The Zen Mama Guide To Finding Your Rhythm In Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond is filled from cover to cover with various information, stories, personal experiences, expert contributions, resources, suggestions, tried-and-tested tools and so much more on an array of topics from Conception to Pregnancy to Pregnancy Loss to Birth to Postpartum to Conscious Parenting and more. With an overarching theme of mamahood, it has got us thinking a lot about the realities of motherhood, the BTS of those picture perfect curated feeds and the chaos and beauty of it all. We wanted to get real.. with YOU!! Below is a collection of thoughts from our YZM community on the realities of motherhood. Thank you to everyone who shared and please feel free to add your realities in the comments below!

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Motherhood: Let's Get Real

@teresapalmer
Ooof Motherhood can be a slog! Sometimes figuring out the balance between meeting all their different needs and carving moments out for my husband and myself can be really really challenging. I’m also so guilty of over-scheduling- case in point below;

The other day my husband had arranged to hang out with some friends and I had organised a play date but forgot to charge my car overnight. I’m a stickler for being on time and of course, as I get in the car already a few minutes late, I see that the car is super low. I’m instantly really bummed at myself and irrationally angry at my husband as he had taken our other vehicle so I was stuck with no other choice but to find a supercharger spot (30 minutes opposite direction from the playdate) drive out there with the kids all sitting around bored as anything, then sit in the car for 30 minutes as it charged. I put on a show for them to drown out the complaining (thanks Tesla for having Netflix!)

Finally, we were back on the road headed to the playdate almost 90 minutes late. By the time we finally arrived everyone was overly hungry and tired. I had to order postmates delivery to my friend's house as they’d already eaten the snacks I’d packed and then I had to disappear upstairs in my friend's house for an hour to do an IG live I had scheduled. I did this all within the first 5 minutes I arrived without even being able to catch up with my friend who I haven’t seen in a year. She was essentially left to feed and take care of my kids the moment I arrived at her house. It was “one of those days” we all have them and now I can laugh about it but at the time I was a frazzled mess and a flurry of apologies! Of course, the kids ended up having a wonderful time and I finally got to have a good catch-up with my mate. Oh, the joys!

@kristysylvester_
Trying to raise a human that is obedient and respectful. Without losing my cool!

@krystalwebster
Mum to a 2 year old and a 7 week old. Giving them both what they need seems impossible right now.

@rswig
Having time and space for inner child work / being a better mama while surviving single mamahood.

@laurenkelly__
2 weeks of kids with gastro. 5 million loads of washing and hands flaking from disinfectant.

@_bellalalala
I’ve just had my first and am finding it difficult to juggle work time / quality baby time / sleep and relax time!

@nicole_rass
Not finding jobs that offer the right balance, feeling like the jobs of a mumma never end.

@laura_lu_marini
Stay at home mum, the struggle to deal with others who think I have ‘free’ time.

@wittyspice
Work and career and kids juggle. We all say it, all slightly different scenarios but all a struggle.

@whereintheworldisshana
I’m a stepmom: parenting without stepping on biological moms toes especially with different opinions.

@lovelylittlepatch
Not having any family support nearby - no breaks for us, kids miss out.

@sarakimhall
Holding your sleeping 4 month old while comforting your 3 year old in bed with a sinus infection.

@the_yoga_collective
Balancing my own needs with my children. And trying to give equal love and attention to multiple children.

@kelly.howes
Still navigating the lack of any alone time, and finding that the biggest challenge.

@thenewbornjourney
The negative attention my eldest is seeking while I’m trying to deal with a newborn.

@ivyg123
1.5 year old still wakes a minimum of 3-4 times a night and I don’t have any family around so I’m tired.

@coffeebasket
Needing a break, but never wanting to leave your baby.

@ejaearth
Virtual schooling 1st and 5th graders, working remotely full time as a single mom with housework and cooking.

@katedyfan
Trying to do anything else besides keeping the baby alive, not gonna happen!

@julisajo
Pumping at work, SO awkward!

@beccabhanke
Having a medical child is hard and our issue doesn’t even compare to some.

@swrightolsen
I think I feel the most stretched in two ways. One of which is when I am trying to do too many things in a short amount of time. Sometimes I set myself up for more chaos. Like today, for instance, it wasn’t bad but it was full: Eric took Wyatt to school so I could learn lines on a show I was auditioning for, then Eric came home and put me on tape. I then had to send that, feed winter and get her settled diaper changed, and take Esmé to a swim class 30 mins away. After that we raced home I fed Winter again, headed to my friend's yard to throw her a small sprinkle shower for her 3rd baby, and then back home to get the kids some dinner and ready for bed. I didn’t leave a lot of room there for answering emails, getting work done for Baeo. I could feel the anxiety of having a full email inbox and zero time to get anything answered. I have learned I need to let that go. That some days won’t go so smooth and I won’t get everything done and that’s ok.

The other time I feel stretched thin is in the middle of the night, being woken up by one child who needs a cuddle or help in some way, then walking back to bed only to find the baby awake needing to feed, and then back and forth multiple times where I don’t get to sleep and I feel so tired. It’s not always this way of course but when it is I can feel myself needing extra sleep. Eric will usually help me by taking the kids in the morning and letting me get an extra 30 mins to an hour. I sometimes wake up drooling I’m sleeping so hard in that time frame. I always remind myself these moments are temporary and soon the kids will be sleeping again and I’ll be able to sleep more.

@ebony_eve_1
Running a business and single Mum of two has its challenges. I think the trick is self care daily!

@s.a_madden
Juggling mamahood with anxiety and depression, while still loving our kids fiercely.

@ashleylynn2410
Owing a business and mom guilt… it’s a delicate balance.

@bolettebang
Pregnant and I’m on my fourth week with nausea / vomiting, lying on the couch.

@kaitlin_rheanne
Demanded some time for myself at the gym this morning. Cried when I got there.

@bexisms
The societal need to be more than “just a mom”!

@loreleileona
Working from home and littles that don’t understand that I’m still working even though I am at home. Constant mom guilt!

@drifting_crawfords
I solo parent 6 months of the year. I used the tv, I just HAD too. Everyday I feel guilty.

@bagsomebread
Going to the bathroom alone is as real as seeing a unicorn on a full moon.

@jasleighjones
Currently waiting at home in the car while my very tired bubba finishes her nap!

@megsvela
Special needs mama here. Realizing that love heals and comforts all hard days.

@elinjones66
Parental guilt is crippling. I work full time, I miss my babies. It’s exhausting.

@loved_by_lindsey
Sometimes I don’t always enjoy it and I feel guilty for wanting some time away.

@lyris_y
There is no way to keep the house clean ever again.

@just.breathe.mama
Why nobody talks about sleep deprivation and how it affects every single part of you.

@sarah_dichiera
Trying to raise a family in this modern life. Can’t keep up with the relentless pace of managing it all.

@johannah_knott
From the time their feet hit the floor, your patience is tested. The struggle is worth it!

@stonehouse_journey
Finding time for selfcare and growth when you’re exhausted and don’t feel up to it.

@kirsty.pirsty
Learning how to navigate a new mental health diagnosis while loving my babes.

@heidi1282
Working mom while working through the grief of the loss of my parents affects how I parent.

@aussie.peach
Breastfeeding is a full time job!