The Mother’s Blog

Where motherhood meets realness, compassion, and practical tools for your well-being.

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The Essential Guide to Postpartum

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Emotional Regulation for Moms

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The Mental Load for Moms

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MOST RECENT POSTS

Overcoming Mom Guilt: A Therapist’s Guide
Motherhood Melissa Parr Motherhood Melissa Parr

Overcoming Mom Guilt: A Therapist’s Guide

Mom guilt can feel relentless but it doesn’t have to define your motherhood. In this therapist’s guide, you’ll learn why guilt shows up, how to shift unhelpful thought patterns, and practical mom guilt tips to help you build self-compassion and embrace guilt-free parenting.

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Pregnancy After Loss: Navigating Hope, Fear, and Healing
Pregnancy, Trauma Melissa Parr Pregnancy, Trauma Melissa Parr

Pregnancy After Loss: Navigating Hope, Fear, and Healing

Pregnancy after loss can bring a swirl of emotions- hope, fear, grief, and love, all existing at once. You might feel grateful for this new baby while still carrying the pain of what you’ve lost. This post explores the tender emotional landscape of pregnancy after miscarriage or stillbirth, why it can be hard to trust your body again, and how trauma-informed therapy (including EMDR) can help you find calm and connection in this new chapter.

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Feeling Disconnected From Your Baby? Understanding Postpartum Bonding Challenges
Postpartum Melissa Parr Postpartum Melissa Parr

Feeling Disconnected From Your Baby? Understanding Postpartum Bonding Challenges

Bonding with your baby doesn’t always happen instantly and if you’re feeling disconnected, you’re not alone. Many new moms quietly wonder, “Why am I not bonding with my baby?” In this post, we’ll explore why postpartum bonding challenges happen, how to recognize the signs, and gentle ways to nurture connection with support and compassion.

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Why Old Wounds Resurface in Motherhood
Trauma, Motherhood Melissa Parr Trauma, Motherhood Melissa Parr

Why Old Wounds Resurface in Motherhood

Motherhood has a way of shining light on parts of our past we thought were long behind us. Many new moms are surprised when old wounds- like childhood pain, unresolved trauma, or self-critical thoughts, suddenly resurface after having a baby. This can feel confusing, overwhelming, and even shameful. But you’re not alone, and you’re not broken. In this post, we explore why motherhood often brings up old hurts, how it impacts your daily life, and the healing tools that can help you feel more grounded, connected, and confident.

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Revenge Bedtime Procrastination: Why Moms Do It & What Helps
Motherhood Melissa Parr Motherhood Melissa Parr

Revenge Bedtime Procrastination: Why Moms Do It & What Helps

Feeling exhausted but still staying up late to scroll or binge shows? You’re not alone. Many moms fall into “revenge bedtime procrastination” as a way to reclaim time for themselves but it often backfires, leaving you even more drained. In this post, we explore why moms do it, why it doesn’t actually help, and gentle alternatives that can give you the rest, peace, and “me time” you truly deserve.

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The Invisible Weight of Motherhood in Postpartum: Understanding and Sharing the Mental Load
Mental Load Melissa Parr Mental Load Melissa Parr

The Invisible Weight of Motherhood in Postpartum: Understanding and Sharing the Mental Load

Motherhood often comes with an invisible backpack of responsibility- remembering feeding schedules, planning pediatrician visits, managing household tasks, all while running on very little sleep. This unseen burden is called the mental load, and for many new moms, it becomes heavier than ever in the postpartum period. In this post, we’ll explore what the mental load is, why it intensifies after baby arrives, how it impacts your mental health and relationships, and practical tools to begin sharing it more equally. Plus, discover a new resource designed to help couples rebalance the load together.

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Top 5 Reasons to Start Therapy While Pregnant
Motherhood Melissa Parr Motherhood Melissa Parr

Top 5 Reasons to Start Therapy While Pregnant

Pregnancy can bring joy but also anxiety, identity shifts, and unexpected emotional triggers. Therapy during pregnancy gives you a safe, supportive space to process what’s coming, heal what’s surfacing, and prepare for postpartum with more clarity and confidence. In this post, we explore five powerful reasons to consider starting therapy while pregnant, and how it can support your emotional well-being before baby arrives.

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You Don’t Need PTSD to Benefit: 5 Hidden Struggles EMDR Therapy Can Address
Motherhood Melissa Parr Motherhood Melissa Parr

You Don’t Need PTSD to Benefit: 5 Hidden Struggles EMDR Therapy Can Address

EMDR therapy is known for treating PTSD, but that’s only part of the story. For many moms, trauma shows up in quieter, everyday ways: anxiety that won’t let up, guilt that runs deep, or emotional triggers that seem to come out of nowhere. In this post, we’re exploring five hidden struggles EMDR can help you heal- so you can feel more grounded, empowered, and at peace in motherhood.

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Postpartum Anxiety vs. “Normal” New Mom Worry: How to Tell the Difference
Postpartum Melissa Parr Postpartum Melissa Parr

Postpartum Anxiety vs. “Normal” New Mom Worry: How to Tell the Difference

Are you a new mom constantly questioning if your worries are normal or something more? This blog post breaks down the difference between typical postpartum concerns and postpartum anxiety, helping you understand the signs, why it happens, and how therapy can help. Learn what to watch for, how to get support, and why you’re not failing- you’re just human. If the weight of motherhood feels like too much, you’re not alone, and there’s a path to relief.

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You Don’t Have to Hold It All Together: What Therapy for Moms Really Looks Like
Motherhood Melissa Parr Motherhood Melissa Parr

You Don’t Have to Hold It All Together: What Therapy for Moms Really Looks Like

You don’t have to keep holding it all together. If motherhood feels heavier than you imagined and you’re overwhelmed, anxious, or grieving parts of your experience you didn’t expect- this post is for you. Learn what therapy for moms really looks like and how it can help you feel more supported, grounded, and like yourself again. Therapy isn’t about fixing you. It’s about supporting the real you under all the pressure.

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Struggling in Postpartum? Understanding Clean Pain vs. Dirty Pain Can Help
Postpartum Melissa Parr Postpartum Melissa Parr

Struggling in Postpartum? Understanding Clean Pain vs. Dirty Pain Can Help

Postpartum can feel like an emotional rollercoaster and you’re not alone in wondering why it’s so hard. In this post, we explore the powerful concept of clean vs. dirty pain to help you understand your struggles with more clarity and compassion. Learn how to tell the difference, why it matters, and what you can do to feel more supported and less stuck.

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