How Did We Get Here? A Caffeinated Mom’s Reflection on Growing Up While Raising Kids

You ever have one of those moments where you stop mid-folding laundry, look around at the chaos of toys and half-drunk coffee cups, and think… “Wait. How did we get here?”

Like, when did we become the adults? The ones with kids, bills, minivans, and opinions about which brand of paper towels is best? Because honestly, it feels like just yesterday I was walking across that high-school graduation stage, dreaming about what was next, looking forward to adventures, big dreams, a little freedom. And now here I am, arguing with kiddos about why socks are, in fact, necessary.

I blinked… and somehow, I’m a grown woman with four kids. FOUR. How in the world did that happen so fast?

When Did the “Adults” Become Us?

It hits me every now and then — scrolling through Facebook, sipping my coffee that’s been reheated for the third time, and suddenly seeing a post that sends me spiraling down memory lane.

Just the other day, I saw a wedding announcement for this sweet young girl I remember as a baby when I was in high school. And now she’s married?! Excuse me, WHAT? How are people I still picture in pigtails out here saying “I do” and buying starter homes?

Meanwhile, I’m over here Googling “why is my back hurting after sitting too long” and wondering how just sleeping or moving wrong can throw off my rhythm for days OR weeks.

Sometimes it feels like life sneaks up on you in slow motion. You know the one load of laundry, one diaper change, one crazy day at a time. Then you suddenly look up and realize… we’re the grown-ups now. WHAT!?!

The Great Coffee Divide

Maybe that’s why I love coffee so much. It’s my little daily reminder that I’m still me. I'm still that girl, just with more responsibilities, more love, and more caffeine requirements.

Back then, I used to sip frappes with my friends while we dreamed about our futures. Now, I slam a cup of hot coffee at 7 a.m. before the littles wakes up and hope it’s strong enough to get me through homeschooling without losing my mind.

I used to stay up late talking about dreams.
Now I stay up late folding laundry and praying the dryer buzzer doesn't wake up the toddler who fell asleep too early, and will never go back to sleep if he wakes up now.

I used to think “tired” meant staying up too late studying or even playing games with friends.
Now “tired” means being woken up at 3 a.m. because someone’s blanket fell off or they've had a bad dream that will keep them up for hours.

There’s something beautifully chaotic about it, though. This is the stage where we’re simultaneously exhausted, grateful, overwhelmed, and amazed. It’s like coffee itself: warm, messy, comforting, and absolutely necessary.

The Fast-Forward Button Nobody Warned Us About

Nobody tells you when you’re younger just how fast life moves after you have kids. Like, lightning-speed fast. It's absolutely CRAZY!

One day you’re decorating your first little apartment, thinking you’re so independent. The next, you’re helping your own kid hang posters in their room and thinking, “Wait, wasn’t I just doing this?”

I still feel like the same girl I was at eighteen, but with a few wrinkles, what I hope is wisdom, and a mini-van that smells faintly of chicken nuggets and spilled lattes.

Every birthday, every school year, every new “Mom, I can do it myself,” tugs a little at my heart. Because while I’m cheering them on as they grow, part of me is still wondering when exactly it was that I grew up.

Maybe it happened somewhere between the sleepless nights and the first steps. Maybe it was the first time I realized that being the adult doesn’t mean you have it all together. It just means you keep going, keep loving, and keep finding humor in the chaos.

The Facebook Time Machine (a.k.a. The Emotional Rollercoaster)

Oh, and don’t even get me started on Facebook Memories. One minute I’m minding my business, sipping coffee and scrolling, and then — bam! — up pops a memory from eleven years ago when my oldest was still in diapers and my biggest worry was whether they’d nap long enough for me to shower.

Or worse... those teenage photos of me crimped up hair, over-plucked eyebrows, and questionable fashion choices. I cringe, but also… I miss her.

That girl had no idea what was coming — the sleepless nights, the tantrums, the overwhelming love that breaks your heart wide open.

She didn’t know that “busy” back then wasn’t actually busy.
She didn’t know she’d one day laugh about being late to everything, hiding snacks from her kids, and calling coffee her love language.

But she was doing her best. And is doing her best now.

We’re Still That Girl — Just with More Coffee and Experience

Sometimes, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror — hair in a messy bun, toddler hanging off my leg, coffee in hand...and I still see that teenage girl inside.

She’s still there. She’s just grown into a woman who loves deeper, feels stronger, and runs on caffeine and chaos instead of teenage dreams and adrenaline.

We might not stay up all night talking with friends anymore (because let’s be honest, we’d rather sleep), but that same spark... that sense of wonder, that hope, that humor... is still alive in us.

We’re still figuring it out, one cup at a time.

The Bittersweet Beauty of Growing Up While Raising Little Ones

Sometimes, being a mom feels like living two lives at once: one where you’re still trying to figure yourself out, and another where you’re responsible for tiny humans who think you already have.

It’s wild, isn’t it? Watching them grow while realizing you’re still growing too... just in different ways.

They learn to walk, and we learn patience.
They learn to talk, and we learn to listen.
They learn independence, and we learn to let go... just a little.

And through it all, we keep changing. We keep learning that growing up doesn’t end when you hit 18 or when you become a mom. It’s a lifelong process. And that’s okay.

Anyone Else Feel Like This?

Sometimes I just want to ask — anyone else out there feeling this weird mix of nostalgia and disbelief? Like, when did we start talking about mortgage rates instead of movie nights? When did girls we used to babysit start getting married?

It’s comforting to know we’re not alone in it. We’re all just trying to make sense of time flying by — holding onto memories while trying to be present in the now.

We’re juggling responsibilities, emotions, and caffeine intake, all while wondering if our younger selves would even recognize us. (She’d probably be shocked at how much laundry we do.)

If You’re Reading This… You’re Doing Amazing

So, here’s a reminder from one caffeinated mom to another: You’re doing amazing.

Even if you’re tired.
Even if you feel like life is moving too fast.
Even if you’re standing in the kitchen wondering when you became the one responsible for other people’s snacks and well-being.

Take a deep breath. Sip your coffee. Smile at how far you’ve come.

Because this season — messy, exhausting, beautiful — is exactly where we’re meant to be. And even if we can’t quite figure out how we got here, maybe that’s the magic of it.

We grew up. We’re still growing.
And maybe — just maybe — we’re doing it right.

Final Thoughts

Life moves fast. One minute you’re a kid dreaming about adulthood, and the next, you’re living it...coffee in hand, kids at your feet, heart full to the brim.

And while it might feel surreal sometimes, there’s something deeply beautiful about looking around and realizing… this is it.

This is what we hoped for.
This is what we’ve built.
This is how we got here.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need another cup of coffee, I've got dishes to wash and laundry to do. Ohh...and I should probably get some breakfast since it's almost lunch time.

Motherhood, am I right?