Becoming a parent changes everything — and no one quite prepares you for the flood of feelings that comes with it. Before There Was You is a short, honest motherhood poem that sums up that huge shift better than most, and it’s one we keep coming back to.
We first came across this poem, written by The Pinterested Parent, and it stuck with us for days afterwards. It’s simple, it’s honest, and it captures exactly how it feels to go from a life of lie-ins and quiet dinners to a life ruled by tiny hands and even tinier attention spans — whether your baby is a newborn or, like ours, well on the way to being a tween.
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The poem: Before There Was You
Before there was you, I slept until noon
I took naps when I wanted and didn’t watch cartoons.
Before there was you, life was filled with less stress,
There were no toys on the floor and the house was not a mess.
Before there was you, I was wined and I was dined,
I never checked for poop by sniffing a behind.
Why this poem hits home for every parent
It’s easy to get swept up in the chaos of parenting — chocolate fingerprints on the couch, marker on the walls, a mystery smell in the back of the car, and a suspiciously quiet kids’ room that always means trouble.
But those moments pass. And the second a pair of sticky little hands wraps itself around your neck, you forget all about the mess. Maybe not the smell, though. That one lingers.
That’s the beauty of Before There Was You — it doesn’t pretend parenting is easy, and it doesn’t need to. It just tells the truth, gently and with a smile, about everything that changes the moment you become a parent, and everything that makes it worth it.
More motherhood reads you might love
If this poem struck a chord, you’ll probably enjoy these too:
- To My Son I Sometimes Wish — another honest, heartfelt poem for parents.
- Our collection of parenting reflections and family life stories, for whenever you need a reminder that you’re not alone in the chaos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the poem “Before There Was You”?
The poem was originally shared by the blog The Pinterested Parent. We love it so much we wanted to share it with our own readers too, with full credit to the original author.
Is this poem only for new mums?
Not at all. While it’s especially relatable for parents of babies and toddlers, the feelings it captures — before-and-after-kids nostalgia, love, exhaustion and everything in between — resonate with parents at every stage.
Can I share this poem with other parents?
Of course! It’s the kind of poem that’s made for sharing — with a friend who’s just had a baby, a partner, or anyone who needs a smile and a knowing nod today.
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