What My Son Taught Me

About Love, Vulnerability, and Letting Go

Being a mom is full of surprises, even when you think you’ve got it all figured out. When I had my daughter, my first child, I thought I knew it all. Life changed instantly—my world was flipped upside down, my priorities shifted, and everything felt brand new. She gave my life a deeper meaning that I didn’t even know existed. She filled my days with love, laughter, and happiness in ways I had never experienced before.

Yes, there were sleepless nights and plenty of worries, but as long as she was happy and healthy, I couldn’t complain. My heart felt full, and life seemed complete. Then, I had my son.

A whole new world of lessons opened up.

I wanted my daughter to have the kind of close, unbreakable bond I have with my sister, someone who would be by her side through everything without judgment. So, when I became pregnant with my son, I was filled with hope and excitement.

He arrived and gave me an entirely different perspective on life. He taught me to be vulnerable in ways I never expected. I experienced a type of love that was beyond my control—a love that made me realize I couldn’t change or influence everything, no matter how much I wanted to. I could only control myself.

It was humbling and eye-opening.

My daughter is naturally a disciplined, easy-going child who wants to please others and make friends. My son? He’s the same in so many ways, except when it comes to food.

He won’t eat.

I’m not exaggerating when I say our meal times have become a daily struggle. He’ll spit, cry, and refuse most things. His food preferences are limited to pancakes, rice, Spam, bread with specific toppings, certain berries, bananas, cakes, and cookies. That’s it. Out of all the food in the world, these are the only things he’ll consider. Every day, three times a day, we try and fail, trying to coax him to try something new.

We’ve done our research and understand that picky eating is normal and will (hopefully) improve with time. But still, I can’t help but worry about what he eats—what you eat becomes who you are, after all.

So, I’ve made it my mission to prepare everything he eats with love. I believe that the energy I put into the food can help him accept it with love, even if it’s just a pancake. It’s exhausting, I won’t lie. We haven’t been able to eat out since he arrived because he’s so unpredictable, even if the restaurant serves pancakes—if the color or shape isn’t what he expects, he won’t touch it.

But I’m learning.

As much as I want to control the situation (hello, international control freak here), my son has taught me that I can only change myself. I can try to influence him, but at the end of the day, he is his own person, completely on his own. He will grow and change on his terms. I’ve come to accept that.

Aside from his food preferences, my son is the sweetest, most caring little person, right next to my daughter. He’s healthy, he’s happy, and if I ask for more, I know I’m being unreasonable.

Gratitude—it’s everything.

I’m learning to be grateful for the little things, like waking up in the morning with no major worries, or spending time fully present with my kids. There’s so much to appreciate when you stop and take a look around. I am grateful for today. I am grateful for my family. I am grateful for this moment.

To anyone reading this, I hope you feel love and gratitude in your own life, too. I hope you find joy in the small moments because those are the ones that truly shape our days. If you can find happiness in the simple things, before you know it, your life will be filled with love and positivity.

Thank you for reading. Sending love to you all.