I didn’t change overnight when I became a mother.

The change came quietly. In moments I wasn’t prepared for.

One of those moments happened on my daughter Azleen’s 6-month birthday.

The celebration was simple. Balloons. Decorations. A few things meant for one day. After it was over, I started throwing everything away without thinking. The boxes. The décor. The things that had already served their purpose.

That’s when my sister looked at me and said,

“What are you teaching Azleen? You’re teaching her wastage.”

It stopped me.

Not because she was wrong.

But because she was right.

That Comment Stayed With Me

I didn’t argue. I didn’t defend myself. I just stood there holding a bag of decorations I was about to throw away and felt uncomfortable in a way I hadn’t before.

I realized that children learn long before they understand words. They learn from what we do without thinking.

That moment changed how I see small actions.

I Became More Mindful, Not Perfect

Before motherhood, I threw things away easily. Boxes. Party supplies. One-time decorations. Convenience always won.

Now I pause.

Boxes become storage. Decorations get reused. Party supplies get saved instead of tossed. I’ve become more DIY than ever, not because I’m trying to be creative, but because throwing things away feels like I’m teaching something I don’t want her to learn.

Sustainability didn’t come to me through articles or advice.

It came through motherhood. Through accountability.

Why Sustainability Feels Personal Now

Being a mother made me realize that sustainability isn’t about being eco-perfect. It’s about the values we model when no one is watching.

Azleen won’t remember that party.

But she will grow up watching how I treat things, people, and the world around us.

That responsibility sits differently now.

Still Learning

I still choose convenience sometimes. I still get tired. I still don’t always get it right.

Motherhood didn’t make me perfect. It made me pause.

I don’t want to raise my daughter thinking waste is normal.

If Azleen grows up seeing me choose care over convenience, even in small moments, then that feels like the right direction.

That’s enough for me, for now.