Are moms really in hell?🔥

If you’ve been anywhere on the interwebs lately, you’ve probably seen Chappell Roan’s now-infamous comment:

Oof. Now those are some fighting words.

And honestly? Moms have shown up in response. But not with pitchforks (well... maybe emotional ones). Instead, they’re flooding the comments and videos with truth. The chaos. The joy. The mundane magic. The big, beautiful in-betweens.

Look, I’m not saying there aren’t moments of hell. Postpartum? It's been more like a barefoot stroll through a rose bush than a breezy walk in the park. I absolutely miss pieces of my pre-kid self—her sleep schedule, her spontaneous outings, her silence.

But two things can be true at once.
Motherhood can be the hardest thing and still the best thing.

What doesn’t sit right with me is not wanting kids (totally valid!) and then projecting your own discomfort onto your friends publicly. Forever. Girl, at least give your people a group text warning before calling their lives miserable.

If your friends are in the thick of it, then maybe what they need isn’t judgment. Maybe they just need a second—
A second of grace.
A second to breathe.
A second to feel seen.

Because this path we’re on? It’s brutal sometimes. But it’s also breathtaking. And I think every mom reading this knows, whether totally exhausted or riding the high of a great day, that our kids make this hard thing so damn worth it.

🌀 Busy mom life? I get it, listen to the newsletter here.

Actually feeling like you’re in hell? Well, let’s get out of it together, friend.

Think of this as your escape hatch—something to help you move out of the hard moments, or at least breathe a little easier while you're in them.

Here’s a tool to tuck into your reset box. Just one way to give yourself a second of grace.

The 3-Minute Reset

No, really. Set a timer for three minutes and do the thing that feels most impossible: sit down.
Not scroll. Not tidy. Just... sit.

Close your eyes. Put one hand on your heart, the other on your belly.

Breathe like someone just handed you a latte and a moment of silence.

Say to yourself:

“This is hard, but I’m still here. I’m still me.”

Boom. Reset. 🤎

💖 Loving: Celebrating the small things in life. The little one just turned 6 months so of course I went all out and even got her the cutest felt party hat. Zero regrets.

🙉 Listening: Or... not? Protecting the little one’s ears as we prep for a wedding and count down the days to the Jonas Brothers concert. (IYKYK)

🪞Noticing: The way I talk to myself lately... would I say those same things to a friend? Time to swap self-blame for self-compassion.

🖌️ Creating: A post-it note on the mirror that reads: “You’re doing better than you think.” Because you probably are.

📚 Reading: Deep in the baby-led weaning rabbit hole. I downloaded the Solid Starts app and their food database is chef’s kiss.

🌿 Moving: One dance party in the kitchen today. Even if it’s with a baby on your hip and dishes in the sink. (Sigh, can we still listen to Pink Pony Club?)

Some days feel like survival mode. Others feel like bliss. Most? A little bit of both, all before noon.

If you're feeling like you're in the thick of it right now, just know you're not alone.

You’re doing your best. You’re showing up. And even when it’s messy or loud or doesn’t look like what you thought it would, you’re still you. And that’s enough.

So whether dancing around the kitchen with a never-ending pile of bottles, googling "how much avocado can a baby eat," or just sitting down for your three-minute reset—I’m proud of you.

You’re not in hell, friend.
You’re in a season. And seasons change.

Take a second today just for you.
You’ve earned it. Always. ☕️

Cheers,
Ari
Your fellow mom who gets it

P.S. Second is taking... well, a second. Just stepping away to create a routine that feels good—for me, my baby, and this beautiful, messy season we’re in. We’ll be back soon, promise. 🤎