Because May is Mental Health Awareness Month as well as the month we celebrate Mother’s Day, I decided to write about how all us mothers need to let it go!

It is becoming increasingly important for moms to take care of themselves and protect their mental health. Juggling the demands of motherhood and employment not only have a mental, but also an emotional impact on our mental health. One that we do not like to talk about, and normally ignore as we keep glorifying the “motherly sacrifice” expectation that is built into our society.

We are faced with increasing demands on our time, energy, and sanity, it has become harder and harder as a mother not to fall victim to the temptation of constantly pushing ourselves to keep up the appearance that we have it all together.  We drive the kids to soccer practice, to dance class, and attend PTA meetings, all while maintaining the household and for many, also working a full-time job. As a mother we feel we must appear to be unstoppable and able to handle any task thrown at us because that is the expectation.

But who gets to set these expectations? Why do we feel that we must keep our homes, our families and ourselves looking a certain way, at the expense of our own sanity? Why do we feel the need to prove that we are a “perfect” mother?

 The truth is there is no such thing a perfect mother….. AND we do not have to keep it all together.

We do not even have to keep any of it together. What we must keep together is our mental health.

We need to take the time to check in with ourselves and take a minute to breathe and reset. As mothers we are so busy checking in with everyone else around us and making sure others needs are met, we forget to hit pause and take time for just us.  Letting go of the need to keep it together is hard. It’s going against all the messages we’ve been indoctrinated with at a very early age. It’s going against the very voices of our mothers, sisters, and friends. I am guilty of thinking that if I missed a PTA meeting or choir concert, I would be judged and considered a “bad mom”.

But self care is not selfish and at the end of the day this is what will allow us to be less stressed and more present with our families. When we let go of society’s/other’s expectations of us, we are able to create the version of motherhood that works best for each of us and will provide years of amazing memories for our children.

I have added some of my favorite quotes about motherhood, I hope they make you smile and I hope all of the mothers out there have a Happy Mother’s Day!

“Patience: What you have when there are too many witnesses.” @rebel circus

 “My kid is turning out to be exactly like me. Well played, Karma. Well. played.” -House Wife Plus

“Sure, sometimes I question my parenting. But to be honest, sometimes, I question my child’s childing.” -Just Surviving Motherhood

 “Listen, maybe 17 pairs of black leggings do spark joy, Marie Kondo. You don’t know me.” -Just Surviving Motherhood