Lately, I’ve heard from women who are worried about losing themselves in motherhood. I can relate. When we first talked about welcoming children into our family, it felt overwhelming! Caring for a little human, self-sacrifice, lifestyle changes. It all can feel scary. Match that with society’s focus on sleepless nights, allll the different parenting styles (and why each one is the BEST), the cost of caring for children and the lack of maternal support — it’s no wander women in my generation are hesitant to grow their families and delay doing so. Or, when they do, they feel an intense sense of anxiety about what is to come.
I’m here to offer a different perspective. One of the magic of motherhood. The beauty that comes along with adding little humans to the activities you already love.
Children don’t take away from our lives. They enhance it in the most valuable of ways.
This is for you if…
- You’re worried you’ll no longer be “You”
- You’re overwhelmed with having to support a baby
- You’re unsure if you can still enjoy the activities you frequented pre-kiddos
- You’re anxious about change
- You’re fearful of losing yourself
- You still want to travel
- You still want to exercise
- You still want to eat at your favorite restaurants
… the list goes on.
When a baby is born, so is a mother.
While it’s true that much changes when kiddos come into your life, you are still you. Just different!
A beautiful shift happens when we give birth. When a baby is born, so is a mother. A new mother, one who is perfectly designed to care for her little human. To nurture. Provide. Connect. Protect.
And with this birth comes a new version of yourself who is primed to grow into motherhood. There are growing pains, yes. Firsts that feel challenging, absolutely. Yet you were innately created for this. As we are born new as mothers, something in us shifts to lean into this new season of life.
Suddenly the simple things bring such enjoyment. The everyday, mundane suddenly becomes beautiful.
Honoring what brings *you* joy
Yet how can continue to breathe life into those prior aspects of your life that always brought you joy? To not let fully go of the little joys that make you, you?
Your favorite Coffee shops. Metro parks. Walking trails. Running paths. Breweries. Vacations.
You bring your sweet new baby with you! Begin to explore the world together through a new lens, together. One that requires you to slow down and savor each experience more, because yes, these experiences are different with kiddo(s) in tow.
It can feel scary the first time you load up your baby to go to your favorite coffee shop while on maternity leave together. Or to go on a mini-adventure, packing baby and all the supplies needed for an hour outside of your home. Little by little, you check off these “firsts”. Firsts with new baby, but things that you yourself have done hundreds of times before.
As with anything we repeat, doing new things gets easier with repetition. And as we flex this new muscle that is motherhood, we start to get more confident in showing up as ourself — doing the activities we enjoyed pre-kiddos — now with our kiddos along for the journey.
These places all have new meaning now that I have brought my littlest loves along with me. The experience is different, yes. Slower, perhaps. Messier, absolutely. But more meaningful? You bet!
Here’s your *gentle* reminder that you can still go to places that bring you joy. You can still do activities that give you a breath of fresh air. That bring you happiness. That make you feel full. It may look and feel different, but you will still be you. Just with some sweet tag-alongs.
Shifting societal perspectives
- “it’s so hard!”
- “you’ll never be able to sleep through the night again!”
- “say goodbye to sleeping in!”
- “you’ll never have any time for yourself!”
- “your body will never be the same.”
- “are you sure you want kids?”
- “get ready to pee your pants when you sneeze!”
- “working out is so much harder”
- “is your career where you want it before kids?”
Do any of these sound familiar? UGH.
What if, instead of focusing on the *difficulties* that *may* occur when welcoming a new child into the world, we shifted the perspective. We focus on the beauty that is a new child. We switch the conversation. We embrace motherhood with open, supportive arms. And let all women considering a new addition to their family to feel uplifted and supported.
We recommend resources, instead of igniting fear.
Embracing *positive* change
- Your life will be changed for the better
- You’ll feel a new kind of love like nothing you’ve ever experienced
- You’ll find strength in yourself you never knew existed
- You are your child’s whole world
- You’ll be unconditionally loved
- You’ll create an incredible impact
- You’ll experience the miracle that is new life
- You’ll have the coziest snuggles
- Your relationship with your spouse will deepen
Woah. Talk about a perspective shift.
So, let’s shift the perspective. While still recognizing there are hard, messy times. Not everything will be rainbows and butterflies. And if you are in a tough place, please know there is help. This post is not meant to gloss over the fact that there will be challenges, but rather to shift our focus to uplifting mothers and not harping on *negatives*. Rather, to embrace the *positive* change that comes alongside birthing new life. I’ve been grateful to experience the beautiful blessing that is motherhood, and am passionate about sharing this side of mothering with those considering growing their family.
Supporting you in motherhood: preconception & beyond
If you are considering pregnancy and feeling overwhelmed, please know there is support here for you. I offer Holistic Health Coaching for Preconception Planning. We take a whole-body approach to preparing your body for conception. I would love to support you in this season.
Questions? You can book a Free First Consult where we will chat about my offerings and answer any questions you have to ensure this is the best fit for you, or to point you towards resources that will best support your needs at this time.
