You're Not A Bad Mom, You're Drowning - Episode 73

If you’ve ever sat in your car because you needed five more minutes before walking into the house, cried in the shower, felt like all you do is correct your kids, or wondered why you seem to be failing at motherhood, this episode is for you. In this episode of Life by Design, I’m talking about the side of motherhood we don’t see enough of—the exhaustion, guilt, overstimulation, financial stress, marriage stress, resentment, self-doubt, and those moments when you don’t want to die, you just want to disappear for a little while because you are so tired of being needed. We’re also talking about why social media can make motherhood feel lonelier than it already is, why loving your children deeply does not mean you have to love every moment of parenting, and why feeling overwhelmed is not the same thing as being a bad mom. This is the beginning of a deeper series I’ll be sharing over the next couple of months about real motherhood: yelling, guilt, shame, marriage, losing yourself, wanting a break, needing a village, and learning how to recognize when you are not failing—you are simply carrying too much. If you’re listening while driving to work, folding laundry, cleaning the kitchen, or sitting in the pickup line because that is the only time you have for yourself right now, you are exactly who I made this episode for. You are not alone. And you do not have to keep proving how strong you are by carrying everything by yourself. In this episode, we talk about: Why overwhelmed moms often mistake exhaustion for failure The guilt that seems to come with every part of motherhood Wanting to “check out” versus wanting to die Crying in the shower, driveway, or closet because you need somewhere to fall apart Why social media highlights can distort how we see our own lives Feeling like you are failing your children, your husband, and yourself Why women need support from other women, especially moms farther down the road Why motherhood can be both the most rewarding and most painful role of your life The importance of getting help before you completely break down Please remember: This podcast is for education, encouragement, and general informational purposes only. It does not establish a provider-patient relationship and is not a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care. If you are having thoughts of suicide, self-harm, wishing you would not wake up, or feeling unable to keep yourself safe, call or text 988 in the United States or seek immediate emergency care. If this episode made you think of another mom, send it to her. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can say to another woman is simply: I see you. I thought of you. You are not alone. Follow Life by Design so you don’t miss the rest of this motherhood series.