Hayley Erbert shares raw take on motherhood months after welcoming daughter

Hayley Erbert has shared an emotional glimpse into her journey as a new mother, describing the experience as both deeply joyful and heartbreakingly bittersweet.

The 31-year-old professional dancer, who welcomed her first child with husband Derek Hough in December 2025, opened up about the realities of motherhood in a candid Instagram post three months after giving birth to their daughter, Everley Capri.

“Motherhood is even more complex and contradicting than I could have ever imagined,” Erbert wrote, alongside photos of herself with her baby. “It feels like living in two places at once. Where joy and heartache can both be true, all of the time.”

Reflecting on the emotional depth of the experience, she added, “My heart is constantly bursting open, while also breaking into a million pieces.”

Erbert described the tension between celebrating her daughter’s growth and mourning fleeting moments as they pass.

“I find myself celebrating every little bit of your growth, while quietly grieving the version of you that existed just moments before,” she wrote, calling motherhood “the most beautiful contradiction.”

The dancer also expressed a desire to hold onto each stage of her daughter’s life, even as she looks forward to future milestones.

“This pull between holding on and letting go, between wanting time to slow down and knowing it never will,” she said.

Derek Hough, 40, responded to the heartfelt post in the comments, writing, “My girls,” alongside emotional emojis.

The couple, who married in 2023, announced they were expecting their first child in July 2025 and later confirmed Everley’s arrival on December 29.

Prior to becoming a mother, Erbert had also reflected on her personal journey, including undergoing life-saving brain surgery two years earlier, which she described as giving her a “second chance at life.”

She has since called her transition into motherhood a “miracle,” marking a profound new chapter following her recovery.

Erbert concluded her post by expressing unconditional love for her daughter, writing, “I love being your mom. I have truly never felt a love like this.”