When I became pregnant with Reese, I panicked. Although we’d been trying, her due date came during football season, my busiest time at work. Everyone at ESPN was so supportive, but I really thought I’d ruined my career. I’ve been forthcoming about this in interviews, including on Justin Stuckey’s podcast. It felt like my life had just exploded. And yet, the person who “blew it up” became the best thing that ever happened to me. My daughter completely transformed my definition of happiness.
And I know I’m not alone in this. So many moms experience the same shift when the way we define happiness evolves. Our hearts start to experience joy during moments we’d never thought about, like reading a familiar bedtime story, savoring sticky-fingered hugs, or hearing a little voice saying “Mama.” Here are 5 more ways motherhood might be reshaping your definition of happiness.
1. When Happiness Becomes Bigger Than Yourself
Before motherhood, my happiness revolved primarily around my wants and needs. But becoming Reese and Jack’s mom taught me that true happiness extends far beyond myself. Dancing with my girl in the kitchen or hearing my boy’s belly laugh brings joy so deep it makes my old idea of happiness feel one-dimensional.
Motherhood reshapes our joy. The most fulfilling moments now often come when we witness our kids being happy. Whether it’s seeing their faces light up when you come in the door or hearing their silly playtime stories, our hearts swell with a level of happiness we never knew existed.
2. When Joy Shows Up in the Smallest Moments
As an ESPN commentator, I used to measure happiness by major milestones like a promotion or a successful broadcast. But motherhood quickly taught me that joy also comes out in the most mundane moments. In the past 12 months, some of my happiest moments include serving Reese scrambled eggs and bananas on a paper plate and seeing how red our tongues can get from eating Italian ice.
Our kids teach us to find joy in the smallest things—silly sounds, barefoot races in the grass, even the simple sizzle of chili cooking on the stove. The ordinary moments we might have once overlooked become the moments that bring us the most happiness. And they’re the building blocks of a happy family.
3. When Success Also Means Connection, Not Just Achievement
Before kids, professional achievements defined my sense of accomplishment. Now, my definition of success has deepened. I still love my work, but I’ve also found fulfillment in different victories: getting home in time to tuck my kids into bed, sitting on the floor for a tea party, or hearing Reese’s elaborate dream stories about being a football.
Many moms experience this redefinition of success. A successful day might be when your child shares a worry with you because she trusts you completely or when your family laughs together over an inside joke. These connections become the achievements that truly matter and the ones bringing you the most happiness.
4. When Being Present Matters More Than Being Perfect
Motherhood proves that being present matters more than being perfect. In live broadcasting, we get one chance to get it right. I’m grateful for a team that strives for excellence, but we don’t take each other too seriously when things go sideways. But motherhood is even less predictable, and I’ve learned to laugh at the inevitable mistakes.
The joy of motherhood isn’t found in flawless execution but in embracing the beautiful mess of family life. By letting go of perfectionism, we can focus more on being fully present to enjoy the moments that matter. Your children don’t need a flawless mom. They just need you, fully present and perfectly imperfect.
5. When Your Heart Expands in Unexpected Ways
Motherhood reshaped my definition of happiness into something deeper. Even when my work schedule is crazy, and both kids are sick, a video of Jack and Reese giggling at the doctor’s office with Josh makes me smile, when moments before, I felt like I couldn’t.
As moms, our capacity for love and joy stretches beyond what we thought possible. Our kids show us how limitless happiness can be. Motherhood doesn’t just change our definition of happiness—it expands it in ways we never imagined.
How has motherhood changed your definition of happiness?
