"Motherhood can be complex. Juggling all the emotions that simultaneously live within motherhood can feel like a rollercoaster. As moms, we’re constantly inundated with information, whether it’s unsolicited, negative, or reminding us how we’re doing something ‘wrong.’ At one moment, a person is telling you, “Oh, just wait,” making us wonder if we’re supposed to be fearful of the next stage of childhood. Another—telling us how we must have our hands full. But where are the encouraging words for moms?
Where are the people who remind us of the joyful moments in motherhood and being with our young children are some of the best moments of our lives? TikTok user Steph Morrison (@_stephmorrison_) recently posted a viral video of just such an interaction with a stranger. This short exchange left her with encouraging words that we, as moms, all need to hear more often. Her video struck a chord with other parents, too. The video has been viewed almost 800k times and liked by over 130k people. It has over 4k comments. Also, I’m still crying after watching it for the umpteenth time. Warning: You may find yourself watching this video over and over again.
In the viral video, Morrison takes a moment to describe her interaction with a stranger. Wearing her baby in a carrier, sunglasses on, and familiarly patting her baby to sleep, she starts with, “The sweetest thing just happened.”
She then describes how she was finishing up a walk with her kids when an older gentleman stopped to let them pass by. It’s a common occurrence when you have a double-wide stroller. If you know, you know. But the man’s next comment was something that wasn’t common for her. As she continued on her way, he told her, “Wow… You’re going to have a lot of fun.”
“Wow… You’re going to have a lot of fun.”
After Morrison describes this exchange, she then begins to tear up. She follows with, “I don’t know why I’m getting emotional telling you [this].” She says most people tell her, “Oh, you have your hands full.” But hearing, “You’re going to have a lot of fun,” painted a whole new scene for Morrison. She then says she “could see the memories flash through his eyeballs.”
Why do these words of encouragement make parents emotional?
While Morrison stated that she wasn’t sure why she was emotional, I do. Having these words of encouragement come from a person who has lived her experience at some point in his life makes the biggest difference. This is why his words struck an emotional chord.
Even after probably living a whole other life now—possibly an empty nester or maybe a grandparent himself these days—he can still attest that being a parent to young kids was so much fun for him.
I’ll acknowledge that motherhood isn’t the easiest endeavor. While there are times when it’s hard to navigate the toddler meltdowns, it’s the other moments that I cherish and want to remember, too. It’s moments like when my son grabs my face and tells me, “I love you,” out of the blue, or when he tells me he had the best day because we simply played at the park. It’s when my baby smiles and laughs at me for the first time or the moment he gets to take his first steps.
Yes, motherhood is hard, but like @doylandvinegar commented, “Its such a statement to the negativity we get as moms constantly that kindness makes us cry so quickly. Being a mother is beautiful and a gift. And it is also hard.”
More words of encouragement for moms
After Morrison posted her viral video, other moms shared similar encouraging exchanges.
“An older man in the grocery store stopped me when my son was 8 months old and said ‘young enough to still talk to the angels, put in a good word for me!’”—@rachelstelzer2
“My only son is 7months. I can’t have any more kids due to life-threatening complications at birth. The other day a man said to me ‘he gets to have you all to himself, isn’t that so special?’ I cried.”—@happyy_gilmoree
“Had a similar experience. Met an older lady in hobby lobby. She asked to see my son and started crying. She said ‘wow he is beautiful! You’re about to have some of the best times of your life.’” 😭—@taylorduplantis6
“The same thing happened to me today this older woman stopped me and my kids jumping in leaves and she said ‘I used to bring my kids here. you and your babies will have these memories forever’”🥹❤️—@sahmamab
“And old man at the grocery store saw me with my son in the cart and said ‘these are the best years of your life’ 😭 instant tears”—@sarah_m825
“I’m about to have 7 littles under 9 and I get so many rude comments, but an old man on mcds told me ‘thank you for being a mom, you’re doing great’ 🥹 and I bawled.”—@mrebeccam5
“An old man came up to my husband and 1 year old at a restaurant – I thought he was [going to] comment on how loud my son is – he said, ‘I see how you two spoil your son — keep it up! Best time of your life..’”—@lindseyrobicheau
Paying it forward with encouraging words for other moms
“My children are grown and I think this when I see young Mamas all the time. I am going to start saying it.” ❤️—@lindseyrobiceau
“I’m going to start saying things like this. So beautiful.”—@theta200
“I am going to try and say that to new moms because it is so true!! We all know it’s hard raising kids, but it’s fun and funny too.”—@sarahgalloy1
“this is what we all want and deserve to hear 😭 I will be saying this to other mamas from now on 🩵”—@queenkoalette
Final thoughts
I know I’m guilty of digging myself into a hole of negativity at times (and digging myself back out), but Morrison’s video instantly made me reframe my thinking. One TikTok user, @_kren15, commented, “As an overstimulated momma of two, thank you for shifting my perspective. 🥺”
Morrison ended her video by stating those encouraging words are the “type of vibe and energy” she is going to bring to motherhood. I want to do the same. Let’s continue to validate the hardships but also acknowledge the glimmers of motherhood, too. Like Morrison declares, “If you’re a mother out there, I hope you have a lot of fun… Because, why not?”
Patty Schepel, Editorial Intern
As the editorial intern, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. When she’s not working, you can find her spending time with her family, training for half marathons—she ran one 16 weeks pregnant—traveling, cooking, reading a rom-com, and keeping her sourdough starter, Rose, alive.