Motherhood’s Great Expectations
We all enter motherhood with a picture in our heads, right? We have this idea of what it's going to be like and the kind of mother we want to be. A picture shaped by our own childhood experiences, what we see in our friends and family, and the tantalising glimpses of motherhood we get through our social media feeds.
But let's be real, society has its own preconceived notions of what a "good" mother should be, and it can be hard to escape those expectations, whether we want to embrace them or not.
Kids don't come with an instruction manual (can you imagine if they did?); we're left to navigate this chaotic and beautiful journey armed with the myth of a "maternal instinct" that turns out to be nothing more than smoke and mirrors, and the endless stream of conflicting advice from supposed "experts" online. It's enough to make any mama feel like she's stumbling through motherhood with a blindfold on.
The pressure of modern motherhood is suffocating. We're expected to exude nothing but joy and wonder, but what about the shock, fear, doubt, anger, grief, loneliness, and resentment that can creep up on us? Why should we feel like we can't talk about these emotions?
Why are we made to believe that sharing our struggles somehow diminishes our gratitude or undermines the women who have passively mothered before us?
But it's time to change the conversation. It's time to break free from the unrealistic expectations and dare I say it (oh yes, I do!), challenge the very foundation of patriarchal motherhood. We need to do things differently.
So, you may be wondering, how can we make a change? In my view, it starts with flipping the script on perfectionism and the notion of being this selfless, sacrificial mother. Let's embrace the concept of being beautifully imperfect and acknowledge the messy reality of raising little humans in an imperfect world.
We also need to stand up against the version of motherhood that renders us invisible and unfulfilled. By saying no more to the toxic positivity that invalidates our experiences and demanding a support system that acknowledges and uplifts us, instead of passing judgment.
It's time to fight for our needs, our values, and our right to mother in a way that feels true to us and our families. Let's reclaim the power within us to break free from the limiting beliefs that have restrained us for far too long. Believe me, mama, we deserve to want more from our motherhood journey.
It's time to rise up, connect with our inner strength, and redefine what motherhood truly means for each and every one of us. Let’s be the change we want to see - where mothers are celebrated, supported, and empowered.
