is a common modern sentiment. And it really does! It will literally stretch your body and snap it back in place (but not quite). It will drain some nutrients off of you. The postpartum hormones will have you (and your hairfall) all over the place.

Having “time for yourself” is five minutes (if at all). Sleep will be scarce. The chores, the mess will be plentiful. It’s a lot. It’s jarring and confusing. You’re trying to understand it all and stay afloat while trying to keep someone else apart from you fed and thriving.

But there are the snuggles and the cuddles. The peace of watching a baby (finally) sleep is unmatched. Your kids will smile at you for the first time and it is the most precious thing.

You’ll find yourself cheering wildly for a little person because they managed to roll over on their belly. They’ll take their first steps, say their first words, count to ten—the little things are the big things! They will tell you and show you they love you every day. They’ll fall in love, they will feel betrayed, they will win and lose: everything is new for them and new for you once again.

But the greatest gift of motherhood is that we, like Our Lady, get to participate so intimately (albeit in a small way, in the grand scheme of things) with the suffering, the joy and the grace of self-giving that Jesus demonstrates for us on the Cross. On a daily basis, we are called to feed others, clothe others, care for the sick, counsel, grieve with others, lay down ourselves in many ways for others. Joy and grace are so abundant for us.

Motherhood will absolutely take us apart again and again. But motherhood puts us back together, again and again too, the same woman but different, blessed and hopefully holier too. Merry Christmas!