Being a parent can be one of the most fulfilling, yet challenging, callings in life. One moment, you may be admiring everything about your little one, but the next, you're wondering, "Am I a good mom?" 

At Sprout, we are parents too. We know what it feels like to be running on empty, holding it together during a toddler meltdown, and then being completely undone by a small moment of sweetness.

This past Mother’s Day, we asked our community of moms what surprised them most about becoming a mother. We wanted to hear it all and find shared experiences: the good, the hard, the funny, and the shocking. The responses poured in, and they were raw, honest, and full of heart.

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or simply in need of a reminder that you're doing enough, we hope these quotes help.

Jump to:

The Depth and Nature of a Mother's Love

How Natural or Intuitive Motherhood Can Feel

How Much Motherhood Changes You

The Emotional Challenges and Loneliness 

The Unexpected Daily Realities

1. The Depth and Nature of Love

Many mothers were surprised at how deeply and unconditionally they could love their child. They were also surprised at how much love their children were capable of giving back. 

"I never knew I could love someone instantly and completely… over and over." - Sarah 

"That my heart would grow 5x bigger and that something else would become my biggest priority." - Kaitlin

"One thing that’s surprised me about motherhood is the unconditional love I would feel. Nobody prepared me for the ups and downs and all the emotions that come in to play while being a mother. Through it all I didn’t know it was possible to love someone as much as I love my children. Motherhood has changed the way I view the world. It’s made me more cautious to see the different changes and battles my children will have to face, appreciative that I get to experience a new way of life through my children’s eyes, and lastly it reminds me not to take time for granted. They are only little once." - Dejah

"One thing that changed most in me by becoming a mother is the way I see myself. I have a new deep love and appreciation for myself and all that I am to my family." - Alana 

"Motherhood has been the most magical and beautiful experience I have ever experienced. From the moment my husband and I found out I was pregnant to the birth of our little one to each of her milestones to seeing her grow up into such a sweet, kind, gentle, hilarious toddler. Every single moment has been an absolute gift full of love and joy. I can’t wait to see what next adventures she brings into our lives. The thing that has been the most surprising for me is how quickly the time goes by. It literally feels like yesterday our little one was born and in the blink of an eye she’s a full blown toddler." - Selena 

"The bond you have with your child. I didn't know how much love I had inside me." - Stephanie 

2. How Natural or Intuitive Motherhood Can Feel

Many mothers remarked that despite experiencing common fears before becoming a mother, they were surprised at how natural becoming a mother was for them. 

"I'm surprised about how natural motherhood feels to me. I expected it to feel like much more of a sacrifice, of a feeling of loosing myself, of struggling to accept the changes in my body, of feeling stuck at home. Instead, I have found it incredibly gratifying to slow down, be still, and rediscover the world through the eyes of my daughter. I'm soaking it all up and am acutely aware of how fleeting and special this time with my toddler is." - Lorraine 

"I’m a little surprised but grateful that my response to “you’re a good mom” is “Thank you, I think so too”. I’m not sure I expected to feel so confident about what I’m doing but I know I’m trying my best which is all that really matters." - Mariah

"I was surprised by how much I didn’t miss my old self. Everyone warned me about losing yourself in motherhood, I was ready for the changes. What I didn’t know what that these wouldn’t come in loss of self. I found a deeper truer self. I got to know myself in a new and beautiful way. It feels more like an ongoing metamorphosis. I am so proud of the woman I am becoming. I hope I keep shedding parts of me to get to the truer core of who I am. I am so proud to be a mother." - Catherine

"Motherhood is easier and more intuitive than I expected! I was so nervous that I wouldn't be able to understand my little one or soothe his tears. But it's been the most magical experience - watching him grow, exploring the world, communicating, and sharing in so much laughter!" - Shoshi

"How easy it would be to sacrifice my own needs to take care of my child first." - Bailey

3. How Much Motherhood Changes You

Motherhood is a transformation that comes with a major shift in perspective, priorities, and even personality. Some mothers found this growth empowering, while others were caught off guard by its intensity.

"I didn't exactly plan on becoming a mother, but as soon as I met my son, I knew that I was meant to be his and he was meant to be mine. Motherhood has taught me to slow down, to notice everything, to be in awe of the universe. Motherhood changed me and healed me in ways I never thought possible. As I broke generations of harmful cycles and fostered my son with love and respect, I saw him grow in self-confidence and independence. Yet, he still feels safe and at home in my embrace. Motherhood taught me that I can be enough. I am all that he needs me to be. I learned to re-parent myself and see myself through his eyes. It softened me. It showed me a love so pure and raw and boundless that it binds all wounds and covers all errors. Motherhood quite literally saved my life. My son is the reason I look forward to each new day after years of wishing not to wake up at all. It is the most challenging and most rewarding path of existence I have ever traveled, and I am endlessly grateful to be here." - Katie

"Motherhood has cracked me wide open in the most unexpected ways. It’s not just about caring for my kids—it’s about facing myself. Having an autistic child has especially changed me forever, in ways I’m still learning to put into words. It’s like holding up a mirror to parts of myself I never noticed before—my sensory sensitivities, the way I process emotion, the way I was as a child. In helping my son navigate the world, I’ve realized how much I’m still learning to navigate it too.

I used to think parenting was about teaching—but so much of it is about unlearning. Unlearning what I thought I knew about development, about behavior, about how kids “should” play or communicate. Watching [my children] grow—so differently, so beautifully—has made me grow, too. I’m softer now. More curious. More compassionate, especially with myself. I’m still in the thick of it, still learning every day. But motherhood, especially through the lens of neurodivergence, has changed me in the best, most permanent way." - Lucy 

"Motherhood brings out your true passions. Baking with your babies on their towers, painting with them on their little table, planting seeds with them in the garden, reading stories, sharing tea on the grass. Sharing your life and exploring. Giving hope for a better tomorrow that they will sprout one day." - Cynthia 

"Becoming a mother has changed me forever in the most profound and beautiful way. It has brought out what is most important to me and made me grow in ways I didn’t know possible. Becoming a mother has brought out the best most powerful, resilient side of me." - Deniz

"I was surprised how much I have grown personally since becoming a mom. I knew I would change and this new season of life would propel me into becoming a different version of myself. I just did not expect it to feel the increased confidence and resilience that comes with having your first child, then the next, and the next. You really start to believe in yourself even after going through postpartum depression and the woes of being a SAHM. It's rewarding. Motherhood is hard, but gosh the growth I have achieved is indescribable." - Jalyn 

4. The Emotional Challenges and Loneliness

It's no surprise that motherhood brings its own set of challenges, yet the depth of these challenges took these mothers by surprise.

"I wasn't worried about becoming a mother and yet somehow I still felt completely unprepared when it happened. That fact that babies/kids can be so different, what works for one doesn't work for another. Everyone gave advice about how to handle various newborn challenges, but they did not work for either of my kids. Each parent truly knows best!" - M 

"All things postpartum no person/book prepared me for. Range of emotions that lead to mental breakdowns, anxiety, loneliness, balding, hunger and cravings to name a few. And the mom guilt that’s never going away. Scared by it all but still wanted another baby and pregnant with the second one now." - Sravya

"I didn't realize how much self-doubt I would have! I'm a generally confident person, but in the early days I desperately sought out reassurance from others that I was doing it 'right'. It took a long time for me to feel confident trusting my intuition, but two years in I am getting there!" - Maddy 

"It’s the most humbling, challenging thing I have ever been asked to do, but it’s also the most rewarding and fulfilling. I don’t think I realized how I could feel so stretched to my limits and then also so full of love for these tiny humans. Seeing their unique personalities shine through is so inspiring, but I also love seeing when parts of me or my husband show through. What a privilege to be the one to teach them and prepare them for life." - Hannah

"Motherhood is so lonely and so exhausting. No one warned me about the long nights that feel eternal. Yet, the morning snuggles and smiles that make time still. It’s the hardest and most beautiful thing I’ve ever done." - Marianna 

"That hard and joyful can co-exist. Also how silly I find myself acting in public and not caring because it makes my son happy." - Alyssa 

"The mental load of having 3 under 3. The extreme exhaustion. The loneliness. You read about various things in books, but nothing prepares you for going through the motions. It’s HARD." - Anamaria 

"The most surprising thing about becoming a mother was realizing just how deeply I can feel so many emotions all at once. I can feel overwhelming love, fierce protectiveness, exhaustion, joy, fear, and gratitude all layered on top of each other in a single moment. Like holding my child close after a long, hard day and feeling both completely drained and completely full. Motherhood cracked my heart wide open in the best way, and now it holds so much more than I ever thought possible. Second to that, I’ve learned how to have grace and compassion for myself. My babies have taught me a lot about my own tolerance and boundaries and patience. I’m grateful for their every day lessons." - Roxanne 

5. The Unexpected Daily Realities

Motherhood brings a lot of little daily surprises, such as: 

"I’m always surprised how I can get through the day even with an infinitesimal amount of sleep!" - Lianne

"I was most surprised by how much learning babies are doing every minute of every day. I knew there was learning, but I didn’t realize how immediate and constant it is, and how much of it there would be. He’s learning how his body works and interacts with the world. He’s learning his voice and we’re trying to learn what he’s trying to tell us. It’s so beautiful to witness and be a part of this important work. And it’s everything all at once - hilarious and frustrating, happy and sad, quiet and loud, slow and fast." - Luisa

"I just wanted to sit and cuddle my newborn but my baby would always get super fussy. I discovered that he just wanted to be involved with what I needed to do! When I started cooking/cleaning/etc. while holding him, he LOVED it. I was totally caught by surprise with this! Ah well, I guess I’ll have to be creative to get cuddles." - Bernadette 

"More okay with, even delighted to, "miss out" on things if it means hanging out with my kids." - Natalie 

"What surprised me most is how much fun it was. I knew it would be hard with lots of sleepless nights and exhausted days that would all be worth it in the end. But I didn't expect the sheer delight of the little games we'd invent or how sweet the sound of his voice would be. I never thought that I would love these early days as much as I do." - Amelia 

"What surprised me most about motherhood? The complete disappearance of time and privacy. I used to think bathroom breaks were a basic human right—now they’re a group activity. And showers? Let’s just say I always have a tiny, uninvited audience providing live commentary." - Alissia

What are some things in your parenting experience that have surprised you? What keeps you going on the hard days as a mom? Comment below!