CEO Mama Newsletter: 14th Edition

Hi ,

You know those moments when your patience runs out and the smallest thing – a spilled drink, a missed nap, a lost sock – pushes you over the edge? 

The reaction, the snapping, the stiffness, the deep regret that follows.

It’s easy to spiral into self-judgment, thinking, “Why didn’t I handle this better?” 

But guess what – snapping doesn’t make you a bad mom. It’s not about weakness or failure. It’s your nervous system’s way of waving a big, red flag, saying, “You’re running on empty. Pay attention.” 🚨

Our reactive moments are invitations to slow down and tune in. They’re a chance to ask ourselves: What’s really happening here? Am I tired, overstimulated, or just carrying too much?

The thing is, your reaction isn’t the problem. Ignoring what it’s trying to tell you is.

So let’s talk about it, Mama. 

When Spilled Milk Feels Like the Last Straw

The “snap” doesn’t come out of nowhere – it’s a slow build, a silent storm brewing beneath the surface.

It starts subtly… your shoulders inching toward your ears, your jaw tightening, maybe gritting your teeth together, your breath getting shallow. Maybe you feel a heaviness in your chest or a lump in your throat. The world around you feels louder, faster, and suddenly too much. 

You can literally feel this energy rising in your system. Something is brewing (and it’s not your favorite cup of coffee). 😅

Your heart begins to race, not from fear but from frustration. You notice heat rising in your face, a flush of irritation that signals you’re nearing your limit. It’s as if every nerve in your body is screaming for relief.

Then it happens. The spilled cup, the whining, the sibling argument – something small tips the scale, and the words are out before you can catch them. 

Your voice is sharp, your reaction bigger than the moment calls for… and in the quiet that follows, the guilt sets in.

Now the negative self-talk kicks in: “F*CK! Why did this send me over the edge? I’m telling my kids to be calm and speak nicely to each other, but I just lost my shit on them over this?” 

Let me just say, I feel you so deep on this. The overwhelm is real and we aren’t always going to get it “right” in the moment with our kids, partners, teams, friends… 

But here’s what I need you to know: that snap doesn’t make you a bad mom. It’s not proof that you’ve failed. It’s actually your body waving a flag, saying, “I’m overloaded. I need a break.”

Our nervous systems are designed to protect us, and when we’re constantly juggling everything – whether it’s work, kids, the house, or all of the above – our bodies go into overdrive.

When you start to notice the early signs: the jaw clench, the shallow breaths, the tightening in your neck – it’s an opportunity to pause. To step away for a moment, take a deep breath, and remind yourself: I don’t have to react right now. I can choose a different response. I can create capacity for this. 

The truth is, we all snap sometimes. What matters is not perfection, but the effort to recognize those moments for what they are – a call to give yourself grace, soften your edges, and reconnect with what you need. 

Here’s the beautiful thing about motherhood: you don’t have to get it right all the time to raise resilient kids. 

Repair is everything.

If you snap at your kids, here’s a simple script to help mend and reconnect: “Hi my love, I’m sorry I got upset earlier. I was feeling overwhelmed, but it wasn’t okay for me to yell. I love you, and I’m going to work on handling my feelings better next time.”

When we model accountability and emotional repair, we teach our kids that it’s okay to make mistakes and that it’s how we handle those mistakes that matters most.

Remember Mama, motherhood is messy. It’s raw, beautiful, and filled with moments that stretch you in ways you didn’t know were possible. 

You’re allowed to have breaking points. You’re allowed to feel overwhelmed. And you’re allowed to give yourself grace for being human.

When the snap happens, your body’s already in overdrive – so it’s the perfect time to do something simple to help you find your footing. 

You can: hold your child’s hand and take a deep breath together. Turn on a song that makes you both smile and dance together around the kitchen. Press your feet into the floor and take a long slow breath. Go outside for a nature walk or play “I Spy” to get in touch with your senses. 

It doesn’t have to be a full vacation or spa day to regulate your nervous system. It could be a few peaceful minutes to reset, ground, and shift your energy back to peace + connection with yourself and your family. 💛

“The other day, I yelled at my son for spilling juice all over the counter. Not because it was a big deal – juice cleans up – but because I was already running late, stressed about work, and feeling like I was failing at everything.

He looked at me with wide eyes and said, “It’s okay, Mommy. I’ll help clean it up.”

And at that moment, I wanted to cry. Not because of the mess, but because I realized how often I let the weight of my own overwhelm spill out onto him. 😭

I didn’t know what to say, so I just hugged him, whispered “I’m sorry,” and we wiped it up together.

It hit me later that night: I’m not mad about spilled juice. I’m mad about how much I’m holding, and how often I forget to let some of it go.”

– Anonymous Mama

So, the next time you find yourself losing it over spilled milk, take a moment to breathe, reset, and know that you’re doing an incredible job, even on the hard days.

🤍

P.S. We’ll be opening doors again soon for our CEO Mama Membership. If you want to be included in our next round of enrollment, be sure you submit your application here.