Remembering the early days of motherhood with twins? A total blur!
I was so excited to finally become a mom. But then—bam—my pregnancy got complicated, the delivery was traumatic, and I left the hospital not just with newborns, but with warnings from my doctor about what my body had just endured. I swear, “exhausted moms” is an understatement!
I didn’t just come home tired, I came home believing I had to be perfect.
Breastfeed (exclusively, of course). Sleep train. Buy everything organic. (Read more about my journey as a new mom HERE.)
Whew. Just remembering those expectations makes me want to curl up and nap.
Let me save you some of the stress. These were the biggest lies I believed and what I wish someone had told me sooner.
Lie #1: Your children deserve a perfect mom.
Nope. They deserve you. A real, loving, imperfect, fully-human you.
They don’t need picture-perfect routines or spotless houses. They need someone who will laugh with them, hug them tight, and show up with love even when you’re running on fumes and dry shampoo. That’s the kind of home they’ll remember.
Lie #2: Everything falls on you.
I used to believe I had to do it all! Cook the organic meals, pump, soothe, survive. And for what? So my breast milk would somehow be “better”?
I was literally cooking while nursing, don’t ask how; and spiraling with anxiety.
What I really needed? A break. Help. Permission to stop pretending I was fine.
If you’re partnered, ask for support. If you’re solo parenting, lean on a friend, a neighbor, your community.
Start a meal train. Ask for gift cards. Use that Amazon registry like your life depends on it (because maybe it does).
Lie #3: “They” are managing perfectly.
Who are they, anyway? For me, it was ALL the moms.
The trendy mom with the stylish baby. The crunchy mom with homemade everything.
The career mom. The craft queen. The mom at the gym.
I tried to measure up to every version of mom I saw, and of course, I always came up short.
But that version of motherhood is a myth. Nobody’s doing it all. Nobody’s doing it “perfectly.” And trying to will leave you exhausted, overwhelmed, and disconnected from your real magic.
Here’s what I know now:
There’s no one “right” way to mother.
What works for me might not work for you, and that’s okay.
But you? You matter. Your mental health matters.
And the very best thing you can do for your children is to take gentle, honest care of yourself.
💛 Want a little more support?
Grab my free “Mom Balance Starter Kit” – a printable set of simple tools to help you prioritize your mental health, feel more grounded, and make space for you again.
Click HERE to access my Free Printables Library, you will find this Mom Balance Starter Kit and other freebies that i hope you enjoy. You deserve it. No guilt, no pressure, just small steps toward balance.
