In February 2015, my husband and I set out on a four-city European adventure while I was five months pregnant with our firstborn - one last party for two before our lives changed forever. It was on the steep streets of Montmartre that I became aware I was already standing at the edge of a new life.
The streets were alive with artists, music, street food, and the steady pull toward Sacré-Cœur. Moving through Montmartre felt like a quiet preview of what was ahead. It was not dramatic or overwhelming. It was simply forward motion, carrying me toward our destination.
At the top looking out from Sacré-Cœur, I felt a mix of gratitude, excitement, and calm. The view was a reward. It made me think about entering motherhood, not as one sudden transformation, but as a gradual crossing into a new chapter. That moment helped me see that life changes often happen quietly, through ordinary moments, until suddenly you look around and realize you are somewhere completely new.
