Ask a mom how she is, and the answer is usually, “Fine.”
Busy, tired, overwhelmed, sure, but she’s fine.
She says it while packing her child’s lunch, rushing between work and home, or trying to get through another night of broken sleep. Sometimes, “fine” is simply the easiest answer because explaining everything feels like too much work.
But what happens when someone asks again, and this time she has the space to answer honestly?
That was the heart of Mama Meets: Self-Love After Becoming a Mother, organised by KitaParents, the community arm of Parenthood, at MyToday in Atria Shopping Gallery.
The gathering was intentionally intimate, bringing together just nine moms from different backgrounds and with different experiences of motherhood. They came carrying their own stories, their own struggles and their own version of what motherhood has looked like, but for a few hours, they sat together in the same room to pause, reflect and talk about what life has really been like since becoming a mom.
And once they started talking, “fine” was no longer enough.
One Word Can Say More Than We Think
Each mom was invited to choose one word that described who she was and how she felt about motherhood, before sharing the story behind it with the group.
What sounded like a simple activity soon opened the door to deeply personal conversations.
The mothers spoke about their lives, their struggles and the emotions that can be difficult to voice when everyone expects you to keep going. They shared stories of exhaustion, self-doubt, changing identities, and the quiet weight of being needed by everyone around you.
There were also tears, naturally.
What made the sharing so moving was the recognition that travelled around the room. One mother would speak, and another would nod. Someone would laugh softly because she knew exactly what was being described. Someone else would wipe away a tear.
Their journeys were different, but the feelings were often remarkably familiar.
For a group of women who had come together from different walks of life, there was a sense of understanding that needed very little explanation.
Remembering the Woman Behind the Mom
With Stacey Lee, Relationship Psychology Therapist and Founder of Elemension Wellness Academy the conversation moved towards something many mothers can quietly lose sight of: themselves.
Through her Self-Love in Modern Motherhood empowerment session, Stacey encouraged the moms to reflect on their relationship with themselves and the emotional needs that can so easily be pushed aside while caring for everyone else.
One of the most memorable parts of the session was a flower reading. Each participant brought a flower of her choice, and Stacey used the flowers as a starting point for an individual reading.
It was a gentle and personal exercise, but it opened up another layer of reflection. A little time to think about who they are, what they carry and how they see themselves beyond their role as mothers.
A Letter for the Mother She Is Becoming
There is something quietly powerful about putting your thoughts down on paper. Journalling can give feelings somewhere to go, helping us slow down, make sense of what we are carrying and say the things that can sometimes feel too difficult to say out loud. For many, the simple act of writing can feel therapeutic.
That made the final activity, A Letter to the Mom I Am Becoming, all the more meaningful.
Each mom was given time to write a letter to herself, reflecting on the mother she is today and the woman she hopes to become.
The room grew quieter as they wrote.
For once, there was nobody to feed, soothe, answer or organise. Just a few precious moments to sit with their own thoughts, without having to make sense of everything for anyone else.
Each letter was taken home as a keepsake, something personal to return to when motherhood feels heavy, or simply when she needs reminding of how far she has come.
Why Rooms Like This Matter
Everyone in the room cried at some point, and nobody apologised for it.
Moms spend so much of their days holding everyone else together. A space to finally let go, surrounded by people who understand, is rare. The stories shared were deeply personal, but also deeply relatable. One mother’s words often gave another permission to acknowledge something she had been feeling too. It is easy to see why a gathering like this can feel a little like therapy.
If you are going through a lot, reach out. Talk to your partner, a trusted friend, another mom or a professional. Asking for help is nothing to be embarrassed about. Nobody was meant to carry everything alone.
Nine moms walked in with one word, one flower and a lot on their minds. They left with a letter to themselves and the comfort of knowing they were understood.
Sometimes, that is exactly what a mum needs: a safe space to pause, be heard and remember that she is not alone.
Want to be part of a community that gets it? Join KitaParents for free and stay connected with other moms, meaningful conversations and upcoming Mama Meets gatherings. Keep an eye out for the next one!
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