mother, you know that “holiday” doesn’t always mean “rest.” For me, it often means working from home while juggling two toddlers, managing meals, tantrums, cuddles, and deadlines, all without extra help.

August began on a high note. I had so many plans, from personal goals to professional engagements, all lined up neatly in my mind. But life, as it often does, had other ideas.

In the very first week, both my daughters fell sick. My husband was out of town, so it was just me. My second daughter responded well to treatment, but my first had to be admitted to the hospital. Just like that, every single plan I had made dissolved.

There was one event in particular I had been looking forward to, the kind where you pick your outfit a week in advance, make sure it’s perfectly ironed, do a fitting just to feel the excitement, and imagine all the people you’d meet and the things you’d learn. But I didn’t go. Instead, I was in a hospital room, holding my daughter’s hand, trying to stay strong even when I felt overwhelmed.

I won’t lie, it pained me deeply. I felt like I’d lost something I had worked hard to prepare for. But motherhood has a way of teaching you that you can’t win every battle, and that’s okay. You win some, you lose some. Dreams and ambitions are important, but so is the sacred responsibility of nurturing little lives.

The truth? It’s not easy to chase big dreams while raising children. It’s messy, tiring, and sometimes painfully sacrificial. But it’s also beautiful. One night, as I sat by my daughter’s bed, she held my hand and whispered:

“Mummy, thank you for taking care of me. I love you.”

And in that moment, the exhaustion, the frustration, the pain, it melted away.

Motherhood is full of both joy and pain. But when I look at my daughters, watch them grow, and know that I am shaping not just their lives but their hearts, I realize… it’s always worth it.