In today’s modern world, many mothers may feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of duties motherhood demands, as well as having to face conflicting—and often unhelpful—advice when they actually do ask for help.
Whether you’re a mother experiencing postpartum depression, struggling with body image issues, or just finding the whole act of motherhood too stressful, it is important to remember that you are doing an incredible job simply by creating life. You matter, and taking the time to repeat that mantra to yourself every day is an important step in actually beginning to see the truth in it and becoming an empowered mother.
The key to becoming an empowered mother often rests in the simplest of places.
We asked our NYMM readers what makes them feel empowered as mothers in today’s world and here is what they said:
“Watching my babies grow up to be awesome humans empowers me!!!!”
– Bonnie Gonsalves Burke
“Patience, humility, kindness, simplicity, forgiveness, and understanding empower me.”
– Kim Gonsalves-Kamara
“Having the support of my husband, mother, sister, friends and moms of all generations and walks of life is very important. It gives me strength to know I’m not alone.”
– Nichole Crawford Wallace
No two women have the same experience when it comes to motherhood, but we can all find empowerment. Whether we find it by returning to work, finding a hobby, or exercising, what’s important is to remember that it’s not a competition. You don’t have to be perfect.
Mila Kunis, a popular actress and empowered mother of two, says of motherhood: “It’s so taboo to be like, ‘I feel like I’m not perfect,’ You just have to know you’re doing the best you can, and that’s more than enough. I know I’m the best mom Wyatt’s ever had, and I’m the best mom for her.”
Taking Kunis’ advice to heart, here are some things you can do to find empowerment.
- Practice self-care. If you need to step away from everything for a few minutes and find that peace and quiet, that’s perfectly fine and necessary for you to be the most empowered mother you can be.
- Get off social media! Often the source of stress, disappointment, and envy comes from your multiple social media feeds. A cleanse will help you focus on what truly matters.
- Exercise. Start slow, finding some time each day to strap your child in a stroller and go for a walk or a jog. Even just a small action you partake in regularly could turn into a rigorous exercise routine down the road. It’s up to you to find the right balance.Take it from Beyonce, who says after the birth of her twins, “I needed time to heal, to recover. During my recovery, I gave myself self-love and self-care, and I embraced being curvier. I accepted what my body wanted to be.”
- Find support, whether it’s through friends or family or support groups for mothers. Hayden Panattiere, a famous actress and mother of one, struggled heavily with postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter.She publicly addressed her struggles, saying: “There’s a lot of misunderstanding, and I feel like there’s a lot of people out there who think that it’s not real, that it’s not true, that it’s something that’s made up in their mind…It’s something that’s completely uncontrollable and it’s really painful, and it’s really scary, and women need a lot of support.”
- Lastly, and most importantly, give yourself permission to fail. By accepting that things will go wrong, you open yourself up to what can go right.
As a mother, you have the power to make yourself happy as well as your children. You have the power to take back control and gain the confidence you need. Never let anyone or anything take that away from you.
Featured Image by Sai De Silva on Unsplash
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