Mel Watts does not see herself as a mothering expert, or a perfect mother for that matter.
She's just a mother of three, wife, and blogger, determined to do the best she can for her family and her community.
In 2014, Watts founded the Modern Mumma, the blog through which she recounts open, honest stories about her and her growing family's winding journey together.
Her mission, from the beginning, has never been to spew parenting advice, but rather to "visit the shady areas of co-parenting, young mothering, and doing the best you can for your family."
Her beautifully raw depictions of young motherhood have already stolen many hearts over the years. However, this week, she posted a particularly moving piece, commemorating her youngest daughter's nine-month mark that's utterly exploded with praise. In just a few days' time, it's already been "liked" and "shared" by over 100,000 folks all across the internet.
Scroll through our gallery to learn more about this mom's powerfully honest post, and how she continues fostering a growing community aimed at helping other struggling parents feel less alone.
[H/T: Daily Mail]
Mel Watts — mom, wife, and blogger of the Modern Mumma — has been a mom for quite some time now, and a blogger since 2014. Her blog parallels her approach to motherhood. It's open, honest, and focused less on perfection and more on authenticity.
She initially started her blog intending to foster an online safe haven for other mommies and daddies, "a blog for the modern day parent," because "sometimes you just need to know you're not alone."
Recently, Watts reached the nine-month mark mothering with her newest little bundle of joy, and deemed the moment ripe for a post.
So, she took to Instagram, and posted the following photo.
As she told LittleThings: "I was hoping to do a cute nine months post, however, Indie, [her daughter], didn't want to participate in the photo. I wasn't going to post this one, but I thought, I'm honest and open to sharing everything else, so why not."
What started as a cute little idea quickly snowballed into a beautifully moving and honest portrayal of motherhood.
On Instagram, Watts wrote: "Nine months out of the womb. In the last nine months I have never slept so little in my life. In the last nine months I have suffered my worst anxiety I have ever experienced.
"Having a new baby is exhausting and life just doesn't stop. The bills still need to be paid, Groceries still need to be purchased and the pressure you put on yourself is overwhelming."
"We expect ourselves to know what we're doing all the time. It doesn't matter if it's your first or if it's your third you're still learning daily.
"The first nine months of your baby’s life is filled with guessing, rocking, smiling and crying. The amount of pressure we put on ourselves isn't fair.
"We aren't invincible."
She continued: "We're humans and we're mothers.
"It's okay to have days that you don't feel good enough.
"It's okay to feel like you have no idea what day it is. You've got this. We've got this. Some women seem to have it all. Well so we think. Some women don't. I don't. I didn't have the motivation to even get dressed for the first nine months let alone get my pre-baby body back. And that's ok. If you do have the motivation good on you!
"Life challenges us daily.
"We are given new obstacles every single day. There's always tomorrow!"
Since posting her soulful tribute to the last nine months with her newborn, Watts has received wave after wave of beautiful support from parents all over the world.
In just a few days time, over 100,000 folks on Instagram, Facebook, and the vaster internet combined began showering Watts in heartwarming praise for her unwavering authenticity.
"People are amazing! They really are," Watts told LittleThings. "They support each other and they comment for their friends to read it. Women supporting women!"
And while this moment has been truly uplifting, Watts reminded us that it's taken her quite some time to reach this place. A place where she's not only comfortable posting her honest thoughts and feelings for the world to read, but where she also feels comfortable publicly embracing her present body.
"My stomach is not me," she told LittleThings. "It's just a part of me.
"If you look at my photo and pity me, please don't. I struggled for a long, long time with self image.
"And now, I'm older, I have learnt that image isn't what's important. You may not be someone's cup of tea but that doesn't matter. Not everyone has to think you're amazing, and they don't matter."
Regarding parenting hurdles, Watts reminded us that the "majority of things that you find difficult are just phases. Teething — a very long phase; night feeds — just a phase."
"They're only small once," so she recommends parents, "embrace it the best you can."
"Just take everyday as it comes. If you don't want to do something, don't. Just enjoy the baby and cuddle."
This devoted mom, wife, and blogger's devotion to sharing her authentic story continues fostering a beautifully uplifting community of supportive parents, lifting one another up all across the world.
What do you think of this mommy blogger's honesty? What do you remember from your first nine months of parenthood? Tell us your story in the comments below.
Would you like to read more from the Modern Mumma? Check out her blog here.
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