The Lonely Mom
Motherhood can be a lonely and isolating experience for many women. We spend our days caring for tiny humans and putting them first. Our needs and wants oftentimes are shoved to the side because making sure everyone is cared for feels more important. Over time, it can feel easier to just do it yourself than to ask for help because it won’t be done correctly or as well as you might do it. There is so much that goes into being a mom that it can begin to feel very lonely.
You might ask, “But if you’re with your kids, how are you lonely?” Great question. The loneliness stems from not feeling connected to others. The sensation that you must be the only one dealing with the things you’re going through. That no one else has to have it this hard. The reality is quite the opposite; more moms feel the same way you do than you think.
It’s completely normal to have these feelings. Loneliness is a common emotion experienced by mothers for many different reasons. Maybe you have a brand new baby and it’s winter time so you want to stay home to keep them safe from illness. Maybe your primary support system lives far away and you don’t get to see them very often. Or maybe you’re just overwhelmed with the day to day of being a mom and the general tasks that come along with that responsibility. All of these are valid. All of these are normal. But what can we do about it?
The first thing to do is to start reaching out to your support systems and asking for help. This can be hard to do at first, but allowing yourself to receive support from others will make you feel so much better and lighter. Plus you get the added benefit of connecting with someone else and making real adult conversation. The next thing is to start expanding your friend group. Check out local groups online and in person and see if there are other people you can connect with. These don’t have to just be moms! Think about your passions and hobbies and find events happening that involve those things. Getting back to the things you enjoy in motherhood is so important to having great self-care and wellbeing.
For more tips on how to build your support system and feel less lonely as a mom, be sure to check out our latest workbook, “A Mom’s Guide to Building Connection,” which has 63 pages of information about how to build strong and lasting relationships with others.
