My name is Kaylie Klitzing, and I’m from Denton, Texas, USA. My journey to motherhood was unexpected but deeply beautiful. My pregnancy wasn’t planned, but when I found out I was expecting, I was in a loving and amazing relationship. Even though I felt nervous, I was also incredibly excited. From that moment on, my life changed in ways I never could have imagined.
Pregnancy was a wonderful experience for me. I had some nausea but never actually got sick. I felt strong and healthy and was able to continue working and training in the gym throughout my entire pregnancy. It was empowering to know that my body was growing a tiny human while still allowing me to do the things I loved.
When it was time to give birth, I had hoped to do it naturally, but my main goal was to be present in the moment. I ended up getting an epidural, though I truly believe that if they had checked my cervix earlier, I could have done it without one. Right after they gave me the epidural, they finally checked, and I was already 9.5 cm dilated. But in the end, I have no regrets. The epidural made delivery painless, and I could still feel just enough pressure to know when to push. The moment my son was born was pure magic. In an instant, my world shifted, and nothing else mattered.
I never knew how much love I was capable of until I held my son for the first time. But along with that overwhelming love came challenges I wasn’t prepared for. One of the biggest struggles has been balancing work and home life. I’m incredibly lucky to be able to bring my son to work with me. It saves on childcare and allows us to spend more time together. But it also means that simple tasks can take twice as long. Some days, I juggle so many responsibilities, balancing my role as a mom with my professional duties without letting either one drop.
Managing my emotions and stress has also been a challenge. I try my best to stay patient, but there are moments when I lose my cool. I’ve learned that taking care of myself is just as important as taking care of my son. Journaling and going to the gym have been my saving grace. The gym is my escape, my way to reset, and thankfully, my fiancé does his best to make sure I get that time to myself.
Then there were the emotional challenges I never expected. One of the hardest moments for me was transitioning my son to his crib after 15 to 16 months of co-sleeping. It was harder than I ever imagined, not just for him, but for me too. Weaning him off nursing has also been an emotional journey. And one thing I never saw coming was how much motherhood would test my relationship. Having a child changes everything, and it takes real effort to navigate those changes as a couple.
But despite the challenges, I wouldn’t trade a single moment. My son is wild and full of energy, but he is my greatest joy. I love watching him grow, learn, and become his own little person. Seeing him discover the world around him makes every hard day worth it. We spend almost all of our time together. He’s only been away from me for about five hours at most in his entire life. That closeness has created countless precious memories, too many to choose just one as my favorite.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to enjoy every moment, even the hard ones. One day, I’ll look back and miss them, the sleepless nights, the chaos, the moments when he needed me for everything. Every stage of motherhood comes with its own challenges, but every stage also brings something beautiful. This is the hardest job I’ve ever had, but it’s also the most rewarding. And I wouldn’t change a single thing.
For all the mothers reading this, you are stronger than you think, more capable than you realize, and deeply loved by your little one who calls you “mom.” Embrace every moment.
With love from one mother to another, Kaylie Klitzing @kayliebaby_ifbbpro
@Kaylie, thank you for opening up about your journey — a reminder that the love we are capable of is always so much bigger than we imagined until the moment we hold it in our arms.
