Songs That Will Make Your Mom Cry

All my life I've been grasping at the next milestone. I can't wait to be in high school. I'm so ready to be done with this place and off to college. We've been dating for so long... I'm ready to just get married already! It'll be great when we have our own place one day. I know we haven't been married long, but I just can't wait to have kids......  If I'm not moving forward, I'm moving back. That's how I've always felt about my life. I can't remember a day that I didn't dream of being married and being a mom. And now that I'm here, I want to stay here forever. Motherhood has a way of making you wish you lived in Neverland... where kids never grow up. Side note: Don't get me wrong. I have plenty of days where I just wish they could do their own dishes, or buckle and unbuckle themselves, or wipe their own bottoms so I don't have to find poop streaks in every pair of underwear. But in the end, I want to hug and squeeze them forever. My kids are little... Not even in kindergarten kind of little... so I have a ways until they're off into the world on their own, but that doesn't keep me from getting emotional now, anticipating those days. I put away a number of baby toys today that our fourth outgrew, and that may or may not be adding to the emotions. Maybe it's because I've always been one for looking ahead, or maybe it's because I'm that grown child now to my parents. Either way. So how do I know these songs will make your mom cry? They make me cry. I hope you find some gems that you didn't know of before.

Slow Down by Nichole Nordeman

Not only are the lyrics of this song heart-piercingly relevant, but the delicate flow of the music also wisps you away into your feelings. "Before I knew it, you were trying to free your fingers from my hand, 'cause you could do it on your own now, somehow."  

Paving the Runway by JJ Heller

This song came out right about the time we adopted our kids last year, which also happened to be when my oldest started Pre-K 3. She's my miss independent, and this song feels perfect for the years I know are ahead for us. "Go after your dreams. As crazy as they may seem. Go chase all the stars in the sky. Baby I'll be paving the runway, 'cause I know that one day you're gonna fly." Here's to you, my strong girl. 

You're the Best Song by Bethany Dillon

I discovered this song in the midst of my most difficult months with our fourth child. She is darling, don't get me wrong. But she was a very, very challenging newborn. It was so hard to grasp that life would ever be better again, because it was so hard and so tiring. I discovered the song, and it shattered me into a million pieces... "And though I'm tired now, you're worth every sleepless night. You're worth it all, 'cause I know... You're the best song I'll ever write." Despite my inadequacy, despite some of the hardest days of this motherhood journey thus far, loving you is the best thing I'll ever do. 

Signal by Sara Groves

I know, I know. I'm throwing it back with some Sara Groves, but I just had to share this one. The beginning of the song hooked my mama heart. "All the cliches of how fast kids grow are true. I woke up this morning eye to eye with you." Why does this song make my eyes leaky? Because I can't even imagine my babies being at my eye level, and yet it will be here in the before I know it. 

Boy by Lee Brice

Let's switch it up with a country song. I hope I haven't lost you if you're not a country fan. I love my girls, but there is something uniquely special about my relationship with my son. This song is written by a dad, to his son, so I'm not going to pretend like it's the same, but oh does it make my heart ache in the strangest of ways. "It's 3 AM, and I'd do anything to get you back to sleep, and that face will be the same one in the rear view, the day I watch you leave." 

You're Gonna Miss This by Trace Adkins

Listen, this is another country song, so if you can't deal with it, keep scrolling to the last two songs. The lyrics are fantastic, and the song makes me be grateful for all of the days I have with my little munchkins. The terrible threes have been challenging, and I'm often left wondering what happened to the child I saw only yesterday. Where did they go? But you know what, when I look back one day, I probably won't remember the challenges the way they feel now. "You're gonna miss this. You're gonna want this back. You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast. These are some good times, so take a good look around. You may not know it now, but you're gonna miss this."

It Won't Be Like This for Long by Darius Rucker

"It won't be like this for long. One day soon that little girl is gonna be all grown up and gone. This phase is gonna fly by. He's trying to hold on. It won't be like this for long." I honestly don't know what to say about this one. Just learning to be thankful for the here and now. 

I Get to Be the One by JJ Heller

Another JJ Heller song? Why, yes. This one had me in tears at the very beginning of our parenthood journey. "You should know, little baby, that I am the lucky one. I get to be the one to hold your hand. I get to be the one. Through birthdays and broken bones, I'll be there to watch you grow. I get to be the one." Do you feel the honor in that? I didn't birth this little baby. And yet, I get to be the one. I am completely honored to be the mommy of our kids. They are our world. 

Hand to Hold by JJ Heller

This is actually one of JJ Heller's newest songs. She releases one song a month, which I totally love. If you weren't already familiar with JJ Heller, I beg you to dive deeper into her music. She has so many beautiful songs written from the perspective of a mother. In fact, my oldest girls listened to her I Dream of You album every night when falling asleep. 

There you have it folks. A few of the songs that make me cry on those extra challenging or even especially wonderful days. Pass them on to your mom, and to your other mama friends. Do you have any other mom songs you love?