Your cart is currently empty!
Mom’s Viral Post Perfectly Captures the Struggles of Modern Motherhood
“What happens when mothers are held to impossible standards?” Australian author Lisa Moore, known for her candid takes on parenting, has once again hit the nail on the head with her recent Facebook post. She reflects on the challenges faced by today’s moms, highlighting how the parenting landscape has changed dramatically since our own mothers’ time.
After welcoming her first child (Lisa has three kiddos), she found herself asking her dad how her grandmother managed with a whopping 11 children. Yes, you read that right—11! Her father’s insightful response resonated, and she shared it with her followers.
“My dad said, ‘Your grandmother didn’t face half the stress you do,’” Lisa writes. “She wasn’t juggling trips to the bank or supermarket every day. She didn’t feel the need to look immaculate right after giving birth, nor did she pressure her kids to hit every milestone by the age of three weeks. She simply spent time with her children and cherished those moments.”
How true is that? If we weren’t constantly inundated with societal expectations about what constitutes the “perfect” woman, partner, and mother, perhaps we could actually catch our breath. But the pressure to juggle a million tasks for our kids, homes, communities, and jobs often leaves us half-heartedly engaged with our little ones.
“So how do we manage all this pressure?” Lisa asks. “The reality is, many of us don’t truly enjoy our kids. We’re only half there, distracted by the need to make everything perfect.”
Ouch. I can relate to that struggle, and it’s frustrating.
In a brutally honest breakdown of motherhood’s pressures, Lisa lists the countless obligations weighing on her shoulders: “Hit the gym, respond to that email, pay the bills, whip up an organic kale dish that the kids won’t even know is kale, remember to fill the gas tank… and let’s not forget coloring those pesky greys! Oh, and make the kids’ lunches because ordering takeout will earn you some serious judgment!”
She’s absolutely right. The struggle to meet society’s expectations is exhausting. We’re told to prioritize self-care, to get that salon visit, or treat ourselves to a mani-pedi—yet when life gets in the way and we can’t manage it all, we’re labeled selfish or vain.
This paradox extends to fitness, careers, and a myriad of other pursuits. Society pushes us to do more, yet judges us for how we choose to do it. It’s a maddening cycle that benefits no one.
In her post, Lisa acknowledges this chaos and its detrimental effect on our kids’ sense of self-worth. She recalls an eye-opening moment during a listening exercise with other adults.
“We paired up and shared stories; halfway through, my partner was instructed to stop listening. They looked away, yawned, got distracted by their phone while I was sharing something I thought was interesting. And how did that make me feel? Boring, embarrassed, and insignificant. Is this what our busy lives are doing to our kids?”
Yikes, that’s a tough pill to swallow. So how can moms break free from the guilt and the relentless pressure? It starts with letting go of the noise and focusing on what truly matters: loving our kids.
“Today, I woke up determined to exhale and release all of that stress. Frankly, I don’t care about the new curtains I ordered or keeping the house pristine for my guests,” Lisa shares. “What matters is my time with my kids and their self-esteem. I refuse to let societal pressures or the idea of a ‘Super Mom’ rob me of that.”
Because at the end of the day, our kids don’t need a perfect mom; they just need us to be present and engaged.
Feeling inspired? If you want to learn more about navigating the journey of parenthood, check out this excellent resource from the Women’s Health Government on pregnancy and home insemination. And for those interested in boosting fertility, here’s an authority on the topic that might be helpful.
In summary, Lisa’s poignant post serves as a wake-up call for modern mothers, urging us to prioritize genuine connections with our children over societal expectations. Let’s embrace our imperfections and focus on what truly matters: being there for our kids in a meaningful way.