Motherhood changes everything.
Your time. Your energy. Your priorities. Your sense of self.
And if you’ve ever walked through the fire of burnout, you know the cost of constantly giving without pausing to refill your own well. The truth is, motherhood will take as much as you give it — and for many of us, that means pouring out until we’re empty.
But “reclamation” is the moment you say:
No more.
Not from resentment, but from recognition. Recognition that your needs matter, your dreams matter, and your life still belongs to you.
Reclamation is not selfish — it’s survival
When I hit my breaking point in early 2024, pregnant with my third child and running on fumes, I realized I wasn’t living my life anymore — I was just reacting to it. Every day felt like a list of obligations. My energy was scattered, my patience thin, and my joy… almost gone.
One of the biggest shifts for me was reclaiming my time. I had been wasting hours every day worrying about other people’s opinions and “doom-scrolling” through Facebook and Pinterest. And honestly? I was often looking for reasons to believe I was the victim, instead of taking action to change my life.
I set a boundary: only “doom-scroll” once a day, at the end of the night while breastfeeding the baby to sleep. Now, I get 20–30 quiet minutes to snuggle her while she drifts off, sipping my tea (well… mostly creamer with a splash of tea). When she closes her eyes, I scroll just enough to keep myself awake until she’s either finished eating or just comfort-nursing.
Before that, I scrolled every chance I got — from the moment I woke up until I finally (insomnia) fell asleep. Cutting that back gave me hours of my day back. And the surprising bonus? I started sleeping better.
The other piece was being intentionally present with my kids during the day. When I stopped constantly checking my phone, I started noticing them — really noticing them. Their quirks, their creativity, the funny little things they say. Those moments added so much joy back into my life. I had been blind to them before because I was too busy living in my failures instead of celebrating all the small, wonderful, unique things I had… and am.
Reclamation is remembering you’re a whole person
Motherhood is part of who you are, but it’s not all you are.
For years, I thought “being a good mom” meant sacrificing everything. But I’ve learned that when I live in alignment with my values — even if it means making hard choices, like quitting my 9–5 or deciding to homeschool — I show up with more patience, joy, and presence for my children.
They don’t just need a mother who’s there; they need a mother who’s alive inside.
My favorite moments of reclamation
When I look back, there are snapshots in my mind of moments where I felt myself coming back to life:
- Standing barefoot in my garden, hands in the soil, breathing like I could finally exhale.
- Turning down a “good opportunity” because it didn’t align with the life I’m building.
- Booking my first client as a life coach, not because I needed another thing to do, but because it lit me up.
- Reading books with my children before bedtime — our quiet way to connect and wind down together.
These moments are small on the outside — but inside, they are massive victories.
Reclamation is ongoing
This isn’t a one-and-done thing. It’s a process. Some days I still overextend myself, say yes when I should say no, or lose track of my own needs. But now I notice it sooner. I come back faster. I remember that my life is mine to live.
If you’re feeling burned out, stretched thin, or lost in the constant demands of motherhood, I want you to hear this:
You can reclaim your time. You can reclaim your energy. You can reclaim yourself.
Not in one giant leap, but in a series of small, brave steps.
Your turn:
What would reclamation look like for you right now? Maybe it’s 5 minutes of stillness. Maybe it’s saying no. Maybe it’s putting down your phone and being present with your kids.
Start small. Start today. You’re worth reclaiming.