The Truth About Motherhood, In Their Words

This Mother’s Day, we didn’t want perfection, we wanted the truth.

So we asked a bunch of mums (and their kids) in our community to tell us what motherhood really feels like.

It’s not neat, or predictable, or easily summed up in a few word, although we did try.

When we asked the women in our community to share their reality, what came back wasn’t polished. It was honest, layered, and deeply human. It made us laugh & cry more than we have all year.

Because behind every “mum” is a thousand moments no one really sees.

There are the quiet moments, for one. We asked some mums ‘What happens after they go to sleep” when the house softens,,,,

“Nothing… quiet and calm.” (Well that’s the G Rated version she said!)
“Time to chill, a calm sort of evening.”
“Part 3 of the day starts & my laptop opens for another 3 hours of work”

For some, it’s the only pause in the day. A cup of tea, a show, a book, a conversation with their partner.
“It’s part of the day.”

A small exhale before it all begins again.

We asked their children what their mum is like, and the answers were simple, but said everything:

“Lovely, fun and kind.”
“Best mommy.”
“She cares about us and she loves us all the time.”

It’s easy to forget, in the chaos, that this is how they’re seen. Not as overwhelmed. Not as tired. But as love, in its purest form.

Because the truth is, motherhood is hard, really f**king hard. Not in one specific way, but in a thousand small, constant ways… that was a loud under-current and one that we all connected on…. Its:

“The constant interruptions.”
“The mental load that we carry.”
“Running out of time.”

And something that came up again and again was the shift in identity.

“Finding myself again after losing myself in that journey.”
“The change of identity… I don’t think people talk about that.”

It’s the balance of everything. Work, relationships, friendships, self. All moving at once, all needing something from you.

The days themselves? Unpredictable.

“Every day is a gamble.”
“We don’t really know how everyone is going to wake up.”

There are the mornings that begin with snuggles  “We always start our day with snuggles.”

And then the pace picks up. School drop-offs, beach runs, managing energy, emotions, logistics. “Generally a rollercoaster… but trying to focus on the beautiful moments in between.”

Because they’re there too, the joy, the laughter, the small in-between moments that make it all worth it.

And then there’s everything people don’t see.

“The chaos.”
“The mental load.”
“The constant juggling… making sure everyone is happy and healthy.”

The inner dialogue. The second guessing.
“Am I doing a good job?”

The effort it takes just to get out the door in the morning.
The loneliness that can come in unexpected ways.

“There’s no instruction manual.”

And sometimes, it’s just… absurd.

“How did I get here?” moments that no one prepares you for.

Like transporting placentas across international borders for three years.
Or a baby peeing through three plane seats mid-flight…. (Yes, it happens… and we heard it from more than one mum!)

Because motherhood is also that - messy, unpredictable, and occasionally unbelievable.

We asked if they could describe it in four words. Most said it wasn’t enough but they tried anyway:
“Wild, rewarding, hard work, fun.”
“Chaotic, beautiful, balance, a ride.”
“Intense, lots of love.”

Maybe that’s the truth of it. Motherhood is all of these things, all at once.

The calm and the chaos.
The joy and the doubt.
The losing yourself, and slowly finding your way back again.

And in between it all 

Love. Always love.