Maybe motherhood isn’t what you expected… and maybe that’s okay.
When you pictured becoming a mother, maybe you imagined bonding moments, baby snuggles, and a deep sense of love. But now that baby is here, things feel different than you anticipated. Maybe you're exhausted, “touched out”, or feel a lost connection to who you were before baby came. The reality is, motherhood can be both beautiful and brutal at the same time. If this season of life feels harder than you expected, it’s important to know you're not alone.
The Silent Grief of Early Motherhood
No one really prepares you for the identity shift that happens after birth. You might find yourself grieving your old life, missing your independence, or feeling angry at how much responsibility has landed on your shoulders. These feelings don’t make you a bad mom, they make you human and are more common than you think.
Postpartum grief isn’t talked about enough, but it’s real. It’s normal to be mourning who you used to be, how things used to feel, and the version of motherhood you were sold. Naming and identifying this grief is a powerful first step in healing.
You Don’t Have to Love Every Moment
There’s a lot of pressure to “soak it all in” or be grateful all the time. But when you're sleep deprived, overwhelmed, and emotionally raw, it’s okay if gratitude isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. It’s okay if you don’t love every moment. You’re still a good mom.
Social media doesn't help. We're constantly shown highlight reels that make it seem like everyone else is breezing through motherhood with ease: perfectly dressed babies, peaceful naps, glowing moms. But behind the highlight reels, most mothers are grappling with the same messy and complex emotions you are. And none of it makes you any less worthy of compassion or support.
What you’re feeling isn’t weakness. Motherhood is a massive life transition, and what you’re feeling is a normal response. Especially if you’re also navigating:
Birth trauma
Feeding difficulties
Relationship strain
Anxiety or intrusive thoughts
Lack of support
These challenges don’t mean you’re failing. They mean you’re carrying more than anyone can see.
Therapy Can Be a Safe Place to Land
If you’re feeling disconnected from yourself, your baby, or the life you thought you’d have, therapy can help. You don’t have to carry it all on your own. At Eleven Eleven Therapy Co., I specialize in supporting mothers through the emotional weight of postpartum life.
We’ll work together to help you:
Feel more grounded and clear-headed
Process grief, guilt, or anxiety
Reconnect with your identity outside of motherhood
Build coping tools and boundaries that support your well-being
You’re Not Broken. You’re Becoming.
This version of you: tired, weepy, unsure, isn't the end of the story. It’s a becoming. And you deserve support, not shame, as you navigate it.
If any part of this blog resonates with you, I invite you to reach out. You don’t have to wait until things get worse to ask for help. You deserve relief, clarity, and real change starting now.
→ Book a free consultation here
Or explore postpartum therapy services at Eleven Eleven Therapy Co.
