A Mother’s Day Reflection on Self-Care, Legacy & Longevity
May 05, 2025
Because caregiving isn’t about running on empty—it’s about showing up whole.
I loved being pregnant. I was so excited for my little guy to come into the world. I ate all the good things I could find while pregnant, exercised, and prepped his nursery. I even raised a puppy and a baby right alongside each other (that might have been overdoing it). As my son grew, I tended to the house, the garden, to his emotional and mental enrichment, cooked from scratch and did all the things to support my husband and family.
My personality has always needed brakes. I tend to overdo and try to do it all. And I desperately wanted to be a great mom.
If you know my story, you know that my health really began to deteriorate as my son started elementary school. As thyroid and gut dysfunction took hold, my body started to show cracks in its armor. That’s what led me to this work I do now.
I had to learn the hard way to slow down, listen to my body’s cues, and stop pushing through the exhaustion. Now, my son is 19, and I’m finally taking good care of myself. I’m following my passions—and that includes helping other women do the same.
I’ve always been driven to support women and their health. I even helped to found the Bozeman Pedal Project with the intention of using mountain biking as a way for women to take care of themselves, to create caring community, and to pass that ripple effect on to their families.
As mothers, we deserve to feel good in our bodies. We deserve to be seen. And we deserve to thrive. Actually, we must thrive as the future generations depend on it.
The Bigger Picture: Women, Stress, and Autoimmune Disease
I’m not alone in this.
Between 24 and 50 million Americans have an autoimmune disease—and about 4 out of 5 of them are women. That’s 8% of the U.S. population, and nearly 80% of those affected are women.
And that’s not the only concern. Two-thirds of people with Alzheimer’s are women. That means twice as many women as men are living with dementia—the most common form of Alzheimer’s.
It’s no coincidence.
The go-go-go lifestyle, the emotional labor, the self-neglect—it’s taking a toll on our immune systems, our nervous systems, and our ability to bounce back (plus the double X chromosome makes us susceptible to auto-immune disease). We're living in bodies that are overburdened, overstimulated, and under-supported. This isn’t just about gut issues or fatigue. It’s about the systemic pressure on women’s bodies to perform, produce, and push through.
Mel Robbins recently touched on this in a powerful video. She said what many of us feel but rarely say out loud:
We’ve normalized suffering.
But it's not normal to feel terrible all the time.
And it's not okay to keep putting ourselves last.
From Supermom to Self-Nourished Woman
We’ve been told we can do it all. And that’s the problem.
We’re expected to be Super Moms—raising children, holding down careers, running households, staying present, joyful, composed… all without falling apart.
But let’s be honest:
Is the term “Superwoman” actually serving us?
Or is it quietly teaching our daughters to continue the legacy of running themselves ragged?
Being endlessly selfless isn’t noble anymore.
Caring for ourselves is the new noble act.
When we prioritize nourishment, rest, and joy, we don’t just feel better—we model a new way of being. One that doesn't glorify burnout, but honors being whole.
A Legacy of Silent Suffering
Holistic psychologist Dr. Nicole LePera put it simply:
“Mothers are the most under-supported people in our current society.”
In the 1950s, the cultural ideal of motherhood became rooted in chronic sacrifice—a “good mother” gave everything and asked for nothing. By the 1960s, depression among women was soaring. Instead of questioning the model, society handed women pills—what The Rolling Stones famously called “Mother’s Little Helper.”
Women had what looked like the perfect life. But they were anxious, isolated, and unraveling behind closed doors.
And Now? The Train Is Moving Faster
We're not just carrying that legacy—we’re accelerating it.
Today’s world is go, go, go—a runaway train of busy schedules, high expectations, breathless errands and endless mental load. Productivity is glorified. Slowness is shameful. Rest is misunderstood.
And our kids? They’re learning that this relentless pace is normal.
But it’s not.
Modeling What It Means to Be Human
As moms, we teach our kids how to treat themselves by how we treat ourselves.
They’re watching.
They learn from how we:
- Talk to ourselves
- Eat meals
- Set boundaries
- Ask for help
- Handle stress
And they learn something just as powerful when we mess up.
Because being human is okay.
When we show vulnerability, admit mistakes, or take a break, we teach our kids that perfection isn’t the goal. Presence is. Self-compassion is. Listening to your body is.
Start today—Right Now—to Make a Different Choice for Yourself
You don’t need to overhaul your life. Start small. Start real.
Talk to someone. A friend, therapist, coach—your truth deserves a witness.
Move in a way that feels good. Walk, stretch, ride, dance—whatever lights you up.
Eat with intention. Support your gut and hormones with real food and hydration.
Rest without guilt. Sleep, breathe, pause. You don’t need to earn rest.
Reconnect with joy. What used to light you up? Do more of that.
The keys to longevity don’t start in your 60s.
They start now—in your 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s.
You are worthy of that care.
This Mother’s Day, Let’s Celebrate YOU for YOU
You are not here to disappear into the role of “mom.”
You are here to lead, love—and live.
Let’s stop surviving. Let’s reclaim the way we mother—without losing ourselves in it.
Let’s create a new legacy: one where moms are whole, nourished, and seen.
You matter. Your energy matters. Your joy matters.
And the next generation is watching.
In love and care,
Karen
PS Curious how my 5 step method can help you to realize your best health? Let's hop on a free call to talk about it. Let’s explore how root-cause wellness can support you—body, mind, and gut.
References:
Women and Family Health: The Role of Mothers in Promoting Family and Child Health
Why Are Women More Likely to Develop Alzheimer's Disease?
Why 80% of Autoimmune Diseases Happen to Women & Solutions From a Renowned MD (Mel Robbins Podcast)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=a7PqRTeaxOk&t=43
