Celebrating Women? I just don’t want to do it all alone anymore.
As most women are aware, International Women’s Day was yesterday. Across social media, you likely saw a flood of posts about "empowered women," "shattering glass ceilings," and "celebrating all that we do." Maybe it was just me, but this year felt a little be heavier as a working mother with young children.
If you’re like me, you might have felt a twinge of annoyance-not because you aren't doing enough, but because you didn't feel "empowered." You felt exhausted. You saw the curated photos of women "having it all" and felt a quiet, sharp ache because your reality is a daily, solo scramble to keep your career on track while the daycare is closed, the mental load is mounting, and your own needs have been buried for months.
Here is the truth about International Women’s Day for the mother who is doing it all alone: You don’t need more platitudes about how strong you are. You don’t even need the recognition of an International Women’s Day. You need practical, systemic support.
The Myth of the "Supermom"
I’ve said it multiple times: we are living through a moment in history that demands the impossible. We are expected to work like we don’t have children and mother like we don’t have careers-all while navigating life without the "village" that every parenting book promises will be there or should be there.
For the high-achieving women I work with—the doctors, lawyers, leaders, and entrepreneurs—this isn't just a scheduling conflict. It’s a crisis of identity and nervous system regulation. When you are the "default parent" and the primary breadwinner, your brain never actually turns off. You aren't "bad at balance"; you are simply carrying a load designed for ten people, and you are trying to hold it all together with two hands.
Moving from "Strong" to "Supported"
International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate achievements, but in my practice, I’m more interested in your restoration. This year, I want to challenge the common narrative of the "strong, resilient mom." Resilience is a necessary survival skill, but it shouldn't be your permanent state of being. If you are ready to stop performing your life and start actually living it, I have a challenge for you:
Identify the "leaks": Where are you over-functioning simply because you fear what will happen if you don't?
Drop the mask: In my office, you don't have to look "put together." Therapy is the one place where you get to put the weight down.
Build a professional village: When family isn't an option, professional support—whether it's therapy, outsourcing home tasks, or a dedicated boundary plan—is the "village" you must build for yourself.
You Are More Than a Management System
You are not just a "Mom" or an "Employee." You are a woman who deserves to be seen, supported, and sustained.
If you are tired of carrying the weight of the world on your own, I invite you to start reclaiming your peace. You don’t need to be "stronger." You just need a space where you don't have to hold it all together.
You’ve spent enough time being the 'strong one.' It’s time you had a partner in your corner who understands the weight you're carrying. Let's talk about how we can build your village.
Alexandra Nataloni, LMHC
Serving working mothers virtually in Massachusetts