Why do so many of us turn the challenges of motherhood into an unattainable competition? The truth is, motherhood isn’t something you can train for or a game you can win. There’s no trophy waiting for you at the finish line.
You put in the work. You abstain from cheese, wine, and deli meats for nine long months. You might even give up coloring your hair or sacrificing your sleep, intimacy, and personal time. Many of us bid farewell to hobbies, peaceful Sunday mornings, and those cherished Saturday naps. You trade in takeout dinners for family meals, spontaneous happy hours, last-minute trips, and holidays outside of school breaks. Some even forgo parts of their identity, careers, and dreams. But here’s the kicker: no matter how much you sacrifice, there’s still no shiny medal at the end.
Once you become a mother, that role sticks with you for life. It can ease up and then become challenging again—it’s a cycle that feels never-ending. The truth is, the end of motherhood is death, and even that might drag you into years of therapy sessions.
Motherhood is not the Olympics. You’re not going to win just because your Rice Krispie treats are made from scratch. You won’t earn a gold medal for enrolling your child in three extracurricular activities or for letting them play in the mud all day instead. You won’t get to stand on a podium because you drove your kid to multiple sports or made them learn an instrument. No matter how much you juggle or how little you do, you won’t receive a medal.
You won’t snag silver for pureeing kale and freezing it in tiny cubes. I won’t earn bronze for sharing my honest experiences about motherhood. It’s not a race or an endurance event requiring rigorous training and hydration breaks (unless we’re talking about wine!). We may all strive for our personal best, but that should be about creating a balance between raising healthy, functioning adults and being healthy, functioning adults ourselves.
Attempting to do everything or be the best at everything might give the illusion of success, but ultimately? Still no medal. If you’re lucky, you might score some flowers and brunch on Mother’s Day.
You can bake exquisite cakes, throw amazing parties, or craft the best Halloween costumes. You could also create artistic lunches or volunteer at every event, or choose to do none of these things at all. Regardless, there’s still no medal.
Women are intelligent, skilled, and creative. Yet, once we become mothers, that multifaceted brilliance often gets squished into the narrow confines of motherhood, bulging like a hernia until it bursts into the competitive frenzy we see today: mothers striving for gold.
Being a good mom—or even a not-so-great one—doesn’t have to define your entire existence. It can be significant, even the most important aspect of your life if you choose it to be, but don’t let anyone else dictate that for you. Because while motherhood can feel competitive at times, it isn’t.
There are no podiums or medals. No one’s going to hoist a flag in your honor or serenade you with an anthem. You won’t find yourself on a box of diapers as the face of motherhood, nor will there be ticker-tape parades. The only reward at the end is knowing you’ve raised children who contribute positively to society, even if that simply means being kind. And that’s worth more than any medal you could ever receive. Just remember, don’t exhaust yourself in the process, or you might miss out on enjoying the fruits of your labor.
For those interested in pregnancy and home insemination, this resource from Hopkins Medicine is invaluable. If you’re curious about home insemination kits, check out this post on artificial insemination. You can also explore fertility supplements for further insights.
Summary
Motherhood is not a competitive sport with medals or trophies at the end. It’s a lifelong journey filled with sacrifices and challenges that ultimately reward you with children who contribute positively to society. Focus on balance rather than competition, and remember to enjoy the journey.
Keyphrase: Motherhood is not a race
Tags: [“home insemination kit” “home insemination syringe” “self insemination”]