Happy Mother's Day - 17 women, 2 questions, their answers & mom mantras

- 17 women / 17 answers -

With all the demands of being a mom, how and where do you recharge and take a breather? What's your personal mom mantra?

SARAH, #girlmum + #preggo, @gretasister

" My daughter has been in daycare for three months now, which means I have so much more time to breathe. So much so that I miss her again after just a few hours. The best way for me to unwind is with my work as an illustrator, brush in hand. The hours fly by over paper, and at the end I am satisfied to have accomplished something. If I lack the energy for that on some days, a big bowl of bibimbab and a black tea or a series marathon in the evening helps.

My mom mantra when things get tough is, "It's just a phase." In a few years, all the hard work will be forgotten, and we'll be traveling more and eating our way around the world together again."

JANINA, #mumof3 + #preggo, @oh_wunderbar

"For me, being a mom is the best job in the world. And every day is an adventure. Every phase and every age of the children is always exciting. It's beautiful, and I enjoy it. And even though I'm a mom with all my heart, I also struggle with my little daily hurdles. Sleepless nights (for four years now), long days, noisy days. But often the most draining part is balancing work and family. This huge balancing act between being a mom, being a woman, being a partner, working, and running a household. Somehow, you'd like to juggle everything, but that's often just not so easy. Then there are days when you're tired and worn out, and you want nothing more than a little time for yourself. To unwind and breathe.

I create little pockets of time in my daily life. It starts with always getting up before the kids, then taking a quiet shower and putting on my makeup. Yes, I do my makeup, the full program. It makes me feel good, and when I'm all made up, I start the day completely differently. Ultimately, this morning ritual takes maybe 20 minutes at the most. But those are 20 minutes that give me a lot. Then, as parents, we try not to neglect being a couple. With three, soon to be four, children, that's sometimes easier said than done, but we always try to take ourselves out of it every now and then. A little lunch date or we go to the movies in the evening, for a walk, hand in hand. Things like that. I have to admit, that's something that gives me incredible strength. And what else? Turning the music up loud and dancing around the house. That, too, is liberating and releases new energy—plus feelings of happiness.

On days when I'm not feeling well, because I feel like everything is getting on top of me and my mind is simply longing for peace, I take an hour and sit outside in the greenery. Nature is grounding. Just breathe in, listen to the wind, the birds, and look at the greenery. My absolute tip, which really always helps!

REBECCA, #mumof2, @elfenkindberlin

"Over the last few months, it has become completely clear to me that the nature that surrounds us is my greatest source of energy to recharge my batteries: the sun, the moon, the green of the trees, the scent of the plants, the song of the birds. Even though I really like the dark, cold season because it means turning inward and giving us the (winter) peace we all need to grow beyond ourselves with strength in the spring, I am still very, very happy that spring is here, that the light accompanies us again for many hours a day, and that everything around us is growing and thriving. 

So my mom's mantra is forest bathing! Or experiencing nature with all your senses. You can do that in the city too; you just have to go to a park. Find a tree or a nice spot. Breathe deeply, connect with the earth you're standing on or the tree you're sitting by and breathing. Sometimes it's the small moments of silence, of calm, that perhaps give us that little bit of serenity again. The serenity we need to see the days that might not be going as well as we'd like with different eyes.

JANINE, #mumof2, @janinedudenhoeffer

"In almost 6 years of being a mom, I've learned to ask for help and accept it when it's offered. It wasn't always this way. But my body has shown me my limits. 80% is the new 100% for me. At the same time, it's still important to me to be a helping hand and support for others! And that's even a bit selfish, because it makes me happy when I can help others. It's all about care and respect. And a gentle look at ourselves! Or as Steffi from @ohhhmhhh recently hit the nail on the head: "We manage so much more every day than we mess up."

ISABELLE, #mumof3 , @mothers_finest

"I recharge best when we all spend time together. When everyday life, with all its appointments and obligations, takes a break and we can spend quality time as a family. Doing things together, eating well, talking a lot, and laughing a lot. I don't have to be alone to breathe deeply; I'm happy when I have everyone around me! My mantra is: Enjoy the moment and make it as beautiful as possible! Time flies, and I want to soak up the time with my children and enjoy it as much as possible amidst all the hustle and bustle that naturally also exists!"

ALEX, #mumof2 , @alexfluegel

MONA, #mumof2, @rosamonalu

"With all that being a mom demands of me, I am overjoyed to be the mom of two whirlwinds, with all the challenges that come with it.

How and where can I regain my energy and recharge? I find relaxation and inner peace through yoga after particularly hectic days. But I love to recharge my batteries most of all when I'm alone with my husband. Since he's sometimes away for several weeks at a time for work, these hours are especially valuable. When our two children are asleep, we like to cook dinner just for ourselves. We make ourselves comfortable and talk quietly about the day and everything that's been on our minds and on our hearts. As a bit of a night owl, it doesn't bother me that it sometimes gets very late. On the contrary, I often get really active again and can fulfill my potential. I then either work for my online shop or write for my new blog, lifeitself.de, which I want to be a peaceful oasis of shared exchange for mothers, women, and anyone interested.
My personal mom mantra for everyday life is: "Breathe in and breathe out calmly, ohhhmmm." When things get too stressful, I simply have to consciously breathe in and out. It prevents hasty reactions that I might later regret. It's incredibly calming and reminds me to consciously stay in the here and now."

ISABEL, #mumof2, @salon.mama

"I love being a mom. I feel comfortable in my own skin, happier, and, above all, truly at home in my life. However, life with two small children can also be very exhausting and demanding. Especially everyday life! That's why I love recharging my batteries in Carinthia on Lake Wörthersee or on vacation by the sea. Drinking a glass of Prosecco with friends, watching the kids play, and just enjoying the moment. I need these little breaks from everyday life!"

JETTE, #mumof3 + #preggo @mesupermom

"Everyday life with three very young children and a baby in the belly is admittedly not always easy. The only thing that helps is staying calm. For me, that means, once everyone is out of the house, I calmly drink my first coffee. Only then do I open my laptop and get started. It's only five minutes, but it's mine. I do the same in the afternoon before I gather all the children. I drink a coffee in the sun or eat an ice cream. Little breaks just with my partner are, of course, also worth their weight in gold, and it's important that a partnership is as equal as possible. It's not just my children and my everyday life.

My mantra in parenthood is also: Good is good enough. I don't have to be perfect, the apartment doesn't have to be super tidy, a frozen pizza is also tasty every now and then, and sometimes you can even eat two ice creams a day. Social media, blogs, magazines, or acquaintances (who don't even have children) like to suggest the opposite, but I don't have to be the perfect wife or mother for anyone. It just has to be right for my family. When the pediatrician once said that small children should go to bed by 7 p.m., we tried it for three days with our night owl. The result: Everyone was annoyed, no one slept. So we gave it up. If you take the pressure off a bit and see what works for you, I think you've already achieved a lot. The third ice cream takes care of the rest ;-)"

LINDA, #mumof2 + #preggo, @lookslikeberlin

EILEENA, #mumof2, @eileena_lay

"Being a mom isn't always easy, but it's a wonderfully fulfilling feeling to watch these little ones grow. When someone asks me how I manage it all—to juggle kids, work, and YouTube—I always say, "I don't know, it just works. It doesn't feel wrong or weird." The greatest gift is seeing my children healthy and happy; it gives me strength. Every night I get to put them to sleep, I see their contented faces—that's how I recharge for the next day. My mom mantra is to go with the flow; not everything has to be perfect :)."

MARIA, #girlmum + #preggo, @minivoodoo_official

"Breathe in – and breathe out. That's my mantra in all situations and positions I find myself in every day. For me, it means not only seeking inner balance in hectic times, but also withdrawing from the situation, finding a point of calm, taking a moment to look at things from a distance, reflecting, and only then reacting. I've only been following this approach for a few years and am learning to implement it better every day.

Recharging means creating sanctuaries of calm in my everyday life through small actions like these. My everyday life as a PR consultant can sometimes seem pretty hectic. This is when I really appreciate having become self-employed. To give myself some structure and regain my creative energy, I like to remove myself from the situation for a short period of 10-20 minutes and, for example, make myself something to eat or water the flowers on the balcony. This allows the chaos to flow from my head into my hands and reduce itself. I usually return to my mountain of work much more energetic and calm, and can organize and tackle everything more effectively. It feels incredibly good. I also love afternoons with my daughter. We are outside in the fresh air, play, meet friends, or treat ourselves to a tasty snack. I am learning that the adult world has once again taken itself far too seriously, and during this time I only pick up my phone for one or two people to quickly make arrangements. Emails and surfing the web are absolutely taboo. It relaxes me to simply be outside and discover the world with my daughter. In the evenings, like everyone else, I'm very tired, but it's varied and grounds me. I also find getting out of the city for a weekend in the summer to a lake in Brandenburg a great place to recharge—it doesn't take much more than that."

LISA, #mumof2, @dielaulis

"It's important to me to consciously and regularly integrate things into my life that help me stay centered. Meditation and yoga are the foundation for this – they help me recharge my energy reserves and find inner peace, no matter how demanding everyday life may be. I also recharge my batteries in nature, through exercise, and creative activities, and I love surrounding myself with inspiring people. And when things get too stressful or hectic, music helps me: just play my old favorite songs at full volume, sing along with them with all my heart, and dance wildly around the house. The kids love that, too. Laughing together at simple children's jokes also works wonders! :-) I've learned that I don't always have to take things in life so seriously, and that many things become easier when I take things "lightly." Whether I let life's circumstances stress me out or not is always my own decision. So I try to accept things as they are—even if I'm already running late, my baby boy spits all over my freshly washed shirt while we're out, and my older one protests at the same time because he'd rather play Lego at home. If I simply accept the situation as it is and let go of my own resistance, things usually suddenly go much better than expected! My mantra: "Everything is fine as it is. Everything is allowed to be as it is!"

NINA, #mumof2, @pinspiration.de

"As a mom, I relax most when my family is healthy and happy and there are no unexpected to-dos. When we're mindful, we slow down from the hustle and bustle of the big city, and we can do that best in nature. We all enjoy hiking (Greta, like Friedrich, back in her backpack), cycling, sailing, and simply feel at home by the water. It completely clears our minds and recharges us with positive energy. Me-times are often neglected in the stress of everyday life as a mom, so it's important to me to set aside time for myself and our time alone with my husband. This often works quite well. For example, we go out to lunch regularly or occasionally hire a babysitter or housekeeper. It's wonderful!"

photo credit: Leni Moretti

NATHALIE, #boymum @mom_and_a_half_man

SOPHIA, #girlmum @maybeyoulike

"That's a very good question. I hadn't really thought about it that closely. And to be honest, I can't quite come up with a common denominator! At first I thought, sure! Where do I recharge my batteries? In the evenings, bouldering with friends, or on my child-free day during the week, which I use to work. But honestly, in the end , it's moments like seeing my child that make a mother's heart beat faster . Then you know that even the stressful things that come with having such a small being are okay!

In short – I love taking a deep breath with my daughter in my arms and am happy and grateful to have her! Otherwise, I'll just go bouldering... ;)"

KATHRIN, #boymum @momazing.de

"For me, my morning routine is my absolute source of energy. My alarm goes off at 5 a.m. – I enjoy the calm start to the day so much! During my little me-time, I do yoga, meditate, drink lots of warm water, and write in my gratitude journal. Of course, all of this has only worked since my little ones (3) and (5) reliably slept through the night. This Mindful Mommy Morning lets me start the day awake and refreshed. My mommy mantra: I am enough. This mantra takes so much pressure off me! A real self-love booster!"

A huge thank you to all 17 women for taking the time to reflect and answer our questions. We're sure your answers will inspire you, and just reading them will provide a little "time out" for many of you.