Becoming Mothers Counseling

I kicked off the summer with the Blossom Birth & Family Fair and enjoyed connecting with local providers and meeting new and expecting families! There is so much to learn in becoming a new mother and I hope to be a source of gentle guidance in your journey. I recently gave a talk on the Imperfect Mother and shared tools on how we can navigate modern motherhood.

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Schedule worry time!

For future-oriented worries, try scheduling a dedicated time on the calendar to think about it. Creating that block in your schedule acts as a container and allows you to be present in the here and now.

I love sharing the wisdom shared in the MotherTogether Mom & Baby Support Group. If you're feeling alone in your motherhood journey, join us! The MotherTogether meets every Tuesday at 10am at Blossom Birth & Family! If you’re searching for community in motherhood, this is your place. Real moms. Honest talk. Authentic connection.

You only see a snapshot of someone else’s life, not the whole picture. Don’t compare your whole picture to another’s snapshot. Each person has their own unique journey, filled with triumphs and challenges that may not be visible at first glance. What you see on the surface is often just a curated glimpse, carefully selected to portray a certain image. Remember that behind every smile, there could be untold stories of struggle, perseverance, and growth.
Instead of comparing, focus on your own path and celebrate your milestones, no matter how small they may seem. Embrace your individuality and the experiences that shape you. Everyone has their own pace and their own destination; your journey is just as valuable and meaningful as anyone else’s. By appreciating your own story and respecting others', you can foster a sense of empathy and connection that transcends superficial comparisons.

The look you get when you realize you don’t have to own everyone else’s emotional experience. That look is one of profound relief and newfound clarity. It's as if a weight has been lifted from your shoulders, allowing you to breathe a little easier and stand a little taller. You begin to understand that you are responsible for your own feelings and that others are responsible for theirs. This realization opens up a world of healthier boundaries and more authentic connections. You start to see the beauty in allowing others to navigate their own emotional landscapes while you focus on cultivating your own inner peace and happiness.

"Did moms exist before social media?" @‌nytimes

A sneak peak at my talk on the Imperfect Mother: Parenting in the Age of Social Media!
Hope to see you at the Blossom Birth and Family Fair on Saturday, June 22nd. Reserve your FREE ticket today!

Have you reserved your FREE ticket to the Blossom Birth and Family Fair on Saturday, June 22nd?!

I'll be talking about the Imperfect Mother: Parenting in the Age of Social Media. Join me!

Sharing a recent theme from our conversation in the MotherTogether Mom & Baby Support Group: Document the difficult: Take photos of the bad times, as well as the good. It gives perspective, helps see progress, and is a reminder of the evolution of motherhood.

If you're feeling alone in your motherhood journey, join us! The MotherTogether meets every Tuesday at 10am at Blossom Birth & Family! If you’re searching for community in motherhood, this is your place. Real moms. Honest talk. Authentic connection.

IMPERFECT decisions are often better than no decision at all. Living in uncertainty for an extended period of time can be a stressful experience and moms often report a sense of relief in just coming to a decision - knowing they can always change their minds and pivot at a later point.
I'll be talking about the Imperfect Mother at the Birth & Family Fair in a few weeks!
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There is no need to wait until you’re sick or suffering to receive support. There is no badge of honor at the end of this. You don’t receive a prize for white-knuckling it through motherhood without support. In fact, the bravest thing a mother can do for herself and her child is ask for help.

Please, don’t wait until you’re suffering to ask for help. There is no need to wait until you’re sick or suffering to receive support. There is no badge of honor at the end of this. You don’t receive a prize for white-knuckling it through motherhood without support. In fact, the bravest thing a mother can do for herself and her child is ask for help.

Sending out a belated Happy Mother's Day greeting to you all!

I spent the day unplugged, in nature, and celebrating my daughter's 2nd birthday. My hope is for Mother's Day to become an opportunity to advocate for yourself, ask for what you need, and give yourself permission to receive care and support.

With Mother’s Day approaching, I wanted to share this free online series for those who don’t feel like they fit the mold of the traditional Mother’s Day celebrations.

Link to sign up here:
https://www.davidkesslertraining.com/mothers-day

Every week I like to share a recap from some of the themes we discussed in our recent MotherTogether Support Group. If you're feeling alone in your motherhood journey, join us!

The MotherTogether meets every Tuesday at 10am at Blossom Birth & Family! If you’re searching for community in motherhood, this is your place. Real moms. Honest talk. Authentic connection.

I loved the collective wisdom shared in the Group each week. From celebrating the skill set of employing "crude parenting" as needed to encouraging one another to get help sooner rather than later, I feel honored to be a part of this amazing group.

Every week I like to share a recap from some of the themes we discussed in our recent MotherTogether Support Group. If you're feeling alone in your motherhood journey, join us!

The MotherTogether meets every Tuesday at 10am at Blossom Birth & Family! If you’re searching for community in motherhood, this is your place. Real moms. Honest talk. Authentic connection.

Every week I like to share a recap from some of the themes we discussed in our recent MotherTogether Support Group. If you're feeling alone in your motherhood journey, join us!

The MotherTogether meets every Tuesday at 10am at Blossom Birth & Family! If you’re searching for community in motherhood, this is your place. Real moms. Honest talk. Authentic connection.

When in need of a mindful moment to slow down your nervous system, try connecting with the small hands of your child. Take their hand in yours and tune into your senses. Notice the smallness of their hands and fingers, the soft skin, the chubby wrinkles, the tiny fingernails.
Motherhood is full of frustrating, overwhelming moments. Though deeply rewarding, motherhood often unveils moments of frustration and overwhelm. In the chaos of managing multiple responsibilities, from soothing crying infants to mediating sibling disputes, mothers can find themselves stretched thin. The constant juggling act of meeting the needs of their children while tending to household tasks can leave them feeling drained and questioning their abilities. Add societal pressures and unrealistic expectations, and the weight of motherhood can become suffocating. These moments, laden with exhaustion and doubt, serve as poignant reminders of the immense challenges that come with nurturing and shaping young lives.
In this whirlwind of motherhood, practicing mindfulness can take us out of the frustration, even if only for a moment. Amidst the chaos of daily routines and endless to-do lists, mindful mothers intentionally cultivate present moment awareness, fostering a deeper connection with themselves and their children. Mindfulness allows mothers to savor the moments, to respond to their children's needs with compassion rather than react out of stress. By prioritizing self-care and embracing the power of the present moment, mindful mothers nurture their own well-being and also create a nurturing environment for their child.

"Everyone else has it all figured out"....

We naturally assume we're the only one struggling and I often think how unfair it is to compare our internal struggles with others' external presentation. I like to think of comparison as rooted in our need for connection and desire for reassurance. As mothers, we're all in this together.

I constantly here the phrase "I'm not doing enough" from moms and in today's society it almost feels we can't win - that nothing we do will ever be enough or "right". It makes me realize that rather than trying to meet some unrealistic cultural standard of "enough" or "right", we as mothers need to learn to not only redefine "enough", but also learn to be ok with the choices we're making and that we're doing the best we can.

captures this phenomenon so perfectly in her captivating book

I've been doing some soul-searching lately and really thinking deeply about what I want Becoming Mothers to be.

I believe so strongly in the need for connection during the pregnancy and the postpartum period and I see first hand how the transition to motherhood is gentler when done in community. To bring some simplicity to my own life, I left my two offices and moved my practice closer to my own home in Redwood City. I'm working to build more opportunities for in-person connection through a hyperlocal community on the mid-peninsula. If you're seeking IN-PERSON support in your becoming mothers journey, reach out to learn more about how to get connected!

Stay tuned for more updates!

Every week I like to share a recap from some of the themes we discussed in our recent MotherTogether Support Group. If you're feeling alone in your motherhood journey, join us!

The MotherTogether meets every Tuesday at 10am at Blossom Birth & Family! If you’re searching for community in motherhood, this is your place. Real moms. Honest talk. Authentic connection.

The MotherTogether Group encourages moms to prioritize rest, set achievable daily goals, and let go of guilt. We talked about how these strategies can help mom manage their time and energy more effectively during pregnancy and postpartum.

The MotherTogether meets every Tuesday! If you’re searching for community in motherhood, this is your place. Real moms. Honest talk. Authentic connection. Here is a recap of some of the themes we talked about last week!

So many great themes from the group last week. I especially loved this beautiful reframe around how we think about childcare. Perhaps we can consider daycare, babysitters, preschool, nannies, grandparents, and other caregivers as adding love into our child's life.

Motherhood is a journey in building stamina.

The MotherTogether meets every Tuesday! If you’re searching for community in motherhood, this is your place. Real moms. Honest talk. Authentic connection. Here is a recap of some of the themes we talked about last week!

I'm really enjoying the book, On Our Best Behavior, by

There are so many nuggets of wisdom around how women have been socialized to demonstrate their value. I especially loved this quote speaking to generational similarities that I myself often feel. Moms often find themselves immersed in a whirlwind of activities which, whether intentionally or not, forces or allows them to sidestep the weight of stressful thoughts. Juggling the demands of household chores, managing schedules, and attending to the needs of family members, we find ourselves with little space for introspection.

How do you find time to slow down and make space for your thoughts?

Is coffee the new oxygen mask?

Upon boarding the plane, we're always told to secure your own mask before you assist your child. This has become a popular framework for talking about meeting your own needs so you have the capacity to meet the needs of others.

After a particularly difficult night with frequent child wakings, I told my children they would simply have to tolerate the feeling of "starvation" until I made my coffee and I found myself wondering...is coffee is the new oxygen mask?

Let's change the narrative of motherhood - YOU ARE DOING ENOUGH!

The MotherTogether meets every Tuesday! If you’re searching for community in motherhood, this is your place. Real moms. Honest talk. Authentic connection. Here is a recap of some of the themes we talked about last week!

Thanks for your interest in Motherhood Stories - A Women’s Circle! In this group, you will connect with others in your shared experience as mothers, feel empowered by the strength of women in your community, learn to integrate and prioritize your own needs, and on a lighter note - be entertained by the inspirational words of Jessi Klein: “I’ll Show Myself Out, Essays on Midlife & Motherhood”.

The group is open to moms at least 1 year postpartum. We will begin each evening with a calming and centering ritual, listen to a short chapter in the audiobook, followed by conversation and connection.