There was a time I wasn’t sure this day would ever come.
A season of waiting, hoping, praying, and trying to trust that life would unfold the way it was meant to. Motherhood was something I dreamed about for years, but the journey to getting here wasn’t simple. It stretched me emotionally, changed me deeply, and gave me a new appreciation for the quiet strength that can exist inside hope.
And now here I am — celebrating my very first Mother’s Day with my baby in my arms, in a place that has become home in every sense of the word: Newport, Rhode Island.
Living in coastal Rhode Island has always felt special to me, but motherhood has made me experience it through an entirely different lens. The slow mornings by the water. Walks with the stroller through downtown Newport. Golden evenings on Ocean Drive. Coffee dates turned into baby walks along the harbor. The simple moments somehow feel bigger now.
As a real estate agent, I often talk about “lifestyle” when helping buyers find a home in Newport County. But becoming a mother has reminded me that home is so much more than square footage or design details. It’s the feeling attached to everyday life. It’s where memories are created. It’s where babies come home for the first time. Where holidays become traditions. Where chaos and comfort somehow coexist together.
I think that’s part of why I love real estate so much.
Because behind every home is a story.
Some are beginning new chapters. Some are growing families. Some are downsizing after raising children. Some are relocating to Newport searching for a slower, more intentional coastal lifestyle. And some are simply looking for a place that finally feels like theirs.
This season of life has made me appreciate Newport in a completely new way. What once felt like a beautiful coastal town now feels like the backdrop to the life I always hoped for. The farmers markets, beach days, harbor sunsets, neighborhood walks, local coffee shops, and sense of community all feel more meaningful now that I get to experience them as a mom.
And while this post is deeply personal, I know I’m not alone in understanding how emotional the idea of “home” can really be.
To the women still waiting for this chapter, I see you.
To the moms navigating exhaustion and gratitude simultaneously, I see you too.
And to the families creating lives they love here in Newport and coastal Rhode Island — thank you for allowing me to be part of those stories every day through real estate.
This first Mother’s Day will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Not because everything is perfect, but because after all the waiting, I finally get to hold the life I once only dreamed about — right here in the place I’m lucky enough to call home.
Happy Mother’s Day 🤍
Nicole Parente | SERHANT.
Unlocking homes. Unlocking lifestyle. Unlocking with Nicole
