Honoring the Season of Motherhood:

Letting Go of the Badge of Honor

I woke up early this morning to the familiar clip-clopping of our two dogs' nails tapping against the linoleum floor outside my daughter's bedroom door. Their typical morning routine usually signals they’ve left me a "scented gift" in the living room and are now eagerly awaiting their breakfast. After a jam-packed travel weekend and a mere six broken hours of sleep, I tiptoed out of my toddler’s room, careful not to disturb her, and past a curdled puddle of milk vomit I had missed in the dark of the night. The day had officially begun.

At breakfast, I found myself staring blankly at my plate. The to-do list for the day had already formed in my mind and was steadily growing, mile by mile. My husband noticed my distracted state and asked, "What's on your mind?" As the weight of everything I hadn’t done settled in—the grocery shopping I skipped before our trip, the housework that had fallen to the wayside—the week ahead felt chaotic and overwhelming. I was beating myself up over things left undone and setting lofty expectations for tasks I knew I wouldn’t realistically accomplish.

Then my husband said something that changed the course of my entire day: "It doesn’t all need to be done today."

There was so much comfort in that simple statement. In the midst of my self-imposed pressure to "do it all," his words cut through the noise. I don’t have to be Superwoman. I don’t have to meet impossible standards. I don’t need to rush through life ticking boxes on a never-ending list.

Giving myself permission to let go of that pressure, I happily buzzed around the house, tending to the things that truly needed doing. But instead of letting my internal grumbling build up as it usually does, I made a conscious decision to slow down, to take up space, and to listen to my very tired body.

And you know what? The world didn’t fall apart.

One of the many things on my to-do list was vacuuming and mopping the floors. Ordinarily, this task would hang over my head like a dark cloud, demanding to be done or else I’d feel like I’d failed in some way. But today, I curled up next to my sleeping toddler and took a nap with her—something I hadn’t intentionally done in a long time. There always seemed to be too much work, and I often felt guilty about resting when there was so much housework waiting for me during her waking hours. But this time, I chose differently. I chose rest.

The Pressure to "Do It All"

As mothers, we carry an immense burden—both real and imagined. There’s an unspoken expectation that we need to have it all together at every moment: the clean house, the healthy meals, the perfectly behaved children, the successful career, the loving partnership, and, oh yes, a well-rested, glowing version of ourselves who never falters.

But the reality is that this pressure is unsustainable. And yet, many of us continue to strive for an unattainable version of perfection. We push ourselves to the brink, often without realizing the toll it takes on our mental, physical, and emotional well-being.



There’s a moment in each day where we can choose to stop. To pause. To listen. Your body has been giving you signals all along, but it’s so easy to miss them when we’re wrapped up in endless to-do lists and self-criticism.

Learning to Listen to Your Body

Listening to your body isn’t just about noticing when you're physically tired. It’s about understanding the deeper layers of fatigue—emotional, mental, and even spiritual exhaustion. Your body holds so much wisdom, but it requires stillness and intention to hear it.

In the rush of daily life, it can be hard to tune into the quiet messages your body is sending you. For instance, have you ever noticed how your shoulders creep up toward your ears when you’re stressed? Or how your breath becomes shallow and quick when you’re anxious? These are signs from your body, telling you it’s time to slow down.

When we ignore these signals, we run the risk of burnout. And as mothers, burnout can feel especially isolating because we’re often so focused on caring for everyone else that we forget to care for ourselves.

The Power of Rest

Rest is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. Yet, so many of us treat it as an indulgence—something we feel guilty for wanting or needing. Society has trained us to believe that productivity equals worth, and so we keep going and going, convinced that rest is something we have to earn.

But rest is a form of self-care. It’s a way of honoring our bodies and acknowledging that we are human, not machines. Rest allows us to show up as the best versions of ourselves—for our children, our partners, and, most importantly, for ourselves.

When I took that nap with my toddler, I was reminded of the beauty of slowing down. In those quiet moments, I felt the tension ease from my body. I wasn’t thinking about the floors that needed cleaning or the groceries that still needed to be bought. I was just there, present in the moment, breathing in sync with my little one, and letting the world outside wait.

Giving Yourself Permission

Giving yourself permission to rest is the first step. It’s a conscious decision to stop the cycle of self-criticism and instead offer yourself grace. You don’t have to "earn" rest, and you certainly don’t need to apologize for taking it.

There will always be another task to complete, another errand to run, another thing to clean. But the most important thing you can do is listen to what your body is asking of you in the moment. Is it telling you to push through the exhaustion, or is it quietly whispering that it’s time to rest?

When you begin to prioritize listening to your body, you’ll find that everything else falls into place more naturally. You’ll have more energy, more patience, and more clarity. And when the time comes to tackle that to-do list, you’ll be approaching it from a place of strength, not depletion.

A New Kind of Productivity

In our culture, productivity is often measured by how much we accomplish in a day. But what if we redefined productivity to include rest? What if the most productive thing you did today was to take a nap, to pause for a moment of mindfulness, or to enjoy a few quiet minutes with your child?

Rest allows you to recharge and reset, so when you do return to your tasks, you’re approaching them with a clear mind and a calm heart. By giving yourself permission to slow down, you’re actually creating more space for joy, creativity, and connection in your life.

So, the next time you feel overwhelmed by the never-ending demands of motherhood, remember: it doesn’t all need to be done today. Give yourself the gift of rest, listen to your body, and trust that everything else can wait.