Motherhood Understood
Motherly acquired Motherhood Understood, continuing our mission of providing a woman-centered and supportive community for mothers. We are leaning into telling personal essays from mothers as a way that we learn, connect and feel less alone. Centered on the perspectives of maternal mental health, these stories are intended to help moms feel validated and seen.
The myth of the effortless mom and why you don’t have to pretend
You are not failing because life feels like work. The “effortless mom” is a mirage. Here is how to drop the performance, protect your energy, and build a family culture that works for you.
Motherhood Success; Why every mom deserves to feel proud, even on the hard days
This is your reminder that pride is not something you earn after a perfect day. It is something you’re allowed to feel because you keep showing up for the people you love.
The art of balancing motherhood, workhood and selfhood
In motherhood you can love your kids wholeheartedly and still protect the parts of you that make you, you. Here is a practical, judgment-free guide to keeping both.
7 holiday scenarios every mom knows and what to say to protect your peace
Kind, ready-to-use scripts for 7 tricky holiday moments, so you can set clear boundaries, lower stress, and enjoy what matters most.
The real story behind “mom guilt”
Mom guilt is not a personal failing. It is a predictable response to pressure that tells you to be perfect and selfless at the same time.
What children teach us about slowing down
Our kids move at the speed of wonder. When we start slowing down and let them set the pace, we breathe, notice, and belong to our own lives again.
4 healthy ways to cope after becoming an “empty nester”
There is real grief and real freedom in being an empty nester. These strategies help you honor the feelings, protect your relationships, and build a daily rhythm that feels satisfying.
“Moms are surviving, not thriving”: What the 2025 State of Motherhood Survey reveals
Motherhood is not meant to be lived alone. And this survey is a reminder that mothers everywhere are walking parallel paths.
How 9 small money shifts can reduce financial stress for moms
You already make intelligent choices all day. These quick, low-lift money moves help you feel more in control, lower financial stress and keep family goals on track.
Before kids and after: how motherhood reshapes our sense of time
Time bends in early parenthood. Days can feel endless, then years flash by. Here is why that happens, plus gentle ways to reclaim pockets of ease.
One mom’s viral meltdown about ‘doing it all’ perfectly captures the math of modern motherhood
Emily’s reel did not go viral because it offered a solution. It resonated because it named what so many parents are carrying
Vanessa Kirby welcomes her first baby—and reflects on finding power in motherhood
Vanessa Kirby and Paul Rabil are new parents! Rabil’s Instagram post highlights the awe, exhaustion, and love that come with welcoming their first child together
The hidden labor behind kids’ birthdays—and why moms are done carrying it alone
A mom’s Reddit post reveals the hidden labor behind kids’ birthdays, from planning to presents, and why recognition matters.
Annia on being a therapist and not going to therapy for postpartum depression
"I didn't quite know the name for what I had since even within therapist circles, we don't talk about postpartum depression enough. I just knew that something wasn't right."
Maggie on advocating for herself and her baby after opting for a vacuum birth
"I am thankful for our due diligence to do research, get second opinions and fight for the very best care, but I often wonder what would have happened had we listened to that first doctor."
Leilani on postpartum depression after a traumatic birth experience
Progress was slow, but I remember the day my medication began to work. It felt like I could finally see colors, like, "OH, this is how everyone else is experiencing the world."
Atanasia on having PPD with her second and not responding well to medication
I think the most important thing to know if you’re going through PPD is that it CAN get better. You will get better.
Jade on postpartum depression and anxiety while dealing with her baby’s sleep issues
"I felt like the biggest failure because I could not get him to sleep on his own through the night."
Hanna on PPD and PPA after undergoing an emergency hysterectomy after giving birth
“At this point, it’s her uterus or it’s her life.”
Laura on PPD and caring for her baby alone in the hospital during Covid-19
"Every time a doctor or nurse came in, I instantly shot up and my adrenaline started pumping."