Happy Mothers Day?
I pose this as a question on purpose because, well, they aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be.
They can absolutely be the most special, warm, heart-melting, cheek-squishing days, with breakfasts in bed, warm coffee, hand made cards and flowers and gifts in abundance. Just watch Insta and FB for such examples - there will be hundreds. They can certainly be filled with gushing gratitude, dishes done, washing hung. Maybe the kids will be smiling friendly children who have taken a vow not to fight today. Anything is possible.
I sincerely wish for you at least one of these beautiful elements. But just in case your Mothers Day is a little less magic and a little more underwhelming, I want you to know, I hear you.
It can be a day of feeling unappreciated, a day when all you want is for someone to say,
‘you’re an amazing mum, we love you so much, we love your stories and the way you make us dinner when you’re exhausted, and the way you work so hard to make a better life for us, and we love how hard you try and appreciate how tired you are while you play endlessly and make snacks and wash everything and smile when you’re sad so that we can be happy’
and to maybe spoil you rotten for just ONE day, the way you do for them every day, but what you get is, well, not a lot.
It can be silently, and desperately, tough. It can be an emotional devastation for those without mums, or those who have lost children, or can’t have children, or have children and are not coping with having children.
It can be exhausting to have high hopes and watch them crumble as the day goes on without acknowledgement.
It can be an intense day of feeling the pressure to love motherhood when all you want to do is cry and sleep under your doona, dreaming of the life you once had.
Reach out this Mothers Day to a new mum, a mum who may not have it all together, a mum who is yet to be a mum but desperately trying. You know the mums posting picture perfect scenes on FB? Reach out to those mums too.
If you’re feeling like you deserve a little more, here are some things you can do JUST for you, from you. The gift of self love.
Get dolled up. Even if you’re spending the day at home, take some time to make yourself feel amazing. pop on some makeup, do your hair and put on something that makes you feel nurtured or gorgeous.
Have a bubble bath. Even better if you can have it with salts, oils, and soft music. If you’re a single mum, or don’t have someone to watch the ids for 30 mins, pop them in with you.
Champagne. Spoil yourself with a bottle of sparkling, the best one you can afford, and have a glass. Cheers yourself for all the wonderful things you do. (have it in the bath!)
Flowers. Go for a walk and pick some lovely flowers, or buy yourself a bunch from the supermarket and add foliage from the garden to really spruce it up. If you feel like it, take the children and do it together.
Pamper. Wait for the kids to go to sleep and paint your nails, do a face mask, put leave in conditioner in your hair, at the very least slice some cucumbers for your eyes.
Raw Choc. make yourself some simple raw chocolate. It takes about 10 minutes, tastes amazing and its good for you.
Light a scented candle. Or spray some perfume that you love, or burn some healing oils.
Journal. This one always amazes me. Drawing, writing, journalling with coloured pens in a gorgeous notebook ($4 from Kmart) clears the mind and helps us feel connected.
You can give to yourself all the recognition and love you need. You are worthy of no less.
Keep it simple. I did this last night. It was magic. I lay on the floor with my daughter, and we played. We tickled, we laughed, we hugged the dog, we put our feet up on the couch and played slides. I immersed myself into it and just played.
Reach out. If you really are feeling low, please reach out, call a trusted friend to talk through your feelings. Reach out to one of our mentors on the App or call a support line. You are not alone - this really can be such a big day emotionally.
I miss my mum so much, and on Mothers Day I always wish I could tell her how amazing she was, and to have her tell me Im doing ok too. As a gift in her honour, I wanted to share this with you, and you may wish to share it too, for all mums. You are doing amazing! You are wonderful. You are enough. xx
I wish for you a Happy Mothers Day - in whatever form that comes for you.
Please enjoy the guided meditation tonight, at the end of the day, as you allow yourself some peace. Lots of love to you. X
“You are enough”
