If you had told me in my 20s that I’d be raising a toddler at 40, I would’ve laughed and said, “No way—I’ll be too tired by then!” Well, here I am—40, tired, and chasing a little human who can burn through more energy before 9 a.m. than I manage in a week. And honestly? It’s the hardest, funniest, and most heart-filling job I’ve ever had.

Patience Looks Different

At 40, I’ve learned the art of choosing my battles wisely. If my toddler wants to play with a lemon at the grocery store so that I can make it to checkout without the whole store knowing she’s not happy—guess who’s leaving the store with a lemon (or three)? Me. Sometimes I even catch myself whispering a little prayer of thanks to that citrus fruit for buying me 15 minutes of peace.

Energy Is… Complicated

The real test of motherhood at 40? Nap roulette. My toddler can nap anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours, and the unpredictability keeps me on my toes. The second she goes down, I go into overdrive—deciding whether I should clean, shower, fold laundry, answer emails, or collapse on the couch and scroll my phone in sweet silence. The problem is, by the time I decide, she’s usually awake again. It’s like living in a game show where the prize is peace and quiet, and the timer is rigged.

And yes—coffee still deserves its own food group in this house.

Perspective Shifts Everything

Motherhood in my 40s has made me loosen up in ways I never expected. My house often looks like a toy explosion site, but I’ve stopped apologizing for it. Dinner might be mac and cheese three nights in a row—and you know what? That’s a balanced meal in my book: carbs, dairy, and joy.

I don’t stress as much as I used to. I know what matters. And mismatched socks or paint on the wall aren’t on that list.

The Small Joys Matter So Much More

When I was younger, I might’ve been too busy worrying about what came next. Now, I savor the little things: my daughter’s belly laugh, the way she sings her own version of songs, the cuddles before bedtime. Even hiding in the bathroom for a “mom break” feels like a spa retreat these days. (Pro tip: lock the door, eat the snack you don’t want to share, and call it self-care.)

---

Final Thoughts

Motherhood at 40 is equal parts exhausting and hilarious. It’s testing my patience, stretching my creativity, and teaching me to laugh at the chaos. But it’s also filling me with a gratitude I don’t think I could’ve understood at 25.

So yes, I might be the mom who lets her kid play with produce, who runs on coffee like it’s oxygen, and who treats nap time like a high-stakes challenge. But I’m also the mom who gets to soak up every sweet, silly, messy moment with my little one—and for that, I’m endlessly thankful.