When Michelle’s son Brooklyn arrived in July last year, she stepped into motherhood the way most of us do, completely unprepared for the depth of it. She'll tell you herself that the first months were a blur of wake windows and wet nappies and trying to figure it all out while recovering from a c-section and running on almost no sleep. But somewhere in the middle of all of that, Brooklyn started smiling at her.

Started reaching for her. And slowly, quietly, motherhood became the most real thing she had ever known. This is her first Mother's Day — and she is already one of the strongest mothers we've met.

How would you describe the moment motherhood really landed for you? Not necessarily the birth, but the moment it truly hit you. 

Funny enough, I think I felt a bit of impostor syndrome during the first few months. You get so caught up in the rhythm and responsibility of it all that you barely have time to process your emotions.

I was constantly trying to understand everything, how to get him to sleep, what to dress him in, how to breastfeed, how often he should feed, how many hours of sleep he needed, whether he was having enough wet and dirty nappies, all while trying to eat, shower, and recover from major surgery after my c-section. 

I actually struggled to fully understand that I was a mum. I think it truly started to “hit” me as he got older and became more reactive and connected to me. When he would smile at me, try to talk to me, reach for me, or clearly want and need me, those were the moments where motherhood became real in a deeper way. I can’t pinpoint one exact moment, but it slowly grew stronger every day. 

How has becoming a mother changed the way you see yourself? 

Strong. I know that’s probably a common answer from mums, but I really think only mothers understand the depth of that strength because it goes far beyond the physical side of it. 

The physical aspect alone is indescribable and incredible, but what surprised me most was the mental strength. The way your entire mind shifts to focus on one little person. The exhaustion you can push through, waking up and starting another day on only a couple of hours of sleep. The way you keep going despite every doubtful thought, every hard moment, every overwhelming feeling. 

Motherhood has shown me a level of resilience I never knew I had. 

Is there anything about this season of life that has genuinely surprised you — something nobody warned you about, or something that has been so much better than you expected? 

Honestly, everything. I had no idea about any of it in depth. The sleep side of having a baby completely caught me off guard. I had no clue how hard it could be to get a baby to sleep, how much babies rely on you to help them sleep, or how important sleep becomes. I had never heard of wake windows, resettling, overtiredness, all these things suddenly became such a huge part of life. I honestly wish someone had been more raw and honest with me about that side of motherhood. 

But at the same time, I’m incredibly lucky to say that our little boy is amazing, and everything else has been better than I ever expected. It’s unbelievable how much emotion one tiny person can make you feel with just a smile or a giggle. The first sounds they make, the first smile, the first movements, watching them grow so quickly, it all feels unreal. And now that he’s older, seeing his cheeky little personality come through, watching him learn new things, and feeling so proud of every milestone has been more beautiful than I could have imagined. 

Describe a good day in your home right now. What does it look, feel, and sound like? 

A good day is when my partner has the day off and we’re all together at home. There’s always music playing throughout the day, lots of singing, dancing, laughing, and good food. Brooklyn has good naps, everyone is in a good mood, and the house feels full of life. By the end of the day, what started as a tidy home in the morning is completely lived in by nighttime, toys everywhere, blankets on the floor, dishes in the sink, but knowing this all means it was a day well lived. 

What is the smallest, most ordinary moment in your day that you secretly love the most? 

Making Brooklyn laugh. 

Sometimes I smother him in kisses when I'm changing him, or after feeding him until he’s gasping for air from laughing so hard, or now that he’s crawling, he loves crawling right to the edge of something so I can grab him dramatically before he “falls” and flip him upside down.

It’s such a simple little game, but he absolutely loves it. Hearing his little laugh and knowing I’m the one making it happen is honestly one of the happiest feelings I’ve ever experienced. 

What has motherhood taught you about yourself that nothing else could have? 

Motherhood has shown me how resilient I can be, how I’ll keep going no matter how exhausted or overwhelmed I feel. 

But it has also forced me to face parts of myself I didn’t really know were there. The frustration, the overstimulation, the moments where I feel like I’ve become this emotional or reactive version of myself because motherhood pushes you to your limits sometimes. 

It has also made me more confident in my decisions. I’ve always been a very easy-going person who would rather make everyone else happy, but becoming a mum has taught me to use my voice. I say 'no' more now. I put Brooklyn first, whether it’s because of his naps, his mood, or his health.  

Is there something you used to believe about parenting, before you became a parent, that has completely changed?

I used to think parenting was very black and white. I thought it would be easy to say, “I’ll never allow this,” or “I would never do that.” But once you actually become a parent and get to know your child as their own unique little person, everything becomes much more nuanced. 

You still hold onto your values and beliefs, but you learn to parent in a way that suits your child’s personality, the way they learn, the way they react, and the way they understand the world. I also used to think I’d be a very tough mum if he was ever naughty, now I’m not so sure haha. If anything, I think I will be gentler and teach him or correct him in a way that feels safe and loving. 

What do you know now that you wish someone had told you at the beginning? 

How hard it can be to get a baby to sleep. 

What is the one feeling you hope your child/children carry with them from their childhood? 

That he is deeply loved. I hope he keeps smiling, knowing how happy his smile makes me feel, because I know it can make others feel that way too. 

What lesson — big or small — do you most want to pass on? 

To stay humble, to know where he came from, to be accepting of others, and to always value family. 

When your children are grown, what do you hope they say about their early years at home? 

I hope Brooklyn remembers a happy home. I hope he remembers my partner and I singing and dancing in the kitchen, being affectionate, laughing, and genuinely enjoying life together. I hope he remembers the little games we’d play on the bed or during bath time, the songs we’d sing while making his food, and the simple moments that filled our home with love. 

I hope our beach picnics become one of his core childhood memories.