💌 Dear Old Me, You Thought Motherhood Would Feel Natural

You thought it would click.

That the moment you held your baby, everything would fall into place.

That instinct would take over and joy would flood in like a movie scene.

But no one really prepares you for what parenthood feels like.

Even when they try, it’s not something you can study or plan for.

Parenthood is something you live in to learn.

And sometimes, it doesn’t feel natural.

Sometimes it feels awkward.

Disconnected.

Overstimulating.

Like you’re watching yourself from the outside, wondering why you’re not feeling what you thought you’d feel.

Let me say this clearly:

You’re allowed to feel overwhelmed.

You’re allowed to not love every moment.

You’re allowed to be human.

Burnout is real.

Mental load is heavy.

And pretending you’re fine when you’re not doesn’t make you stronger—it makes you disappear.

This year, I chose a new mantra:

Lower the expectations.

Listen to myself more.

If you hate the zoo—don’t go.

If playgrounds drain you—skip them.

If the beach or the lake fills your soul—go there.

Because when you honor your joy, you give your family the best version of you.

You don’t owe anyone a curated version of motherhood.

You owe yourself honesty.

And your well-being?

It’s not a luxury—it’s the foundation.

You are the core.

Feeling bored, frustrated, or annoyed doesn’t make you a bad parent.

It makes you a real one.

And in those moments, you don’t need to fix everything.

You just need to shift the energy.

Change the scenery.

Take a car ride.

Put on music.

Break the routine.

You’re not failing.

You’re feeling.

And that’s the bravest thing you can do.

Love,

Your honest, evolving, beautifully imperfect self 💛