One Day, It Just Feels Different: A Love Letter to the Mother Surviving the Hardest Season

I didn’t realize it was happening.

There wasn’t a big moment. No confetti. No milestone chart to mark it.

But one morning, my baby slept through the night.

And I didn’t even notice it was the first time.

It just… happened.

There was a stretch of time where I lived in what felt like emotional quicksand — three kids under four, all needing Mama at the same time, in different ways, with different demands.

My youngest? Glued to my hip like a koala at every drop-off. Screaming if I dared to even think about setting him down.

My daughter? She had very strong opinions about what to wear each morning. And if the tutu didn’t twirl just right or the socks had the "wrong fuzz," we were late.

Again.

My oldest? Wanted to bring toys into class. Every. Single. Day. Even though we both knew they weren’t allowed.

And then there was me. And my husband. And the laundry.And the sink full of dishes.And my inbox full of "urgent" emails.

There were days when the only thing I accomplished was keeping us all alive and fed. And on those days? That had to be enough.

I used to whisper to myself: “If I can survive this season of motherhood, I can survive anything.” And I meant it. Because some nights, I truly wasn’t sure I’d make it.

But then… things started to change.Not all at once. Not with fireworks or a big announcement.

But quietly.

Suddenly, my toddler didn’t cry at drop-off.Suddenly, my daughter loved the shirt she used to throw across the room.Suddenly, I could sit down and take a breath and realize… the anxiety was less.

The atmosphere had shifted.

I had shifted.

I had survived the storm. Well, that storm (haha) And I was stronger.

You might not see it now, Mama. You might be smack in the middle of the chaos. But one day, without warning, you’ll feel it — that something has shifted.

You’ll sit in your car or stand at the sink or collapse on the couch, and you’ll think: It’s different now. We made it through.

And you will be so proud of the woman who:

• Asked for help

• Tried every trick in the book

• Showed up on days she wanted to hide

• Prayed even when her voice cracked

• Loved her babies fiercely through the mess

You won’t want to go back. But you will be able to look back and say, “I survived. And I’m unstoppable.”

I’ve been where you are. I’ve felt what you feel.I’ve cried those silent tears after bedtime. And I promise you—this season won’t last forever.

One day, you’ll tell another mama:“It won’t be like this for long. I promise. He is faithful.”

The Lord was my strong tower in the trenches. He will be yours too.

Just believe that, I am a safe space. And He is your safe place.

To the Mama Reading This:

If all you did today was survive… That is enough! If you’re crying reading this—good. That means you’re still soft. You still care. You’re not broken. You’re becoming.

Let’s Rise Together

✨ Share this post with a mama who’s in it right now.✨ Leave a comment telling me your "I survived it" moment.✨ Bookmark this for the day you realize… It feels different now.

#YouAreNotAlone#MotherhoodIsSanctifying#ToddlersAndTears#FaithFueledMotherhood#SurvivingMotherhood#MomLifeUnfiltered#PurposeDrivenParenting#MessyWinsMatter#EncouragementForMoms#ChristianMotherhood#RealMomMoments#HeIsFaithful

Written with love, tears, and faith

by Krystal Chigbu Maka

www.krystalchigbumaka.com | Instagram: @K.ijeoma