"Put Your Hands In" — The Morning My Child Held Up a Mirror
The face of a woman who has learned to laugh at herself. Eventually. 😄
It was an ordinary morning , the kind where everything is already moving faster than you are. I was getting my younger one dressed, but in my head, I was already at work. That gap between where my body was and where my mind had gone? My child found it. And they used it to make me laugh at myself.
The Morning That Told Me Everything
I held up a pair of trousers and said, "Put your hands in."
My child, bless them, paused, looked at me, then slowly, deliberately, pushed both little hands deep into the legs of the trousers. And waited. With the most mischievous grin I have ever seen.
My voice got louder. "What are you doing? Why would you put your hands in your trousers? Do you not understand a simple thing?
Then they looked up at me, completely calm, and said:
"Mum. This is what you asked me to do."
My child, with the wisdom of a philosopher 😄
I stopped. I looked at them. I looked at the trousers. And I burst out laughing, because they were absolutely, completely right.
What That Moment Was Really Telling Me
That morning was not really about trousers. It was a small, hilarious signal from my own life that my mind was not in the room.
I was already on the commute in my head. Already at my desk. Already thinking about the day, the deadlines, the things I hadn't done yet. My body was present. My mind had left without me.
This is what mental overload looks like for so many women and mothers. It is not always a breakdown. It does not always look like crying or collapsing. Sometimes it looks like telling your toddler to put their hands in their trousers, and genuinely meaning it.
Signs Your Mental Load May Be Too Heavy
You say one thing and mean another — your words and thoughts are out of sync
You walk into rooms and forget why you went there
Small things irritate you far more than they should
You feel present physically but absent mentally
You are exhausted but cannot switch off at night
You are running on adrenaline rather than energy
You cannot remember the last time you had a quiet, unoccupied moment
The Invisible Weight Women Carry
There is a term for this: the mental load. It refers to the invisible, cognitive work of managing a household, a family, a career, and a self, all simultaneously. Research consistently shows that women carry a disproportionate share of this load, and it takes a real toll on mental health and wellbeing.
The problem is that the mental load is invisible. Nobody sees it. Nobody gives you credit for it. And because there is no obvious sign that you are struggling, it is easy to dismiss your own exhaustion as weakness or laziness, when in reality, your mind simply has no more space.
You Cannot Pour from an Empty Cup — But You Can Start Small
I am not here to tell you to book a spa day or take a week off. I know that is not always realistic. What I am here to tell you is that even a few minutes of intentional, quiet space can begin to shift things.
That is why I create what I create. Not grand solutions. Not expensive programmes. Just simple, accessible tools that give your mind permission to slow down, and give your children the emotional foundation they deserve to grow up with.
Self-Care Books for Women and Their Loved Ones
Affordable mental wellness tools designed for real life, not perfect life.
📓 Guided Journals for Women Thoughtful prompts to help you process emotions, reduce anxiety, and reconnect with yourself, even on your busiest days.
🎨 Colouring Books for Stress Relief A meditative, screen-free pause designed for overwhelmed minds. Colour your way back to calm.
🌟 Affirmation Journals Daily affirmations for women who need a kinder inner voice. Build self worth one page at a time.
🧒 Children's Confidence Activity Books Help children build a positive self image and emotional resilience — because your wellbeing and theirs are connected.
The Gift My Child Gave Me That Morning
After I stopped laughing, I looked at my little one properly. Really looked. And I felt something settle in me.
Children have an extraordinary ability to call us back to the present moment. They do not care about your to-do list. They just want you — the version of you that is actually in the room with them.
Taking care of your mental health is not selfish. It is how you show up, for them, for yourself, and for the life you are working so hard to build.
Your Free Affirmation Colouring Page Is Waiting
I created a free affirmation colouring page just for you, a few quiet minutes that are entirely yours. Join the email list and I will send it straight to your inbox.
