Episode 86: Why Moms Struggle When Kids Go Back to School | Mom Guilt, Growing Up & Letting Go

When did they get so big? Back to school is supposed to be exciting. New teachers. New friends. New experiences. A fresh start. So why can it also make a mom want to cry? This week, after Meet the Teacher nights, back to school bashes and preparing three kids to enter fourth, fifth and sixth grades, Nikki found herself confronting one of the hardest parts of motherhood: You spend years helping your children become independent, and then one day...they actually start needing you less. In this episode of Struggle & Strength: Moms Balancing It All with Nikki, we're talking about the bittersweet emotions of watching your kids grow up, back to school mom emotions, letting go, mom guilt and learning to appreciate the season of motherhood you're in before it becomes another memory. Because motherhood is filled with firsts we celebrate. First steps. First words. First days of school. But it's also filled with something much harder: Lasts we don't realize are lasts when they're happening. The last time they ask to be picked up. The last time they crawl into your bed after a bad dream. The last time they need help tying their shoes. The last time they reach for your hand walking into school. Firsts announce themselves. But lasts are quiet. Nikki also talks about the pressure moms put on themselves to create the perfect childhood, especially during summer. Did we make enough memories? Did we spend enough time together? Did we do enough? Maybe childhood isn't measured by how much we squeeze into every summer. Maybe the ordinary moments are the ones our kids will remember most. And maybe watching our children grow up isn't about losing them at all. It's about learning how to become the mom they need in each new stage. If you're looking at your kids this back to school season wondering where the time went, this episode is for you. ❤️ Be excited for who they're becoming. ❤️ Miss who they used to be. ❤️ And remember that both feelings can exist at the same time. Because maybe we don't actually want our kids to stay little forever. Maybe we just want more time. The Promise of Struggle & Strength: Helping high-achieving moms reconnect with themselves so they can build a life that aligns with their values instead of just surviving their responsibilities. 📲 Connect with Nikki: Instagram: @nikkiwallace247 Facebook: @ConnectWithNikkiW