Jeannie Mai Jenkinsis loving being a mom!

“It is hard work, but I love every part of it,” said the star, who shares Monaco with her husbandJeezy. “And it doesn’t feel like work. I gotta be honest with you. Having Monaco made me feel like I’ve been born again. It sounds so overly spiritual and almost religious. But no, I just mean that, like, I see through different eyes.”

She continued, “My ears hear different sounds. My heart beats to a different melody. I’m just so amazed at how a little person could make you feel so good about yourself and so hopeful about life. You think that after, you know, after living 40 years, I’m like, I got this down. I’m in the bag. I understand what this world is like.”

SinceMonaco’s arrival in January, Jenkins has also been outspoken about the challenges that come along with being a first-time mom.

From dealing with the dreaded “fourth trimester” to adisappointing experience with breastfeedingand a scarybout with postpartum anxiety,The Realalum has shared a no-filter glimpse of her life-altering year — all of which she said has been an eye-opening journey.

“That little person has completely awakened me to seeing the world a whole different way,” she said. “And the crazy thing is, my daughter gives me so much confidence. I like myself more as a mom. I like myself more getting up and taking care of somebody else and tending to her and watching her actually register things that we’ve worked so hard to teach her. I can’t believe, like, that’s such an accomplishment. I didn’t realize that.”

And, along with her rapper husband, 45, whom she calls “the Captain of Chill,” the new host ofAmerica’s Test Kitchen: The Next Generationhas realized that parenthood is a full-circle experience.

Jeannie Mai Jenkins/Instagram

Jeannie Mai Shares Adorable Video of Jezzy with Baby Monaco

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She concluded, “Like, I can’t believe I didn’t have the best childhood. And I definitely have trust issues and things that I’m dealing with today because of that. And I love my parents and I love my family. They did the best with what they know, but now I know more. I actually have more tools to equip this little girl to be the healthiest and the most peaceful minded she can be because of what I’ve learned that allows me to live my childhood again. And that is life-saving.”

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source: people.com