5 Ways Motherhood Changed My Life for the Better

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I never fully understood what people meant when they said that their children made them better people until I had toddler boss. Three years ago, I can accurately say that everything about my life BB (Before Baby) changed after I gave birth. Sure, I read books (lots of them) and sought advice from friends (most of whom kept it real), but nothing could have prepared me for what was to come.

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I believe the proper term to describe my state of mind for the first few in in life AB (After Baby) is “shell shock.” I missed my old life, but at the same time, I had a beautiful new baby girl. Once I got past the sleep deprivation, my focus shifted from trying to fit my her into my previous life as I knew it to creating a new model based on what would work best for her. The fact that my life was never going to be the same was a blessing that I embraced.
While this list will never be complete, here are five beautiful ways that motherhood has changed my life for the better:

1. I wake up earlier. I was never an early bird, so this was a major gamechanger for me. Even though my daughter sleeps through the night, I get up at least two hours earlier than she does (around 5 am) to meditate, plan out my day, catch up on my shows and even a little work before the craziness begins.

2. I’m a better planner and organizer. Although I used to be a complete “go with the flow” type, these days, I need a plan and an organizational system in place. I don’t have to follow everything to a “T,” but I find that our whole household runs and looks better when Mommy has it together (or at least gives the appearance that she does).

3. I’m more motivated than ever. I started BambiniWare while I was on maternity leave. At the time, I had no idea at the time that it would grow into what it’s become. It was my daughter, and the example that I wanted to set for her, that motivated me to go for it. I'm a better person because of who she is and who she inspires me to be. Every morning, she pushes me to make each day better than the last.

4. I’m more efficient with my time. Since I already know that I’m working with limited time, I’m much more efficient with managing my calendar and saying “no” in the process. These days, I live by a saying that I once read, “If it doesn’t make me happy, make me better or make me money, I don’t have time for it.” #liberated

5. I take better care of myself. It didn’t take me long to figure out that if I didn’t take care of myself that I would be no good for my daughter. In order to maintain my sanity, I started discovering fun ways to sneak in a little “me” time during the course of my daily routine, something I didn’t do nearly enough of in my BB life. Now, no matter what goes on in my day, I’m taking care of myself too.

How has motherhood changed your life for the better? Share your comments below!

*This article was first published on MadameNoire.com on April 30, 2016.

Hey Haute Mamas! I'm Riche Holmes Grant, a modern mom + mompreneur who designs smart + stylish products that make your mommy gig easier.

When I'm not busy taking orders from my #miniboss, I'm contributing to MarthaStewart.com or in the kitchen whipping up delicious family-friendly creations in my BambiniWare Apronini.

Get my FREE book on How to Make the Best Food for Your Baby here!

I live in the Washington, DC area with my husband and daughter. Follow our adventures on Instagram via @BambiniWareLife!