Inspiration in social media.

This year was not easy for me by any means, and I relied heavily upon support and motivation from social media influencers who are also mothers. These women shared about motherhood in its rawest form and allowed me to feel valid in my thoughts and feelings. There are so many women that have influenced me over this past year, but these four stuck out to me. These women taught me to love myself again and made me truly believe that I am a good mom. This was crucial to my recovery when I was struggling.

First up is Sarah Nicole Landry aka @thebirdspapaya. Sarah has “The Papaya Podcast” where she discusses postpartum, body positivity, self-care, and many other topics that I specifically related to. I have admired her for years after I first discovered her on Instagram. I remember when I gave birth and saw my body for the first time. I had been stretched and pulled in so many ways, my body was entirely foreign to me. Sarah speaks of your body being a collection of life. She allowed me to form a relationship with my body, with the understanding that it will eb and flow forever. My favorite quote of hers is, “It took a change of beliefs. To fully understand. That my joy is not limited by my body. But I can live joyfully in my body.” I am forever grateful for her openness that allowed me to accept my body as it is today.

Next is Rach Lynn Rodgers aka @theconsideratemomma. Rachael is a certified parent coach who believes in discipline without disconnection. I have always believed in gentle parenting, providing my child with respect, and ending the cycle of authoritarian parenting. I have watched Rachael on TikTok for a couple years, and she continually empowers me to transform myself as I inevitably transform my parenting. My daughter is currently 14 months old, and I know her big feelings and emotions are approaching. This creator has truly prepared me to deal with these situations as they come, by validating her feelings, empathizing with her, and offering discipline while maintaining a healthy connection with her. In episode 20 of her series, Rachael stated my favorite quote in the form of an affirmation, “I will no longer subscribe to the belief that I have to be perfect. I am valuable and worthy in my imperfection.” Thanks to this mom, I truly look forward to the next few years with my daughter.

Another favorite of mine is Jami Rankin aka @mandalamamamagic. Jami guides mothers to manifest the highest version of themselves, focusing on ritual work, family life, and spirituality. As a mom in recovery who considers herself to be far more spiritual than religious, I appreciate the inside look into Jami’s spiritual life. She speaks often of postpartum health, mediation, spending quality time with your children, and positive affirmations. I can appreciate her routines and rituals she shares, as that is something that I know I can improve upon. Jami often posts topics for us to reflect about, and my favorite is, “What if our children saw us love ourselves unapologetically?” This is something I have hope for with my daughter. Following Jami throughout my first year of motherhood allowed me to find some balance in motherhood while I felt so lost.

And finally, Khloe Kuriatnyk, digital creator, and owner of @momsitivity_. Khloe focuses on the desire to normalize what is real in our journeys not only as parents, but as human beings. She is an advocate for realistic motherhood, self-love, and body confidence. Khloe is very open about her self-love journey and speaks often about what we see in society versus what is human, normal, and nothing to be ashamed of. Khloe has continuously empowered me to eat what I want, wear what I want, and be confident in who I am as a mother. She often reminds me that I am deserving of many things I have deprived myself of. My favorite quote from her is, “In this lifetime, I have been given many titles describing different parts of who I am. Some were always here, some were worked for, and some came without invitation. All of the titles describe the many versions of who I am. Mother is my favorite of them all.”

I hope you find some inspiration in these influencers as I did, and I encourage you to find different platforms that empower you on a daily basis. We often indulge in social media, so why not put our media intake on a higher plane? Here’s to another year of moms supporting other moms through creating in 2023!