The Quiet Grief of Motherhood No One Talks About

In the photo, a simple everyday moment. In the words, a truth every mother eventually faces. Naomi McMahon, a Sixx Cool Moms of Montgomery County member, shared something that stopped us in our tracks.

Naomi McMahon, a Sixx Cool Moms of Montgomery County member, shared a post that stopped us in our tracks. It captured the bittersweet grief of watching your children grow, and it resonated deeply with moms everywhere.

"No one talks about the grief that comes with parenting. Knowing that as your child grows they will never be the person they were again. And granted, that applies to all of us on some degree. But it hits HARD in parenting. When your little baby now runs away from you at the park instead of holding onto your index finger with so much confidence and uncertainty at the same time.

No one talks about the stage when your teens just “aren’t into that thing” anymore. My almost 15 year old LOVED Legos. These are two sets I bought him, The Daily Bugle and The Marvel Tower, easily $1000 worth of Legos. Now they are sitting in my husband’s closet because my son is just not into Legos anymore.

No one talks about how your purpose as a parent also becomes your biggest source of grief. Your role is to train them to be independent. To be able to survive the world without you. Yet your heart slowly breaks every time they need you a little less than they did before.

Know that if you feel like I am feeling this morning, you are doing great mom. We sacrifice in so many ways that go unnoticed. But I see you. And I am so proud of you."

Her words are a reminder that while motherhood is filled with love, it is also threaded with quiet heartbreak. And she is not alone in feeling it.

The Voices of Motherhood

Naomi’s words struck a chord. Moms flocked to the comments to share their own experiences, each story echoing the same quiet ache.

Some spoke of letting go of the physical reminders of childhood. They packed away toy bins, set up a big girl room before 5th grade, or held on to thousands of dollars worth of Legos that once filled entire afternoons.

Others shared milestones that brought both pride and pain. They prepared to send a child off to college for the first time or the second, and realized it never gets easier even when they know their child is thriving.

Many reflected on the small, subtle endings. The day a child no longer wanted unicorn décor. The morning they stopped crawling into bed. The night they no longer asked for a bedtime story.

Again and again, mothers repeated the truth that if you do your job well, one day your children will no longer need you in the same way. We love them enough to let them go and that is exactly why it hurts so much.

Love and Heartbreak, Every Day

Motherhood is a daily practice in holding joy and grief at the same time. It is mourning the child they once were while celebrating the person they are becoming. It is watching them step into the world with pride in your heart and a quiet ache you carry in private.

If you feel that too, you are not alone. We are in this together, doing the hardest and most beautiful work there is.

What is the moment that made you realize your child was growing up? Share it in the comments so we can remind each other that every mother feels this and none of us are going through it alone.

Original words by Naomi McMahon. Written and compiled by Jenna Levine Liu