Dear young mom (or dad), I see you

An honest message about parenthood, mental health, and why you truly matter

You wake up already tired.
You give the best of yourself to little hands, deadlines, groceries, clients, meals, cleaning up.
You try to stay calm, even though inside you sometimes just want to cry, scream, or disappear.
You keep everything running.
And yet, at the end of the day, you wonder:

"Am I doing enough?"

Let me be very clear:
Yes, you are doing more than enough.
But the real question is:

Are you still present in your own life?

Because I see so many young moms — including my own daughters — who give everything for everyone... except for themselves.
They keep going.
They carry the invisible mental load.
They pretend everything’s fine.
But inside? There is exhaustion. Pressure. Guilt.

And a soft whisper that says: "I miss myself."

And I understand.
Because I was that mom too.

Years ago, I did exactly the same.
I kept pushing.
I wanted to be the perfect wife, mother, friend, helper.
Until my body hit the brakes.

I became ill. Seriously ill.
And suddenly, I had no choice but to listen.
That was my wake-up call.

I learned — the hard way — that self-care is not a luxury.

It’s not a treat. It’s not optional.

It is essential — especially for mothers.

My daughters saw me fall... and get back up again.
They saw what happens when you always try to be "the strong one."
They learned from my story — but it’s still their own journey too.
Sometimes they still struggle to put themselves first.
And that's okay. They're finding their way.
Just like you might be.

I’m not writing this to give you more tips.
You’re already carrying enough.

I’m writing this to remind you of something important:

You are not alone. And your wellbeing is not optional.

Not because you need to do more.

But because you deserve to feel alive.

Your children don't just need you to be there —

they need you to be vibrantly there.

"You can't keep giving if your own cup is empty.

But you can refill it — gently, step by step, in your own time."

Maybe today, you gift yourself five minutes of silence.
Maybe you say no to something that drains you.
Maybe you just let go — of tears, of thoughts, of expectations.

Whatever you do — please remember:

You matter.

Not just as a mother.
But as a human.
As a woman.

As you.

And the more you care for yourself,
the stronger, calmer, and more authentic your motherhood will feel.

From my heart to yours,
Danielle Sax