The Whirlwind of Parenthood

The Earth went around the sun, and now Nicolina Jane is one.

And somehow, I’ve been a parent for a whole year too.

What a beautiful thing to witness—this unfolding, this becoming.

I’ve worked with children my entire life. I’ve seen the love, the patience, the challenges parents pour into their children. I thought I understood it. But the truth is, you never really know until you have your own child—24/7, 365 days a year—depending on you for everything.

Parenthood—motherhood, fatherhood, whatever you choose to call it—is a whirlwind. It’s every emotion you can possibly imagine, all tangled together into a messy, beautiful web of joy, laughter, exhaustion, tears, and moments you wish you could bottle up and store in your brain forever.

And then there’s time.

Time is the trickiest part of all.

Some days it feels like your worst enemy, because all you want to do is freeze it—to stay right there in a milestone, in a tiny moment that feels too precious to lose. And yet, at the very same time, there’s a part of you that wants to fast-forward. To get past the sleepless nights. To peek at what’s waiting just around the corner. It’s a constant tug-of-war inside your heart.

I once came across a quote by an unknown author that stopped me in my tracks. She called them the silent goodbyes.

And wow—did that hit home.

You never know when they’re going to happen. Those quiet endings to chapters you didn’t even realize were closing. One day, it’s the last time of something… and you don’t know it until long after it’s gone.

Everything changes so quickly. And before you know it, you’re already chasing the next magical moment, unaware that the last one slipped away without a sound.

One of the most incredible gifts of being a parent is having a front-row seat to watch a human experience the world for the very first time. Every discovery. Every wide-eyed moment of wonder. It’s pure magic. And it’s a constant reminder to put the phone down, stop worrying about what’s next, and just be there.

Because if you blink too long—it’s gone.

You can try to explain this to someone who hasn’t lived it yet, and they might nod and say they understand. But the truth is, you don’t really grasp how fast it all moves until you’re in it—day after day, moment after moment.

And then there’s the noise.

Parenthood is noisy—with unsolicited advice and outside opinions coming from every direction. But your best guide is your own heart. Trust your instincts. There’s no rulebook, only your unique journey.

Reach out for help when you need it—but lean into the people who align with your heart and your values. Listen to everything if you want, but take only what resonates and leave the rest behind.

Because at the end of the day, if you can lay your head down and honestly say:

I did the best I could with what I knew.

My children are happy, safe, and loved.

Then you did a wonderful job.

Keep Shining,

Mama Michele