A child brings joy and happiness in the home, but many moms are struggling after childbirth. According to HealthyWomen’s recent survey, 91% of expectant women and new mothers feel pressured to do it all by themselves when a child is born, and 44% said the pressure they experienced was extreme. Mothers lead a busy lifestyle, as they manage household chores, handle their 9 to 5 job, care for the children, and schedule family activities.
With so many responsibilities, new moms should ask for help, yet they don’t. Society has burdened women with the expectation of doing it all, and as a result, mothers think seeking help is taboo. Keep reading to understand the reasons why it’s okay to ask for help as a mom, and why it’s time to change your perspective.
Expectations Placed on Women are Unrealistic
Besides providing basic care like changing diapers, feeding, and bathing, society expects a mother to be protective and strong. It’s also a common belief that a mother should be able to predict when a child is hungry and feed them immediately. Not to mention, a mother should be happy all the time.
With such expectations placed on women, new moms strive to do all things by themselves. As a woman, you may feel guilty when you reach out to ask for help. You may feel that you’re unable to perform the duties you should do as a mother or assume people will think you’re weak. However, this way of thinking is flawed, a myth women should unlearn. To overcome this misconception, women should remember reaching out for help is vital to their wellbeing and loved ones.
Outsourcing Household Tasks isn’t a Luxury
Hiring someone to help you with household chores or the baby sounds luxurious to many women. Also, new moms feel embarrassed to outsource their everyday tasks because society tells them that all mothers should be able to do household work effortlessly. This means you should know how to do house chores while looking after the baby.
Hiring a mother’s helper isn’t taboo and plays a significant role in enhancing your mental and physical health. For instance, you could hire a helper to watch over the kids while you work or rest. You may even hire professionals to clean and tidy your home. Expert cleaners will deep clean your house, schedule regular cleaning services, and declutter your home to maintain pristine spaces. To embrace hired help, mothers should also accept there’s nothing wrong with wanting support. In fact, bringing in extra help is a crucial step to transition into motherhood.
Self-care Helps You Take Care of Your Family Better
Too often, moms tune into the needs of their kids and partners and neglect their own wellbeing. What many women don’t know is that tuning to their personal needs, feelings, limitations, and communicating to others is vital to providing the best care to their loved ones. Therefore, think of asking for help as a sign of taking care of yourself and family rather than a sign of weakness. Also, incorporate self-care practices for moms into your daily routine. This includes exercising, getting enough sleep, listening to your favorite music, and eating healthy.
Having a child is the happiest moment in a woman’s life. Unfortunately, many women feel overwhelmed when a baby arrives because they feel compelled to do everything. As a woman and a mother, it’s crucial to understand asking for help isn’t taboo. With this in mind, unlearn the expectations society has placed on mothers, consider hiring people to help you do your tasks, and embrace self-care.
