How do I receive support?

Thank you for diving into our September Theme - What do I need? We talked about checking in with our bodies and our feelings, texting friends for accountability, getting sleep, making time for yoga and meditation, and so much more. 

Now, we're taking the next step - Being open to receiving support. 

When was the last time someone offered to help out and you said "Oh yes! I'd so appreciate that. Thank you!"?

Likely, your automatic response is "Oh it's ok, I've got this." Even if life feels completely overwhelming. 

Because in our culture we're supposed to do it all. 

Kate Northrup, in her book "Do Less" writes:

"Okay, so modern feminism teaches us that the secret to getting what we want is to lean in, to be more aggressive, to be more assertive, to act more capable, to show less emotion, to never let them see us sweat, to never show our weaknesses, and to prove to everyone that we can, in fact, do it all...
It's total bullshit.
Being open to receiving support doesn't make you any less strong. "

Let's stop turning down offers for help.

It's time to share the physical and emotional labor of our households and our lives. 

We cannot be the parents - and people - that we want to be when we are burnt out, resentful, and completely exhausted all the time. 

We deserve rest, support, and to have the energy we need to enjoy our pregnancies and our children. 

And receiving support benefits our children, too. As Maria Guzman in her article "New Moms Need Social Support" writes: 

"Support from friends and family help new mothers deal better with stress, and this has been proven to help mothers see their children in a more positive light. Mothers who have the help of people they trust feel more self-esteem, confidence as a parent, and struggle less to access information that helps them problem-solve for their bundle of joy."

So let's do this! 

We have a full month (and two full moons!) to think about how we receive support. We'll be sharing ideas, questions, and more member stories! ​​