The Unexpected Job I Never Knew I Signed Up For As A Mom

When I was preparing for baby #1, I did all the things. I took classes, read the books, made notes from podcasts—anything I could do to feel ready for this new role of “mom.” I wanted to be as prepared as possible, armed with knowledge and checklists, convinced that if I just studied hard enough, I could ace motherhood. I wanted a straight A!

Newsflash: nothing prepares you for parenthood like actually doing it.

Two babies later, I’ve realized that while I did learn a lot from those resources, the real education started the day my first child was born. And what no one ever really talks about—but has become so clear over the past four years—is this: as a parent, you are always teaching.

It starts with the tiniest things. Teaching your baby how to grasp a spoon. How to drink from a cup. How to climb the stairs without tumbling back down. These are the daily, often repetitive (and sometimes mundane), moments that fill our days—and we don’t even realize we’re “teaching.” But we are. Every look, every word, every gentle redirection is part of a lifelong lesson.

Then come the bigger things. Teaching your child how to zip up their jacket. How to write their name. How to handle disappointment. How to say “I’m sorry.” These moments often require more patience, more modeling, and more emotional effort. But they’re just as constant.

I used to think teaching would happen in set moments—like when we sat down to do ABC flashcards or practice letters. But teaching as a mother doesn’t clock in and out. It happens when your child watches how you handle stress. It happens when they see how you speak to strangers. It happens in how you celebrate their wins and how you respond to their big feelings.

Parenthood, it turns out, is one of the most immersive teaching roles you’ll ever take on. There are no days off, and your students are always watching—even when you think they’re not.

And while that might sound like a lot of pressure, it’s also incredibly beautiful. Because in all this teaching, we’re growing too. We’re learning how to be more present, more patient, more intentional. We’re learning how to lead with love. And honestly, that might be the greatest lesson of all.