Mother’s Day

Why the Greatest Gift Might Be to Yourself

Hi lovely,

With Mother’s Day coming up, I’ve been sitting with something that comes up time and time again in my sessions with women after separation:

“I just feel so depleted. I want to be a great mum, but I have nothing left in the tank.”

Maybe you know the feeling?

For many mothers, especially after a separation, Mother’s Day can stir up a whole cocktail of emotions—gratitude, guilt, grief, exhaustion. It is supposed to be a day of appreciation, but for some, it highlights how invisible they feel.

And yet... there is something powerful about this day. A quiet invitation.

To reflect. To reconnect.
To ask: “What do I need now?”

What if, this Mother’s Day, instead of hoping someone else celebrates you the way you long to be celebrated—you did it for yourself?

I have seen so many mothers who give endlessly to their children. But when I ask them how they’re taking care of themselves, they shrug. “I don’t have time.” “It feels selfish.” “I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

So let me gently say this: Your children do not just learn from what you say. They learn from what you model.

And when they see you take care of yourself—nourish your body, protect your energy, speak kindly to yourself—they are learning to do the same.

That is not selfish. That is legacy.

Self-care does not need to mean spa days or expensive things. Some of the most transformative practices are beautifully simple and deeply grounding.

Here are a few I often suggest to the women I work with:

🌿 Movement as medicine – Whether it is a walk in nature, a quiet yoga flow in your lounge room, or dancing in your kitchen. Moving your body shifts stagnant energy and lifts your mood.

🧘‍♀️ Stillness in the chaos – Even five minutes of meditation or breathwork can anchor you. Just a moment to come home to yourself before you face the world again.

🍲 Holistic nourishment – Think whole foods, warm herbal teas, colourful plates that love you back. Food that feels like a hug from the inside.

🪴 Creating space – Saying no to what drains you, and yes to what restores you. Making space in your home or your schedule. Letting go of perfection.

💧 Tuning in – Asking yourself each day: What do I need today to feel a little more like me? And then honouring the answer.

This is not about becoming someone new. It is about remembering who you are, beneath all the noise and roles and expectations.

And here is the beautiful thing: when you take care of yourself, your children feel it. They feel the steadiness, the softness, the strength that comes from a mum who is filling her own cup.

So this Mother’s Day, even if the day is shared, complicated, or not quite what you had hoped for—find a way to honour you. Not just as a mother, but as a woman. As a whole person.

Because that is a gift that keeps giving.

Sending love,

Kerstin x