Hayley Erbert, the wife of Dancing With the Stars judge Derek Hough, is opening up about the profound and conflicting emotions she's experiencing as a new mother. Three months after welcoming their first child, daughter Everley, in December, Erbert shared an intimate reflection on the complexities of parenthood.
"Motherhood is even more complex and contradicting than I could have ever imagined," Erbert wrote in an Instagram post on April 10. "It feels like living in two places at once. Where joy and heartache can both be true, all of the time."
The 31-year-old dancer described a powerful emotional dichotomy, stating, "My heart is constantly bursting open, while also breaking into a million pieces." She directly addressed her infant daughter, expressing both excitement for her future and a longing to preserve the present moment.
"So excited for all the 'firsts' and the life ahead of you/us, yet wishing I could freeze time and never have any 'lasts,'" Erbert continued. "It's the most beautiful contradiction. This pull between holding on and letting go, between wanting time to slow down and knowing it never will."
Erbert, who married Hough in 2023, emphasized her commitment to embracing this emotional journey. "If this is the dichotomy of motherhood, then I'll try my best to meet it with open arms," she promised. "Soaking in every little detail, every version of you, every fleeting moment we have together."
Hough has been vocal in his support for his wife, both publicly and privately. He commented on her post with heart and crying emojis, simply writing, "My girls." In a previous interview, the 40-year-old first-time father praised Erbert's maternal instincts, telling E! News, "I tell her every day, 'You're amazing. You were meant for this. You're such a great mom.' I'm even more in love with her. I'm just so in awe of her. It's amazing."
Erbert concluded her heartfelt message with a declaration of unconditional love: "I love being your mom. I love you beyond, Everley. I have truly never felt a love like this."