How have I been a mother for five years already? Time, seriously, slow down! It seems like Alexis grows in some way every single day, and I'm even more aware of it right now because of all the extra time we're spending together during the coronavirus pandemic. I'd like to think I've learned a lot in the past five years of parenting, not just about motherhood in general but also about myself. In honor of what will technically be my sixth Mother's Day (Alexis was only one month old on my first), I wanted to share five lessons that have stuck with me.

1. There will be good days and bad days and lots of days that fall somewhere in between. Hold tight to the memories of those good days; on the bad days hold tight to each other; and on the in between days, focus on the good parts.

2. Parenting is a deeply personal journey, and there's no one-size-fits all approach. What works for you won't necessarily work for your friends and family. The same holds true of your own parents' methods when you were growing up. So find what works for you.

3. I am more than a mother. Sure, it's a very big and important part of my identity, but it's not all that I am. Over the last couple of years, I've re-embraced a lot of things I had pushed aside and reclaimed the other parts of me I've neglected, and it's done wonders.

4. Life is messy. I mean that literally and figuratively. It will never be perfect, but there will be perfect moments, and at the end of the day, your kid(s) won't remember if the kitchen was spotless or you were caught up on the laundry. So don't feel guilty about putting off chores, again, to watch a movie or play a game.

5. Sleep when the baby/toddler/preschooler/kid sleeps. Basically, until they become self-sufficient, if you need rest, do it when they're resting because as long as they're awake, it won't happen.