Let’s get real.

Can we just get brutally honest for a minute?

Almost every single woman I’ve talked to this week had a terrible Mother’s Day.

Most of them spent at least part of the day in tears, for an assortment of reasons.

Some were moms to littles, which I suppose is just exhausting in and of itself.

Others have kids who are grown and missed them, or felt neglected and ignored.

Still others, like me, have teenagers who aren’t exactly known for their ability to think about anyone other than themselves (it’s true, there’s science to prove it). 

Several have difficult or complicated relationships with their own moms.

A few have lost their moms, which makes the day especially painful.

And still others have lost children, or been unable to have them, or have chosen not to have them, which makes the whole day almost unbearable.

Then to top things off, we have to spend the whole day pretending not to be miserable, while we see all the infinitely better ways OTHER moms are being celebrated on social media (most of which is all total BS, but still—it stings.)

So, to sum it up, Mother’s Day is basically THE WORST HOLIDAY EVER.

There, I said it.

And I realize this is maybe not the normal positive, uplifting message that you’ve come to expect from this little newsletter of mine, but it’s what I’ve got today.

So if you’re a mom, or a stepmom, and your Mother’s Day absolutely sucked, please listen very closely, because you need to hear this:

You are not alone.

And just because your family didn’t celebrate you the way you hoped, or the whole day brought up a range of emotions that you weren’t sure what to do with because in theory it’s supposed to be such a wonderful day, please also know that it doesn’t make you any less special or worthy or amazing.

You are so much more than the sum of one day.

Dr. Seuss wisely wrote, “always remember that you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and twice as beautiful as you’ve ever imagined.” Along those same lines, Robert Frost once said, “In three words I can sum up everything I know about life: it goes on.”

In other words? Keep your chin up, mama.

Thank goodness we don’t have to do it again for another year.

And so, my challenge for you this week, whether you had the best Mother’s Day ever or the worst, is to do something nice and completely selfish for yourself this week. Read a novel in the sunshine while the dishes get left undone. Splurge on those new shoes you’ve been eyeing. Go get a massage or go see the movie you want to see, and order the large bucket of popcorn just for yourself. Whatever. Treat yourself. Because you deserve it. 

And then hit reply to this email to tell me what you’re going to do!

Live with purpose, friend, and have an amazing time!

xoxo, Ruth

This week’s podcast episode…

What’s cooking in my kitchen…

Here’s the recipe I shared this past week:

The latest from my Instagram…

Instagram is my jam! If you’re there too, I’d love to connect with you—find me at @RuthSoukup or @ruthsoukupbiz for online business tips!

What’s Happening Around RSO…