To the Mums in the Thick of It: We See You This Mother’s Day

It's Mother’s Day is this weekend, and for many mums that means a collection of very specific treasures is about to arrive home. Handmade kindergarten gifts. Soap on a rope, half-eaten heart-shaped chocolates, Raffle tickets with that left over 50c. Precious finds from the Mother’s Day stall that cost three dollars and mean absolutely everything. But here at Ready Steady Go Kids, we also know the reality of early motherhood. We see the pile of laundry that has developed its own ecosystem, the cold coffee reheated three times, the kind of sleep deprivation that makes Tuesday feel like a minor endurance event, and the very real feeling of being a bit of a 'hot mess' before 7am.

This piece is for you. Not the polished, Instagram-filtered version of you, but the real you. The one who is currently reading this while hiding in the pantry for thirty seconds of peace, or perhaps while nursing a lukewarm cup of tea that has been sitting on the bench since 6am. We see you, and we want to take a moment to honour the incredible, exhausting, and beautiful work you are doing every single day.

The Reality of the Morning Routine

Let’s talk about that first coffee. You know the one. You made it with such high hopes. You even used the nice mug. Then, a little one needed help finding a specific blue truck that hasn't been seen since 2024. Then someone else decided they suddenly hated the crusts on their toast, despite eating them yesterday with zero complaints. By the time you sit down, that coffee is cold. You put it in the microwave. You forget about it. You find it again three hours later. This is the official drink of motherhood in the thick of it: the third cold coffee of the morning.

We see you navigating these early hours on five hours of interrupted sleep. Five hours sounds like a lot to people without children, but to a mum of little ones, those five hours are often broken into forty-minute increments of being kicked in the ribs or being asked for a glass of water at three in the morning. Waking up feeling like you have been hit by a bus is not an exaggeration; it is just another morning. Yet, somehow, you still find the energy to get everyone dressed, packed, and out the door.

The Mental Load and the Invisible Labour

There is a certain kind of magic in the way a mother’s brain works. You are the keeper of the schedules, the finder of the lost shoes, and the chief negotiator of snack times; and for some, this is just their 'home job'. This mental load is heavy. It is the invisible labour that keeps the household running, and it often goes unnoticed because you make it look so seamless. Even when you feel like you are barely holding it together, your little ones see a superhero.

They don't notice the dark circles under your eyes or the fact that you are wearing leggings for the fourth day in a row. They see the person who makes them feel safe, the one who cheers the loudest when they finally catch that ball at their sports class, and the person who knows exactly how to fix a scraped knee with a cuddle and a magic kiss.

Finding Your Village in the Chaos

One of the things we love most about our classes is watching the connections that happen on the sidelines. We know that motherhood can sometimes feel incredibly lonely, even when you are never actually alone. Being surrounded by little ones who need you every second of the day can be isolating in a way that is hard to explain to people who aren't in it.

That is why building a community is so important. When you show up to a RSGK session and make eye contact with another mum whose toddler is currently having a meltdown over the colour of a cone, there is an instant bond. That look says, I have been there, I am there right now, and you are doing fine. Finding that village is what makes the thick of it bearable.

Why You Keep Showing Up

We often wonder what drives mums to keep pushing through the exhaustion. It is the way your little one’s face lights up when they realise they can jump over a hurdle. It is the pride they feel when they earn a high-five from their coach. You show up because you want them to be active, healthy, and happy. You realise that the habits they form now will stay with them for life.

But let’s be honest: sometimes you show up because it is the short timeframe where someone else takes the lead. For forty-five minutes, a coach is the one giving instructions, and you get to breathe, and perhaps have a conversation with another adult that doesn't involve the plot of Bluey. That time is precious. It is a small window of reset in a week that often feels like a marathon.

To the Mums of Little Ones

If you are currently in the stage of nappies, nap schedules, teething, big emotions, and endless energy, we see you. This is the deep end of early motherhood. This is the stage where your body doesn't quite feel like your own yet and the concept of a full night's sleep feels like a distant memory from a former life. You are doing the heavy lifting of building a human being from the ground up. It is physical, emotional, and spiritual work that is as demanding as any full-time job, yet it often comes with very little recognition.

PLEASE KNOW that you are doing enough. Even on the days when the house is a mess and you feel like you haven't accomplished a single thing on your to-do list, you have been the entire world to your little one. That is a massive achievement.

If you are dealing with the big emotions and endless energy of little ones, we see you too. This is the stage of why? and watch this! and please don't touch that. It is a time of incredible growth and discovery, but it is also the time when you need the most patience. You are teaching them how to navigate the world, how to share, and how to be a good friend.

Your little ones are starting to find their independence, and while that is exciting, it is also a bit bittersweet. You are their anchor as they start to drift a little further out into the world.

A Moment for Self Compassion

This Mother’s Day, our wish for you is not just a fancy brunch or a box of chocolates. Our wish is for you to give yourself a little bit of the grace you so freely give to everyone else. Recognise that you are doing an incredible job under circumstances that are often overwhelming.

It is okay to be tired. It is okay to wish for five minutes of silence. It is okay to feel like you are failing, even when everyone else can see that you are succeeding. Motherhood is not about perfection; it is about presence. And the fact that you are there, showing up day after day despite the fatigue, is the greatest gift you could ever give your children.

The RSGK Community Support

We are more than just your child's sports class; we are a community that supports the whole family. We understand that behind every active child is a mum who remembered the water bottle and managed the logistics of getting there on time. We want our classes to be a place where you feel supported as much as your little ones do.

Looking Ahead to Mother’s Day

As we approach the big day, take a look at those little faces. They don't care if the house is tidy or if you haven't brushed your hair. They care that you are there. They care that you love them. To them, you are the most important person in the universe.

So, when you finally get that third cup of coffee, hopefully this time while it is actually hot, take a deep breath. Reflect on how far you have come and the amazing little humans you are raising. You are building the future, one cold coffee and one five-hour sleep at a time.

We are so proud to have you as part of our RSGK family and our community. Please know that your efforts do not go unnoticed.

Hug your babies tight, to them you are their world.