Motherhood guilt, worthiness & the pressure to put everyone elsefirst.
In this episode of The Kindness We Forget, Kim is joined by Zoe Blaskey, Founder & Host of Motherkind and Sunday Times Bestselling Author.
Together, they explore why modern motherhood can feel so overwhelming, how unrealistic expectations and guilt can leave women questioning themselves, and why lookingafter our own needs isn't something we should have to justify.
Zoe shares her thoughts on the pressures facing mothers today, from the loss of community support and endless parenting advice to social comparison and working practicesthat haven't kept pace with modern family life.
They also explore matrescence; the profound transition into motherhood and why understanding it can help women make sense of changes to their identity, priorities andrelationships.
And, importantly, Zoe offers some wonderfully practical ways to bring more self-kindness into everyday life.
In this conversation, you'll hear about:
- Why asking "If I believed I was worthy, what would I do?" can change the actions we take.
- Why motherhood can feel harder than ever, and why that doesn't mean we're doing something wrong.
- How the expectation that good mothers should sacrifice themselves affects women and the example we set for our children.
- Zoe's simple "one for me, one for you" approach to including ourselves in the care we give others.
- What matrescence means and why becoming a mother is a transition, not an overnight transformation.
- How asking "What would I say to a friend in this situation?" can help us respond to ourselves with greater compassion.
This conversation is a reminder that our needs and dreams matter too. Self-kindness isn't about caring less for others. It's about remembering to include ourselves.
Connect with Zoe
Explore Zoe's work through Motherkind, including her podcast, book and Instagram community.
LISTEN! To Motherkind on:Motherkind - Podcast - Apple Podcasts
https://open.spotify.com/show/38SHvE9JBV9mfCRKzSjYEN
https://www.youtube.com/@Zoe-Blaskey Follow Zoe on:
· Linked In: Zoe Blaskey
· Instagram: Zoe Blaskey
Connect with Kindness For Success
- Website: https://www.kindnessforsuccess.co.uk
- Instagram: kindness.for.success
- LinkedIn: Kim Stokes and Lucy Hughes
About The Kindness We Forget and #24forKindness
Conversations about sustainable self-kindness, because akinder future starts with you.
The Kindness We Forget grew from #24forKindness, a 24-hour fundraising challenge in support of Mind during Mental Health Awareness Week in May 2026. Season One revisits conversations from that event, exploring the role of sustainable self-kindness in how we live, work, lead and care for ourselves and others.
You will hear references to watching live or donating duringthis conversation. These relate to the original event and are not part of a current fundraising campaign.
Collectively, #24forKindness raised enough to enable Mind toprovide 182 people with a 1:1 call at a time of need; support that otherwise wouldn’t have been funded.
If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love you to follow thepodcast and share it with someone who might enjoy the conversation too.
To learn more about Mind and the support they provide, visithttps://www.mind.org.uk.
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