Back when I would interview Coach Saban (former Alabama head coach) for ESPN, I remember him telling his team to “play one play at a time,” to focus on the moment in front of them instead of getting overwhelmed by the whole game. That wisdom stuck with me, and now that I’m a mom, I’m even more grateful for it.
Motherhood, especially with little ones, is about showing up one moment at a time and celebrating the small wins that make up each day. This is how I’ve learned to enjoy motherhood—focusing on what’s right in front of me instead of getting overwhelmed by everything at once. When you do this, you begin to see that you are making progress, even when it doesn’t feel like it. Here are 5 ways to take motherhood one day at a time.
1. Win the morning (even if it’s messy).
Instead of trying to perfect your whole daily routine, just focus on one small win in the morning. For me, it’s getting to make breakfast for Reese and Jack. On work days, my morning starts around 5:30 a.m. And my kids bring me so much joy but also a good bit of chaos, too. So, the morning might come with accidents on the floor that Josh steps in.
But you know what? Even on the crazy mornings, getting my kids fed and their day started with smiles on their faces—spills and all—is my morning win. I’m grateful I get to be the one making breakfast for them.
2. Handle just the current tough moment.
As a mom, I do my best to focus on the joys of motherhood. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t experience the challenging side of parenting two little ones. Just yesterday, Jack had a meltdown moment because Reese was playing with the toy he wanted. I felt myself starting to think, “Are they going to fight over toys forever?” But then I stopped and focused on the moment: What does Jack need from me right now? I got down to his level, helped him use his words, and we found a way for them to take turns. Five minutes later, they were both giggling together.
I’m grateful I get to be the one Jack turns to when he needs help. His tantrums won’t last forever—it’s just this current moment that needs my attention. And that’s enough.
3. Celebrate progress, not perfection.
I make a million mistakes every single day as a mom. But instead of beating myself up about them, I use those mistakes as a learning point that helps me become a better parent. This is part of how to enjoy motherhood—focusing on progress, not perfection.
Progress in small steps is still progress, whether it’s for me or my kids. When I prep lunches the night before school, that’s a win. It’s another win when my sweetest little man says “pwease” without being reminded. These minor improvements—mine and theirs—might seem insignificant to anyone else, but I’m grateful for each one. Taking time to acknowledge how far we’ve all come, rather than focusing on what still needs work, makes each day feel more manageable and joyful.
4. Find a tiny moment to recharge.
As moms, we’re always giving to everyone else, but we need to be kind to ourselves, too. For me, that might look like taking a Solidcore class or trying a new juice shot with Josh. But honestly, most days it’s much simpler than that.
A few deep breaths while my coffee is still warm, stepping outside for fresh air, or eating beef jerky and chips for a snack can reset my day. These don’t have to be elaborate self-care routines. I’m grateful for whatever small pockets of time I can find. These tiny breaks help me return to being their mom with more patience and joy. But even on days when I don’t get those moments to recharge, I’ve found a straightforward way to turn any day around.
5. End the day on a good note.
No matter what happened today, pick one sweet moment to hold onto—your child’s giggle, a bedtime snuggle. Recently, during our bedtime routine, Reese shared the names of all the stuffed animals sleeping with her that night. Meeting Wildstar, Holly But Jolly, and Joey put a smile on my face and made me feel like I won the day. Because the truth is, every day I get to spend with my kids—even the hard ones—is a day worth celebrating. Letting that define your day is truly how to enjoy motherhood.
What small moments help you learn how to enjoy motherhood on the tough days?
