A great-grandmother has turned to social media to share heartfelt wisdom with young mothers, urging them to cherish even the most ordinary moments of raising children.
Motherhood is no easy journey, especially for those caring for young kids. With no breaks or retirement, moms are always on duty. This can be especially overwhelming for new mothers, who often set aside their own needs to focus entirely on their little ones. However, Torchy Swinson—a grandmother of five and great-grandmother of six—is using her TikTok platform (@torchyswinson2) to offer a gentle reminder: embrace every stage of motherhood.
In one of her videos, Swinson paints a vivid scene: “It’s 6:00. You’re in the kitchen making Hamburger Helper. Your husband just got home, and you hear him laughing with the kids in the living room. It warms your heart. You don’t realize it yet, but this could be one of the best days of your life.” Her words, drawn from personal experience, resonate deeply with many. She follows this with another powerful message for young mothers.
“I’ve come to understand that I’m in the final years of my life,” Swinson shares in a second video. Looking back, she recalls how she, like so many others, believed she would find more happiness when certain stages of motherhood were behind her—whether it was when her children were out of diapers, in school, or grown. “I wasted so much time thinking that way,” she confesses, even admitting that she once longed for retirement.
Her advice is simple yet profound: “Don’t wait for happiness. Find joy in what’s happening now, because that’s where it truly exists.” Her message struck a chord with her TikTok audience, inspiring many to share their own reflections in the comments.
One user, @megsvande17, fondly recalled eating Hamburger Helper as a child while listening to her parents talk about their day. Another, @relleybee_xo, opened up about the hardships of being a single mother after her husband was incarcerated. @jacidiane expressed how Swinson’s words encouraged her to be more present with her family, while @coreysmom4ever32 shared her deep regret over not appreciating life’s small moments before losing a child.
Through her thoughtful perspective, Swinson reminds mothers to slow down, be present, and find joy in the everyday moments that make up a lifetime.
@torchyswinson2 #youngmothers ♬ original sound – Torchy Swinson