What your zodiac sign says about your parenting style

When you’re becoming a parent for the first time, so much is unknown: Will you be the confident mom who doesn’t second-guess her decisions or the one who stays up at night to overthink things for the third time? Will you have strict expectations for your children’s behavior or encourage them to find their own ways? Will you be the mom who sets up playdates with carefully crafted snack options for the kids or the one who can barely make school drop-off in time?

With so many variables, it would sure be nice to have some hint as to how you’ll parent—and understanding your zodiac sign may help.

“Astrology allows a symbolic way to understand yourself,” popular YouTube astrologer Nadiya Shah tells Motherly. “It’s an opportunity to consider who you are, and be honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses.”

The benefit to knowing this is that you can really lean into your powers, parenting coach and astrologer Tara Vogel tells Motherly.

“If you do your sign well, you’ll feel confident and a strong sense of vigor and vitality in your life—quite important to do the tough job of being a mom,” Vogel says.

Regardless of whether you’re an astrology skeptic or a believer, there is something undeniably fun about considering just what your sun sign may reveal about your personality as a parent.

Here are the super powers and downfalls the different zodiac signs may offer moms:

Aries (March 21 to April 19)

The first sign in the Western astrological order, the symbol of a ram is well-suited to the Aries mom—who is likely passionate and determined to help her children excel.

The Aries mama should just be careful not to make all the decisions for her children. Shah says, “They may need to watch an emphasis on competitiveness, or being too ‘all in’, as children will benefit from figuring some things out on their own.”

To feel balanced in her own life, the Aries mama should also be aware of when she’s on the edge of burning out, Vogel adds.

“As an Aries mom, you have so much drive, focus and ambition, just don’t let it—or that competitive feistiness—get the best of you,” Vogel says. “You need lots of physical activity to feel balanced.”

Taurus (April 20 to May 20)

Although the Taurus symbol is a bull, the typical mama born in late April or early May likely won’t take any of it thanks to their focused and goal-oriented personalities.

But, when those goals are met, Taurus moms are quick to shower their children with rewards. Shah adds, “The key here is to ensure the intrinsic value of the task, doing something for the inherent reward of it being a job well done.”

Thanks to those strong work-ethics, Taurus mamas may also be prone to getting down on themselves when things don’t go their way. But Vogel explains the earth and music are two of the Taurus mama’s “biggest teachers,” so it may help to break out of the funk by going on a walk or listening to a favorite song.

Gemini (May 21 to June 20)

Gemini moms will be the first to get down and engage in playtime with their children and love nothing more than good, connecting conversations with their kids.

Although Vogel says the Gemini mom will never struggle to have a fun time with her kids, she does need to remember the parent’s job is also to provide structure. She adds, “Give them predictability, boundaries and use lots of your patience with them and you’ll reap the benefits.”

Cancer (June 21 to July 22)

It’s no coincidence if many of the mamas in your baby-wearing group have the Cancer sign as they value attachment the most of all zodiac signs.

“They throw themselves into the role and are the most likely to strongly identify with their role as a parent,” she says. “But they actually make better moms when they maintain some sense of independence and of themselves. Strive not to take being a mom so seriously, and it’ll be a more enjoyable journey.”

Vogel adds that while being a mama may come very natural to those born under the Cancer sign, it’s essential to still give those bear cubs a little space to explore.

Leo (July 23 to August 22)

Leo mamas are likely to thrive in the role—as long as they recognize parenting is about more than holding power. “Ultimately, approaching parenting with some humility will allow them to see how your child is teaching you as much as you are them,” Shah explains.

To find that balance, Vogel recommends taking time to recharge and step back from parenting on a daily basis. And as a sign that soaks up the sun, she suggests aiming to get outdoors as often as possible.

Virgo (August 23 to September 22)

Virgo moms have incredible memories and attention to detail—with the pitfall coming when they get too focused on small matters.

“Either you have your family on a very efficient schedule or you get caught up in judging yourself harshly against other moms and how they manage their families and feel like you’re always falling short,” Vogel says. “It’s helpful to lighten up by going with the flow as often as you can.”

Virgo moms should also take care to give grace to others in their lives. “You have high standards for yourself that other moms don’t have,” Vogel adds. “ Just don’t get into the trap of judging them for it. Celebrate your own desire for quality and excellence.”

Libra (September 23 to October 22)

Libra moms don’t have to try hard to see the beauty in the world. It’s just the matter of keeping daily operations moving that may be a challenge.

“Libra moms enjoy creating a serene and beautiful environment for their children. They might be inclined towards creating memorable, social moments,” Shah says. “While these things do matter, consider how the nitty gritty has it own beauty as well.”

You’re also likely to have a solid relationship—as Vogel says Libra moms thrive in partnerships as long as they still remember to stand up for themselves.

Scorpio (October 23 to November 21)

Scorpio mamas are in it to win it—just like in all aspects of life. But when it comes to parenting, a mama born under the Scorpio sign has the advantage of intuition.

“You have a lot of strength and will power which will serve you well as you navigate the ins and outs of motherhood,” Vogel explains. “You’re not afraid to have those tough conversations with your kids—think changing bodies and sex.”

She cautions not to take things too seriously, adding, “A gift you can give children and ultimately yourself is to ease up on the need to want to control things. “

Sagittarius (November 22 to December 21)

A Sagittarius mama has probably always liked to follow the rules and now expects the same of her children. “This is wonderful, but at the same time, be mindful not to be too dogmatic in your thinking or your rules,” Shah says. “Morality is about wrong and right, and doesn’t have to follow a specific set of rules as its only expression.”

At the same time, you’re probably a fan of spontaneity and fun. Your children are bound to have amazing memories from the travel and unique experiences you’ve shared.

Capricorn (December 22 to January 19)

Capricorn moms will be the first to wish for more hours in the day—as they are extremely ambitious and eager to check all items off the to-do list. When it comes to parenting, this can set an impossible pace, so be sure to schedule in some downtime.

“You may find yourself worrying about things more often than feels good to you. You are pretty hard on yourself,” Vogel says. “Getting outside and putting your bare feet on the earth can be restorative and help you to relax.  Just know, Capricorn mama, that you are doing a much better job than you think you are!”

Aquarius (January 20 to February 18)

Prone to eccentricities and thinking outside the box, a mom born under the Aquarius sign will encourage her kids to chase their wildest dreams.

“They key here is to ensue your child also feels a sense of stability in their process,” Shah says. “There are times when you’ll have to embrace being the boss, while finding the balance between setting the rules and explaining the value of them to your children.”

Pisces (February 19 to March 20)

Creative Pisces moms will never struggle to come up with amazing bedtime stories or to foster deep connections with their kids—so be sure to feed that sense of imagination on a regular basis. (Not hard with kids!)

Vogel advises not to get too lost in the role of parenting, as alone time is also essential to Pisces moms.

“If you don’t do this on a regular basis, you’ll feel the need to escape into something that may not really serve you—think chocolate, wine, shopping or Facebook,” she says. “Prioritizing self-care is important for a Piscan mama and will teach your kids so much by seeing their mom tend to her delicate and beautiful self.”

Each of the 12 zodiac signs offer unique strengths to mamas—so at the very least, let this be another reminder of how amazing you are!