Redefining What It Means to Be a “Good Mom”
Letting Yourself Off the Hook
Did you ever imagine before you had kids that there would be so many “right” ways to parent floating around, everywhere from the grocery check-out line to the PTA, to your own inbox and brain? Did you expect to struggle with all the conflicting advice and (let's be honest) well-meaning side-eyes from family, friends, and even strangers? Maybe you had a vision of what being a good mom or parent “should” look like, only to find out life had, um, other plans.
You are not alone.
Recently, on The Real Family Eats podcast, Jennifer Lebrick (working mom, then not-so-working mom, wife, and lemon bar enthusiast) opened up about exactly these challenges: career pressure, parent guilt, and the delicate dance of keeping both your sanity and your marriage afloat when you and your partner are running a household, jobs, and, well, a life. (Psst: The lemon bars were also amazing.)
Why Doing It All Is (Still) Exhausting
Jennifer shared that after years as the sole breadwinner while her husband stayed home, she was caught between two very different, and equally intense, demands. Society whispered that moms, in particular, should want to be at home nurturing and connecting, while the world of work cheered her on to “lean in” and keep smashing that glass ceiling.
But here’s what she found: trying to do it all, and do it perfectly, was simply exhausting (raise your hand if you’ve ever asked yourself why you’re grumpier with your kids than you want to be!). Jennifer described feeling like every day was a marathon, juggling workplace challenges only to come home with a near-empty tank and then try to pour from it.
Who Said You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup?
You might be feeling the weight of missed milestones, time that slips by, or even that nagging suspicion that you should be doing something about feeling disconnected from yourself, your partner, or your kids. If it feels like you’re losing track of the “you” parts of your relationship somewhere between dinner, bath time, and work email, that’s real and it matters.
The truth is, the parent guilt and relentless pressure to do (and be) everything are not just tiring; they chip away at the foundation of your relationship with yourself and your partner. As Jennifer shared, even a strong marriage can feel the strain of constant busyness, lack of community, and the isolation that parenting can sometimes bring.
Finding Your Way Back to Each Other
If you’re reading this and feeling seen (or, heck, if you’re reading this hiding in the bathroom for five minutes of peace), let me tell you - it is absolutely possible to re-center, reconnect, and build the partnership (and life) you really want.
That’s exactly why Couples Therapy Intensives at Embrace Renewal Therapy & Wellness Collective were created. In a world where “date night” sounds nice but can feel nearly impossible, a therapy intensive gives you and your partner dedicated time, think of it as a fast-track reset for your relationship. No more trying to patch things up in snatched moments, no more letting resentment or exhaustion build. Our intensives are designed to help parents just like you let go of the “shoulds,” process those feelings of guilt and overwhelm, and find new strategies for supporting each other, inside and outside of parenting.
You Deserve Care, Too
Imagine having the bandwidth to actually enjoy your partner, to notice (and maybe feel proud of!) the teamwork you’re building at home, and to step off the hamster wheel of guilt for not “doing it all.” Whether you work outside the home, inside the home, or some dizzying combination, you deserve a relationship that nurtures you, too.
Ready to take your first step?
If Jennifer’s story resonated, or you just want more lemon bar recipes and less emotional chaos, check out our Couples Therapy Intensives and schedule a free consultation today. Your relationship is worth the investment.
And if you want a dose of honesty (and maybe a few laughs)? Listen in to Jennifer’s full story on The Real Family Eats podcast.
Stop trying to tick off every box on that impossible checklist. Start showing up for you and for each other. We’re here to help.
