Motherhood; Nurturing the Self While Nurturing Others

Becoming a mother is a journey that unfolds in waves—some days full of wonder, others heavy with challenge. Each post here is a companion on that journey, offering insights, reflections, and practical tools—including free guides and exercises—to help you navigate motherhood with presence and compassion. For those who want to go even deeper, my Growing Through Motherhood journal is available. Pause, explore, and know that every step you take toward yourself nourishes both you and your children.

Growing Through Motherhood
A 60-page guided journal with 80+ prompts, rituals, and space to reflect on your emotional journey — from grief, rage, and numbness to joy, identity, and spiritual reconnection. Healing should never be out of reach.
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Latest Posts:

When Love Felt Far Away: Restoring the Mother’s Vitality and Presence (Part 4 of 4)

A gentle guide for mothers who have felt emotionally distant and long to reconnect with their children. This final part of the When Love Felt Far Away series offers compassionate insight, grounding practices, and micro-moments of presence to restore vitality. Includes practical examples, guidance on meeting shame, and a free companion guide to support healing…
When Love Felt Far Away: The Mother’s Hidden Sorrows (Part 3 of 4)

Explore the hidden inner world of the distant mother — the shame, loneliness, and old wounds that shape her presence. Understand how this pattern can pass from one generation to the next, and why recognising it is the first step toward healing. A compassionate, Jungian-informed look at the dead mother archetype and its legacy in…
When Love Felt Far Away: Growing Up beside a Closed Heart (Part 1 of 4)

Growing up with a parent who was physically present but emotionally absent can leave a lasting imprint of unworthiness and longing. This first part of our four-part series explores the “dead-mother” archetype, how it relates to Childhood Emotional Neglect, and the early formation of the fantasy bond. It helps you recognize these patterns with compassion…
When Love Felt Far Away: Healing the Wounds of CEN and the Dead Mother Archetype

Explore the impact of emotional distance and the dead mother archetype through this empathetic guide to Childhood Emotional Neglect. This pillar article introduces the four-part series, offering insight, reflection, and gentle invitations to reclaim presence, warmth, and connection. Learn how patterns of emotional unavailability form, how they affect relationships, and begin the journey toward nurturing…
When Your Child Provokes and Your Partner Yells: A Guide to Boundaries, Healing, and Hope (+Free Printable)

Learn practical strategies for when your child provokes and your partner yells at them. Discover how to set healthy boundaries, protect your emotional well-being, manage your own triggers, and use therapeutic tools like Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Nonviolent Communication (NVC). This guide offers actionable exercises, repair rituals, and insights into child development and family…
The Many Faces of Grief in Motherhood: Healing from Loss and CEN (+Journaling Workbook)

Motherhood brings joy, but also deep grief—for your body, freedom, friendships, and more. Explore 11 types of maternal grief, understand how Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN) amplifies them, and discover therapeutic pathways and journaling prompts to honor your feelings, heal, and cultivate presence in daily life.
Toddlers, Boundaries, and Empathy: A Guide Through Kohlberg’s Moral Stages

A compassionate guide to toddler and preschool moral development using Kohlberg’s stages. Understand typical behaviors, how empathy emerges, and practical ways to respond when your child has ADHD or you experienced Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN), fostering connection, patience, and secure attachment.
Leaning into the Mother Archetype: Healing CEN and CPTSD Patterns of Avoidance (+Free Guide)

Discover how Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN) and CPTSD patterns shape motherhood. Learn gentle practices, nervous system tools, and reparenting steps to move from avoidance to authentic presence—with a free companion guide.
Why You Resist Sleep Even When You’re Exhausted

Have you ever been exhausted but found yourself scrolling, cleaning, or staring into the quiet instead of sleeping? When childhood emotional neglect or adversity shaped our early years, rest could feel unsafe or undeserved. In adulthood, that old imprint resurfaces each night. This piece explores the hidden emotional needs beneath bedtime procrastination—and gentle, practical ways…
Healing the Echoes of Verbal & Emotional Abuse in Parenting + Free Printable Guide

Break the cycle of verbal & emotional abuse in parenting. Learn why old wounds resurface, and find gentle tools, scripts, and IFS reflections to parent with compassion instead of criticism.
Alone Time for Moms: A Parenting Strategy to Stay Present, Prevent Burnout, and Manage Mom Rage (+Printable Ideas)

Stay-at-home moms need alone time to prevent burnout, mom rage, and emotional exhaustion. Learn why self-care is essential, how to create breaks even with young children, and practical ways to recharge.
Safe in the Age Gap: Gentle Questions to Nurture Yourself and Navigate Parenting Challenges + Free Guide (Part 3 of 3)

Explore gentle questions and a self-parenting ritual designed for survivors of childhood emotional neglect in age-gap relationships. Learn how to navigate parenting challenges, energy mismatches, and deepen connection with compassion and awareness.
Why We Long to Start a Family Early: Healing Childhood Emotional Neglect and Embracing Wholeness (+ Free Guide)

Explore how Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN) can fuel an intense longing to start a family early. This trauma-informed article unpacks the hidden emotional drivers behind family urgency and offers reflection prompts, IFS-based tools, and reparenting practices. Whether you’re planning a family or already have one, this guide helps you understand your inner needs with compassion…
The 8 Hidden Wounds That Shape How We Parent — And How to Gently Heal the Echoes

Learn Pete Walker’s 8 types of childhood trauma — four abuses and four neglects — and how they shape our parenting today. Discover why these cycles repeat and how to break them gently with IFS, practical tools, and free guides.
Healing the Motherline: 5 Guides + Journals to Break Generational Patterns and Become the Parent You Needed

Discover 5 deep, compassionate guides to heal the wounds of childhood emotional neglect (CEN), break generational trauma patterns, and become the parent you always needed — each with a free practical tool to support your journey.
When Home Feels Heavy: Why You’d Rather Stay Out All Day — And How to Feel Safe Staying In (+Free Printable)

Do you feel an urge to flee your own home? Learn why CEN makes home feel heavy, how to tune into your needs, and tiny ways to rest without running.
The Hidden Cost of Breastfeeding: What Every Mother Wishes You Knew + Printable Snack Ideas

Breastfeeding is natural—but it’s also biologically demanding and emotionally complex. Learn how hormones, ADHD, loss of appetite, and pain affect mothers, and how to offer true support.
Why Your Child Acts Out with Their Father — and You’re Left Carrying It All (+Free IFS Dialogue)

When your child whines for dad and he avoids conflict, you’re left carrying the parenting weight. Here’s why it triggers you — and how to set boundaries.
The Motherhood Fog: Why You Feel Irritated, Blank, and Disconnected—And How to Parent Through It (+ Free Journal)

Feeling numb, irritated, and confused as a mom? This gentle, therapeutic guide explores the hidden roots of motherhood fog—from ADHD and emotional neglect to the nonstop demands of caregiving—and offers practical steps to parent through it and reconnect with yourself.
Why ADHD Moms Feel Overwhelmed by Clutter and Noise: Trauma, Emotional Neglect, and the Healing Power of Simplicity

Why do ADHD mothers feel overwhelmed by clutter and noise—and why does being home feel so triggering? Explore the trauma-informed reasons behind sensory overload in moms with ADHD and emotional neglect, plus realistic minimalist tips and nervous system tools to help you feel calmer, safer, and more at home.
Is It ADHD, CEN, or Just Motherhood Overload? A Deep Guide for Women Who’ve Always ‘Managed’—Until Now

A deep, compassionate guide for women and mothers exploring undiagnosed ADHD, emotional neglect (CEN), and attachment wounds. Find clarity and next steps.
The 9 Human Needs That Shape Your Mental Health: A Mother’s Guide to Emotional Wellbeing (+ Free Journal)

Discover the 9 essential emotional needs every mother must nurture to prevent burnout, depression, and overwhelm. Learn practical self-care tips and reflection prompts based on the Human Givens framework to help you restore balance and emotional wellbeing.
Deep Dive: Why You Get So Angry With Your Toddler – And How to Repair With Love (+free resources)

Struggling with toddler defiance despite your best efforts to parent gently? Learn how to set loving boundaries without fear or force — with real-life strategies for parents in emotional recovery.
Lonely Motherhood and the Myth of the Village: How to Build Real Support That Respects Your Values + Free Workbook

Many mothers today feel deeply alone—burned out by constant toddler demands and afraid to trust others with their children. This article explores the roots of our modern solitude, the fears we carry, and how to slowly build a support circle aligned with our deepest parenting values.
Living for Your Kids, Losing Yourself: A Deep Dive Into Maternal Emptiness and the Way Back + Free Journal

Feeling empty and restless at the end of the day, even when exhausted? This heartfelt article explores why so many mothers feel disconnected, overwhelmed, and drained—and offers a healing path back to self through psychological insight and daily micro-shifts.
Becoming the Parent You Needed: Healing the Mother-Daughter Dynamic (+free journal)

Explore the emotional complexity of mother-daughter dynamics and how past wounds can shape parenting today. This healing article invites mothers into awareness, repair, and becoming the parent they longed for—featuring a free guided journal for post-rupture reconnection.
Why I Use a Tupperware Instead of a Wet Bag for Cloth Diapers—and Why It Works

A practical, low-waste alternative to wet bags for cloth diapers: discover how using a simple Tupperware container can simplify your cloth diaper routine, reduce odors, and make outings easier.
When Motherhood Gets Harder: Why Your Toddler Challenges You More Than Your Newborn (+Reflexion Guide)

Why toddlerhood can feel harder than the newborn stage—and how mothers can grow through it. A comforting, deep-dive article for overwhelmed moms feeling overstimulated and behind.
The Toy Trigger: Why Clutter Overwhelms You and How to Heal It (+Free Journal for Moms)

Why the sight of toys or clutter triggers overwhelm—and how deeper healing can begin with space, self-compassion, and nervous system repair.
Touched Out, Talked Out: The Repetition, Clinginess, and Loudness of Toddlers—and the Silent Burnout of Mothers (+free journal)

Why does my toddler repeat the same things over and over—and why does it drain me so much? Learn the psychological roots of repetition, maternal burnout, and touch irritation. This in-depth article offers trauma-informed insight, nervous system wisdom, and real-life structural tools for overwhelmed mothers.
Preparing Your Toddler for a New Baby: Honest Expectations and Gentle Transitions for a Strong Sibling Bond

Help your toddler adjust to a new sibling by lowering unrealistic expectations, maintaining connection, and avoiding major life changes around birth. Honest preparation builds long-term sibling harmony.
The Heroine’s Journey Through Motherhood: A Mythic Path to Heal the Mother Wound + Free Guide

Explore the heroine’s journey through the lens of motherhood—from conception to early parenting—with emotional depth, mythological wisdom, and practical tools for healing childhood emotional neglect.
Preventing Attachment Issues: Supporting Children of Fearful-Avoidant Parents (+free PDF)

Watching another parent unknowingly create a fearful-avoidant attachment pattern can be painful. This guide helps you process your own emotions, understand why they parent this way, and introduce new perspectives without triggering defensiveness. Backed by research and compassionate strategies.
Why Your Toddler’s Rough Play Is Healthy (And Why It Feels Uncomfortable for You) +free PDF

Rough-and-tumble play is a vital part of child development, helping toddlers build social skills, emotional regulation, and healthy assertiveness. Learn why play fighting isn’t aggression, how it shapes resilience, and why suppressing it can lead to challenges in adulthood. Backed by psychology and neuroscience, this guide offers reassurance and practical insights for parents.
Should You Foster Secure Attachment in an Insecure World? Why It Matters More Than Ever

Is secure attachment still the best goal in an uncertain world? Learn why emotional security builds resilience, adaptability, and critical thinking—even in crisis.
When Your Mother Seems to Forget You After You Have a Baby—Understanding the Distance and Healing the Rift (+free PDF)

Many new mothers feel distant or bitter toward their own mothers after giving birth. If your mother seems more focused on your child than you, leaving you feeling invisible, misunderstood, or resentful, you\’re not alone. Learn why this happens, how childhood emotional neglect (CEN) plays a role, and how to heal the rift without losing…
Why Some Mothers Crave Intense Physical Labor Instead of Rest—And How to Honor That Need (+free PDF)

Feeling drawn to intense physical labor instead of rest? Many mothers unconsciously use exertion as an emotional regulation tool. Learn why this happens, how to voice your needs without guilt, and practical ways to balance physical effort with true rest.
The Hidden Pain We Inherit: Why Martyrdom and Avoidance Aren’t Your Only Paths in Motherhood (+free PDF)

The wounds of our motherline often remain unspoken, yet they shape our lives in profound ways. This article explores the intergenerational transmission of trauma, the heroine’s journey to healing, and practical steps to break cycles of self-sacrifice and avoidance—creating a new legacy of presence, boundaries, and self-respect.
The Gentle Arrival: How Motherhood Unfolds Like the Seasons (+free PDF)

Just as seasons arrive in waves, so does the transition from maiden to mother. Motherhood is not an instant shift but a gradual unfolding. Learn to embrace the beauty and wisdom of slow change.
Mom Guilt & Mental Stimulation: Why You Crave Podcasts but Feel Guilty Ignoring Your Kids

Feeling guilty for wanting a podcast while your child plays? Here’s why you crave stimulation, how childhood emotional neglect plays a role, and how to break the cycle without guilt.
Why Inconsiderate People Trigger You More Than They “Should”—And How to Heal the Wound Beneath

You’re in a conversation, and someone barges in with an opinion that has nothing to do with them. They hijack the moment, take offense at something that wasn’t even directed their way, or somehow make the situation about themselves—demanding validation or acting wounded when no harm was meant. Or maybe it’s more overt. Someone cuts…
Why Your Child’s Whining Feels Overwhelming—And How to Respond with Calm and Care

Do you feel overwhelmed, irritated, or even numb when your child whines? If you grew up with childhood emotional neglect (CEN), your nervous system may perceive whining as a threat rather than a call for connection. This article explores why this happens, how to shift from shutdown to attunement, and offers healing exercises, practical responses,…
Why Stillness Feels Unsettling for the CEN Mother at the Playground—And How to Heal

Do you struggle with stillness at the playground—feeling restless, unproductive, or even triggered? If you grew up with childhood emotional neglect (CEN), waiting and \”doing nothing\” can feel deeply uncomfortable. This article explores the hidden reasons behind this discomfort and offers healing steps, practical exercises, and resources to help you find peace in presence.
When Food Waste Feels Like a Personal Attack: Healing Parental Triggers Around Mealtime Struggles

Watching your baby refuse food can feel frustrating, triggering deep emotions around waste, control, and childhood food shame. Learn why this happens, how to reframe it, and practical strategies for a stress-free mealtime.
Why Your 1-Year-Old Refuses to Be Fed—And Why That’s a Good Thing

Picky eating in infants is a natural part of development, helping them gain independence. Learn why this phase is crucial, how to navigate food waste stress, and get 10 easy meal ideas for stress-free, baby-led feeding.
The Electra Complex & the CEN Mother: When a Daughter’s Love Feels Like Rejection

Why does your daughter’s attachment to her father trigger feelings of rejection or inadequacy? For mothers who experienced childhood emotional neglect (CEN), Electra complex behaviors can stir deep-seated wounds. This guide explores the psychological roots of these emotions, attachment theories, and practical ways to foster a secure mother-daughter bond.
Breaking the Cycle: How Your Attachment Style Shapes Parenting (and How to Foster Secure Attachment in Your Child)

Discover how your attachment style influences your parenting and learn practical strategies to foster secure bonds with your child. This comprehensive guide explores secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized attachment; offers healing frameworks like IFS, EMDR, and somatic work; and provides book recommendations, YouTube resources, and actionable Q&A to help break generational cycles.
Self-Care Rituals from Ancient Traditions for Modern Mothers

Discover the power of self-care rituals from ancient traditions like Ayurveda, Ikigai, and Wabi-Sabi, and learn how they can help modern mothers reconnect with their bodies and minds. Find practical tips and expert insights to create a balanced, fulfilling self-care routine that supports your well-being and happiness as a mother.
The Rewards of Motherhood: Finding Meaning, Growth, and Everyday Magic

Motherhood is more than its struggles—it’s a path of deep personal growth, joy, and meaning. Learn how to recognize the hidden rewards of motherhood, embrace glimmers of joy, and reframe challenges as opportunities for healing and transformation.
The Unexpected Challenges of Motherhood: A Dark Night of the Soul

Motherhood can feel like a profound identity shift, sometimes leading to a Dark Night of the Soul. This article explores matrescence, the Heroine’s Journey, and Polyvagal Theory to help mothers navigate this transformation with self-compassion. Includes real stories, reflective exercises, and practical self-care tips.
From Maiden to Mother: A Journaling Guide for Embracing the Transition

Struggling with the transition from maiden to mother? These 30+ journaling prompts, inspired by rites of passage theory and Jungian archetypes, will help you navigate identity shifts, heal past wounds, and step into motherhood with confidence.
Motherhood as a Journey of Growth: Embracing the Transition from Maiden to Mother

Motherhood isn’t just a role—it’s a transformation. This article explores matrescence, the shift from maiden to mother, and why so many women resist the change. Learn how to navigate this transition, embrace glimmers, and find yourself in motherhood. Includes book recommendations and psychological insights.
Motherhood, CEN, and the Search for the Lost Self: A Deep Dive into Lisa Marchiano’s Motherhood

How does childhood emotional neglect (CEN) shape motherhood? Lisa Marchiano’s Motherhood explores the hidden struggles of mothers with CEN through Jungian myths and deep self-exploration. Learn how to reparent yourself, break free from old wounds, and find healing through motherhood.
Mother Rage and the Hidden Wounds of Childhood Emotional Neglect: Understanding, Healing, and Finding Peace

Struggling with intense anger as a mom? Mother rage often stems from long-term unmet needs, especially if you experienced childhood emotional neglect (CEN). Learn why it happens, how to manage it with practical exercises, and how to heal through self-compassion, emotional regulation, and breaking generational cycles.
The Best Herbal Teas for Pregnancy and Postpartum Healing

Discover the best herbal teas for pregnancy and postpartum healing. Learn which teas are safe, how they support recovery, and find nourishing recipes for energy, relaxation, and milk supply—all backed by research.
How to Manage a Fast (Precipitous) Home Birth: A Compassionate Guide to Navigating the Unexpected

A precipitous labor can be intense and overwhelming. Learn how to stay calm, prepare your space, and support yourself and your baby during a fast home birth. A warm, research-based guide for both planned and unexpected rapid births.