Feeling Like You are Not Enough… in Motherhood

If just reading that title already hits something inside you, you are not alone.

Chances are, you’ve heard those words — “you are not enough” — long before motherhood.
Maybe not directly,
but subtly.
Through tone, silence, expectations.
Through the actions of others and the stories you told yourself to cope.

Then, motherhood comes —
and that old feeling only gets louder.

Because now there are more things to do,
more people to care for,
more ways to feel stretched thin.

Am I doing enough for my baby?
Am I showing up for everyone?
Should I be doing more activities with my children?
Am I present enough?
Am I enough just as I am — in this season of life?

Let me be honest:
I have asked myself these questions more times than I can count.
And the truth is — those feelings never fully leave.

But now, I pause.
I ask myself:
What does being enough even mean to me?
Why do I believe I am not enough?
Is that my truth — or someone else’s voice, still echoing in the background?

Sometimes it is the past speaking.
Old wounds whispering through the cracks.
The quiet ache of never quite being seen for who you were.

And in motherhood, it can feel like everyone wants more.
More of your time.
More of your energy.
More of you.

But here is what I am learning:
Being enough is not about doing it all, perfectly.
It is about being real, present, human.

You are allowed to ask these questions.
You are allowed to feel the ache.
And you are still enough — even when you doubt it.

For you to reflect on…

• What does “being enough” mean to you in this season?

• Is there a part of you that still needs to be reminded you are doing okay?

• What old stories or expectations have you been carrying into motherhood?

• When was the last time you truly felt like yourself?

• What would you say to a friend who felt like she was not enough?

If writing feels too much today…

• Close your eyes, put your hand on your heart and whisper:
  “I am allowed to rest. I am still enough.”