Families logo

Big Welcome, Little One

How a Little Heart Made Mine Grow

By Haley HicksPublished 6 years ago 4 min read
Like

I wanted to write this so other moms can relate and for those women who aren’t mothers just yet can read from a first-hand perspective of just how scary, perfect, amazing, joyful, loving, and hard becoming a mother truly can be.

I found out I was pregnant when I was 19 years old. I was young and naïve and absolutely terrified at the thought of being the provider for another human being's life. Every part of me wanted to be filled with love and joy, but it was so hard to feel those things when all I had was sheer terror running through my veins. “Can I do this?” “Will I be a good mom?” “Will I be going at this alone?” All of these things along with millions of others rushing through my brain at a lightening speed. It was hard to make sense of any of it. But as the pregnancy progressed, I became more confident in myself as a women, a girlfriend, and a mother. I started to feel the security wrapped up around me from my boyfriend, mother, sister, father, and all the rest of my family and friends. I soon realized I had a huge support system and for once I felt like I had this.

October 7th is the day my life changed forever. Little did I know just how deeply. My labor started and there was a period of denial. Telling myself this can’t be happening yet, that I wasn’t ready. But then I had to remind myself, I had no choice to be ready because my daughter was about to be here. Sixteen hours from start to finish, I had the most beautiful miracle laid upon my chest and my world stood still. The time on the clock froze, and for a split second I felt my heart skip a beat. In the matter of seconds, I had fallen completely and utterly IN LOVE like I had never felt before. It was in that moment I looked at my boyfriend and our daughter and just knew right then in that very moment we had become the two luckiest people on this earth.

Day by day my daughter and I learned and grew together. We adapted as one and have been taking life head on. She may be pint-sized, but she is my best friend. She is the most smart, beautiful, sassy, and outright amazing little girl I have ever met! (I know she’d be thinking I have to say these things because I’m her mom!)

Growing to love my new life as a mother wasn’t something that was hard for me. What’s hard is learning to love my new body. My daughter is a one-year-old spit fire, but still within this past year I haven’t come to terms with my new body. Although I know my stretch marks are “tiger stripes” and show I created the most beautiful gift this world has to offer, it’s hard to say goodbye to the body I knew for 20 years of my life. I try to tell myself I am fighter and my body shows it. I try to tell myself my stretch marks are just as beautiful as the life I created. But more times than not, I struggle with believing the very words I repeat to myself on a daily basis. Every mom is beautiful. Every mark, every stretch, hell, even every pound we gained is a true reminder of the priceless love we gained in return of the very little things we tend to as mothers look down upon.

Nothing in this world could make me more proud than I was when I saw my daughter smile, laugh, roll over, crawl, and walk for the very first time. Nothing can take those moments away. Although it may be hard, the sleepless nights, going days without showering, forgetting to eat, changing more diapers than you couple possibly count, every bit of it is worth it. The good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, are all true testaments to the warriors that we as mothers are.

Becoming a new mom changes everything, your life, your body, and if you're like me, your job. But most of all it changes your heart; you learn to love in ways you never thought to be possible. One day you wake up not knowing that today will be the day. The day your life is forever changed, but little do you know, it’s in the best way possible. I personally had no idea how having my daughter would change me so deeply, who I am inside and out. She has made me a better person down to my core.

A simple reminder to anyone out there who is a mom, whether it be to a biological baby, an adopted baby, an angel baby, or a baby on the way. You are strong, you are beautiful, and you are doing an amazing job!

children
Like

About the Creator

Haley Hicks

I’m a 21 year old from CT, I am blessed to be the mother to the most amazing daughter. I’m a PCA for a boy with disabilities. Family is so important to me and finding a platform to share this with others is something truly amazing.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.