Hayley Erbert Embraces Motherhood's Complex Contradictions After Health Battle
Professional dancer Hayley Erbert has candidly shared her profound and multifaceted experience of motherhood, describing it as more complex and contradictory than she ever imagined. The former Dancing with the Stars pro, who welcomed her first child with husband Derek Hough in December, posted three heartwarming photos on Instagram showing herself and daughter Everley lying on a blanket outdoors.
A Mother's Emotional Dichotomy
In her heartfelt caption, Erbert expressed the simultaneous joy and heartache that defines her parenting journey. "Motherhood is even more complex and contradicting than I could have ever imagined," she wrote. "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 elaborated on this emotional dichotomy, noting how her heart constantly experiences both overwhelming love and profound vulnerability. "My heart is constantly bursting open, while also breaking into a million pieces," she revealed, capturing the intense duality of maternal emotions.
Celebrating Growth While Grieving Moments
Erbert described the bittersweet nature of watching her daughter develop, celebrating each milestone while mourning the passing of previous stages. "I find myself celebrating every little bit of your growth, while quietly grieving the version of you that existed just moments before," she confessed.
This tension between embracing the future and clinging to the present forms what Erbert calls "the most beautiful contradiction" of motherhood. "This pull between holding on and letting go, between wanting time to slow down and knowing it never will," she explained, articulating the universal struggle of parents watching their children grow.
Welcoming Motherhood with Open Arms
Despite these complex emotions, Erbert emphasized that she's welcoming the "dichotomy of motherhood" with "open arms." She concluded her emotional post by declaring, "I love being your mom. I love you beyond, Everley. I have truly never felt a love like this."
Hough responded to his wife's vulnerable post with a simple yet powerful comment: "My girls," accompanied by heart and crying emojis, showing his support for Erbert's honest reflection on their parenting journey.
A Remarkable Recovery Journey
Everley's arrival represents a particularly meaningful milestone for the couple, coming just two years after Erbert underwent emergency brain surgery in December 2023. The life-saving procedure was necessary after a burst blood vessel during the DWTS tour, occurring just four months after their wedding.
Following a craniectomy and skull implant, Erbert made a remarkable recovery, returning to the stage within four months. Hough previously praised his wife's strength during this challenging period, calling her recovery "nothing short of a miracle" after what he described as "a nightmare in an instant" following their dream life onstage.
Reflecting on a Second Chance at Life
In December, Erbert reflected on the two-year anniversary of her surgery, writing about the emotional journey that followed. "Two years ago today, I was given a second chance at life through life-saving brain surgery," she shared. "In these two years, I've gone through every human emotion imaginable."
She described reclaiming parts of herself she thought were lost forever and moving through seasons of "loss, triumph, joy, endless fear, grief, healing, and quiet hope." Despite the challenges, Erbert expressed gratitude for the entire experience and pride in her body's resilience.
A Long-Awaited Arrival
The couple announced their pregnancy in July 2025 with a social media post featuring their sonogram. They captured the wonder of impending parenthood with the words, "We can't believe the biggest thing to happen to us could be so small," expressing their amazement at the life-changing news.
Now, several months into motherhood, Erbert continues to navigate the beautiful contradictions of parenting while appreciating every moment with her daughter. Her honest reflection offers a window into the complex emotional landscape that many new parents experience but rarely articulate with such poetic clarity.
