Over the past few years I've noticed that people are starting to normalize things that once used to have stigmas surrounding them — whether they're sharing mental health awareness, body positivity, or even talking about their experiences in order to further the Me Too movement.
It's so great that we can talk now about these issues openly and further educate ourselves, but its also been strange to see the amount of shaming that comes along with speaking our truths.
One group in particular that I constantly see being shamed is moms
Motherhood is overwhelming and we work 24/7, both physically and mentally
Physically, we are the nurse, the nanny, the maid, the driver, the cook, the teacher, and so much more. Mentally, we are dealing with all of the anxiety and worry that comes along with the many jobs we have. This isn’t even mentioning our personal struggles, relationships with others, and any career we may have outside the home.
Every mom has their own set of challenges and they don’t need the added stress of other people’s judgements to make them feel worse. And they don’t need other people — especially other moms — silencing them.
Personally, I’m not going to keep apologizing for being human and needing to talk about the stressors in my life, because it’s healthier for me to process them rather than hold it all in. From sharing my experiences and hardships, I’ve come to see how there’s always someone out there who’s watching and is in the same spot as me. I’ll often get messages from other moms where they tell me they’re proud of me for sharing my truth.
And so am I
In the process of me feeling better, another mom feels better — and together, we share a kinship for going through the same experience. This gives good opportunities to bounce ideas and encouragement back and forth. It lets us feel heard and human and less alone. And that’s nothing to be sorry for.
So if you’re a mom, please don’t feel ashmaed for talking about what’s going on in your life — and I would encourage you to do it more, because clearly what we really need to normalize is letting mothers be human.
