What a wild time of year. Whether or not you celebrate any holidays this month, you are definitely seeing and hearing all of the commotion.

And it can be overwhelming. But it can also be a good reminder for us to focus on ourselves.

I remember back to last year, when we made this hilarious video called, “Making Motherhood Bright.” If you weren’t in our group last year, you’ve gotta check it out. We aren’t professional singers by any means, but pay attention to the words.

“Peer Support, Peer Support, Peer Support Every day.
Oh what fun it is to be supported by community. OH”

You get the idea. You’ve gotta see it for yourself. (It’ll make you smile, for sure.)

But I also thought it might be fun and helpful to make an acronym for BRIGHT. This is one we can use all year long to remind ourselves to look inward and check on our own mental health.

Making Motherhood B.R.I.G.H.T.

B – Believe in yourself.
You can do hard things, Mama. Remember that you’ve made it through every hard day you’ve encountered in the past, and you can make it through this one. We believe you have the strength to get well!

R – Recognize how hard you’re working.
You are doing so much, Mama. And sometimes, when it feels like we aren’t getting anything done, we have to remind ourselves that we are not only keeping a tiny human alive, but we are keeping ourselves alive, too. You are working so hard, and we see it!

I – Identify what you need.
Make a list of the things that you need, or even take a moment when you are not feeling well to think, “What is it that I need right now.” That can look like a lot of different things – maybe a drink of water, or something bigger like someone to help watch the little ones while you rest. Identify these needs and take the initiative to get them done!

G – Give yourself some grace
We put so much pressure on ourselves to be the best, and along with that comes guilt. Mama guilt – we all have it. So give yourself some grace right now – let that guilt go and remind yourself that your babies love you so much and you are doing your best.

H – Ask for Help
This goes back to the “I” of identifying what you need, but takes it one step further. Ask for help. It can be as simple as asking your partner to get you some water while you are nap-trapped, or it can be as big as asking your best friend to bring over dinner. Don’t be scared to ask for help – people love helping new moms, we just have to ask for what we need!

T – Trust that things will get better.
Trust in the process. Right, easier said than done – but seriously. Trust that this is only a season and you will get through it. Trust that this moment might be hard, but it won’t last forever. Trust that you know what is best for you and your little ones. Trust that you are supported.

Remember this acronym, BRIGHT. Know that we are here for you over the next few weeks and into the New Year. Please reach out if you need to talk to someone.