My name is Jennifer, and I’m the proud mother of my daughter, Arden Ann, who is now 21 years old. Arden is truly a gift in my life. When we decided to start our family, conception came easily, and I became pregnant on our first try. I felt so blessed, but little did I know that my journey into motherhood would come with its own set of challenges.
My labor with Arden was 44 hours long – grueling, exhausting, and at times, excruciating. The epidural didn’t fully work, and I dealt with fever and vomiting. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever endured, but when they placed my newborn daughter in my arms, I was in complete awe of this tiny, perfect human. The nurse had to remind me that I could kiss her because I was so mesmerized by her that I forgot. But the joy of holding her was quickly followed by a terrifying moment when I saw Arden turning blue. My husband rushed to get the nurse, and we learned that she needed her lungs cleared. It was the most frightening moment of my life, but thankfully, she was okay. It was then that I realized how fragile life is and how quickly things can change. That moment is one I’ll never forget.
At that time, I had planned to donate my placenta for science, but it couldn’t be accepted because it wasn’t healthy. In that moment, I made the decision that Arden would be my one and only child. She was a true gift, and my family of three felt complete. I realized that every day with her was precious, and I wanted to savor every moment.
As a mother, I’ve faced my share of challenges. Balancing work and home life was tricky, especially when Arden was a baby. To make it work, I became an entrepreneur so I could stay home with her while still providing for our family. Luckily, I had a wonderful support system in my family, who understood my need to work while being a mother. It’s truly heartwarming that my work anniversary and Arden’s birthday fall in the same year, a constant reminder of the balance I’ve worked so hard to create. It feels like a beautiful reflection of the love, dedication, and hard work that goes into being both a mother and an entrepreneur.
There were days when everything went smoothly, and other days when nothing went as planned. But I learned that those tough moments don’t last. I learned to take a breath, look into my child’s eyes, and remind myself that this too shall pass. Looking back over the 21 years of Arden’s life, I’ve realized the most important lesson: Don’t regret the tough moments, just be there for your child. Time moves so quickly, and when they leave for the first time, you’ll realize just how fast it went. Her first words, first steps, and all of her “firsts” are moments I’ll treasure forever.
I look back on my journey with Arden and see where I’ve made mistakes, but I also see how much I’ve grown as a mother. We are not perfect, but each day is an opportunity to learn and do better. That’s one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way.
One of the daily joys of motherhood is staying connected with Arden, even though she lives far away now. Every morning, I send her a good morning text, and when time allows, we schedule a FaceTime call. These small moments remind me how grateful I am to have her in my life, no matter the distance between us.
A special memory that stands out to me is a painting Arden made for me when she was young. She painted a picture of us and had her teacher write, “I love to play and work with my mom.” This artwork always brings me back to the early days of motherhood and reminds me of the beautiful, intuitive bond we shared, even when she was just a little one.
If I could offer one piece of advice to new moms, it would be this: enjoy every moment, because time flies faster than you think. The days may feel long, but the years go by in the blink of an eye. Cherish the “firsts” and the everyday moments, and know that you’re doing your best. There’s no such thing as perfect, but your love is all that truly matters.
And to my daughter Arden, I am so incredibly proud of the young woman you’ve become!
Love,
Jennifer Ettinger
@fityourstyle
Cleveland, Ohio / Toronto, Ontario
@Jennifer, thank you for sharing your story that reminds us the most meaningful moments of motherhood are rarely the big ones — they are the quiet, ordinary ones we almost let slip by.
