A Coffee Date with My Younger Self: Encouragement for Young Moms

If I could sit down for coffee with my younger self, I know exactly what I would say. I’d find her in the midst of learning how to be a mom at just 19 years old, overwhelmed with love for her baby but also wrestling with fear, doubt, and the weight of others’ opinions.

I would reach across the table, take her hand, and tell her these four things—truths I wish she had known sooner, but ones that I hope will reach another young mom today.

1. You’re Not Damaged Goods

Just because you “did something outside of the norm” doesn’t mean you are any less worthy of love, respect, or a beautiful future. Becoming a mom young doesn’t define your value—it simply becomes part of your story. And your story is still unfolding.

For so long, I carried the weight of feeling like I had to prove I was still “good enough” despite not following the timeline that others deemed ideal. But life isn’t about following a script—it’s about walking the path that’s in front of you with grace and courage. And you, young mama, are doing just that.

2. Trust Your Instincts

There will be times when you doubt yourself, when the opinions of others drown out your own voice. But if you lean in and truly listen to yourself, you will almost always know what to do.

You have been given an intuition that is powerful—don’t ignore it. You know your baby better than anyone else. You don’t need the approval of everyone around you; you just need to trust that still, small voice inside that says, You’ve got this.

3. You Don’t Have to Prove Yourself to Anyone

For years, I felt like I had to prove that I could do this—that I was just as good of a mom as someone who had waited until the “right time.” But the truth is, motherhood isn’t a competition, and it doesn’t come with a ranking system based on when you started.

You are not less of a mother because you started young. You don’t have to earn your place at the table. You belong here, and you don’t have to spend your life trying to convince anyone of that. Simply love your child, do your best, and let that be enough.

4. It’s Okay to Take Care of Yourself

Somewhere along the way, I believed that taking care of myself meant I was taking something away from my child. I felt like every moment of rest, every decision to do something for myself, was selfish. But I was wrong.

When you care for yourself, you are not taking away—you are giving back. You are giving your child a happier, healthier, more present mother. You are showing her what it looks like to set boundaries, to rest, and to love yourself well. And that is a gift.

Bonus: You Won’t Regret a Single Minute of This

The learning, the hard nights, the self-doubt, the moments of absolute joy—none of it will be wasted. One day, you will look back and realize that this journey shaped you into the woman you were always meant to be.

You will never regret loving that baby with everything you have. You will never regret the nights spent rocking her back to sleep, the way you poured yourself into raising her, or the lessons you learned along the way. Every moment matters, and it is all part of a beautiful, unfolding story.

To the Young Mom Reading This…

If you are a young mom walking this road, I want you to hear this: You are doing a good job. You are not behind, you are not less-than, and you do not have to prove your worth to anyone. Keep going, keep trusting yourself, and keep loving that little one with all your heart. ❤️