By Josie Ridpath, LICSW | Inspired Bravery Counseling
If you had asked me years ago how I felt about Mother’s Day, "joyful" wouldn’t have been the word I used. In fact, there was a time I was convinced motherhood wasn't for me at all. I looked at the expectations and I just didn't see a version of that life I wanted to live.
If you find yourself struggling with Mother's Day or motherhood, I want you to know: it’s not a "you" problem. Sometimes it's an expectation problem, whether from ourselves, family, society, or sometimes a combination.
Why High-Achieving Women Struggle with Motherhood Expectations
The shift from "I don't want this" to "I love this" didn't happen overnight. It happened when I stopped trying to replicate a version of motherhood that was working for someone else.
Many of my clients come to me because they are struggling with motherhood identity. They feel like they’re failing because they don't fit the "perfect mom" mold. But here is the truth: Motherhood does change you. It shifts your entire life, your career, and your priorities. You can’t necessarily "have it all," and that’s okay.
Being a mom is sacrificial work, but when you stop fighting the change and start leading it, you realize it is also good and beautiful work.
From Performance to Presence: The Power of Making Peace
When you are struggling with motherhood, every holiday can feel like a performance you’re required to give. But for me, the biggest shift came from the internal work of forgiveness and letting go. Making peace with the past allowed me to move away from obligation and toward intentional, value-based choices.
Today, that looks like celebrating Mother’s Day at the zoo with my girls and the moms in my life who respect our family’s boundaries. I’m able to do that, and actually enjoy it, because I’ve done the work to release the old expectations that didn't serve me.
My kids and my marriage are my top priorities, and honoring those priorities is what gives me the capacity to show up as a better therapist for the women I serve. When you see healthy, diverse examples of what parenting can look like, you realize that "sacrificial work" doesn't have to mean self-abandonment. It means choosing what matters most and letting go of the rest.
Coming Into the Mom You’re Trying to Be
I want my girls to grow up seeing a mother who chooses this life every day, not out of obligation, but out of genuine enjoyment.
If you are currently struggling with motherhood or feeling lost in the "sacrificial" part of the job, I’m here to tell you that the narrative can change. You can navigate the highs and lows, set the boundaries you need, and reclaim a version of this life that you actually enjoy living.
Therapy for Moms in Minnesota: Build a Life You Love
You don't have to navigate the identity shift of motherhood alone. I specialize in helping career-driven moms move past the "shoulds" and build a life rooted in their own values.
I offer private-pay online therapy in Minnesota for women who are ready to stop performing and start finding genuine joy in their roles.
Ready to stop struggling and start leading?
Book your free 15-minute consultation at: inspiredbraverycounseling.com