There’s something about being a first-time mom that makes you constantly feel like you’re a new mom. Every week there seems to be a new challenge to overcome in the world of motherhood, or I have to always adapt my parenting style to fit my ever-evolving son’s needs. And in the midst of my busiest days, I find myself with little time or energy left over for myself. The same was the case when I decided to attend Peoplehood’s newest vertical, Motherhood — a 60-minute conversation led by a guide on various topics including fertility, pregnancy, and co-parenting.
More from Mom.com: How I Finally Found My Village, One Mom Friend at a Time
I realized after accepting the invitation to join the discussion that I had overextended myself, as always. Nearly on the brink of canceling last minute, I decided “Maybe there’s something I can get out of this.” And I couldn’t have been more right.
As the discussion kicked off by the moderator, we started with some deep breaths before being asked “How are you really feeling?” It was a question that I hadn’t stopped to think about or ask myself. But the question was the beginning of a transformative conversation that made multiple women feel like, for once, there was time and space for their needs and feelings.
I was shocked that so many moms who were all strangers to one another somehow felt the security to speak freely about how they were really feeling. And it wasn’t surprising that we all had been feeling overwhelmed in some aspect of our lives that ultimately intertwined with motherhood. I immediately felt seen and heard. I felt seen by the moms who were chasing dreams, I felt seen by moms who were entering a new phase, and I felt seen by the moms who were navigating their feelings about making reproductive choices.
During the session, we later broke out into groups in which we had intimate conversations that could only drive a good mom to tears. I left the conversations feeling grateful for moms, and I reflected on how we’re all so different yet so similar.
I found solace and power in community, and I realized the very thing my introverted self contemplated avoiding was the very thing I needed for healing and reassurance.
As moms, our brains are constantly turning and our feet are always scrambling to keep up with the hundreds of tasks we have to complete. But while motherhood often can feel lonely, it’s other moms who provide us with hope, insight, and comfort. And most importantly, whether virtual or in-person, the village we create is what sustains us.
