08/21/2026
i’ve gone back and forth about sharing this because the Lindsay Clancy case is incredibly heavy, and I never want to speak about a tragedy involving a mother and her children without acknowledging the unimaginable pain surrounding it.
but I also can’t ignore how deeply this story has affected so many mothers. i think part of what makes it so triggering is that it forces us to confront something we don’t talk about enough: how vulnerable mothers can be after birth, and how often the mother becomes an afterthought once the baby arrives.
we’re so good at preparing for the baby but are we preparing mothers for the emotional, physical, hormonal, and identity shifts that come with becoming one? are we checking on mom months later? even years? are we making it easy for her to access mental healthcare? are we giving her community? are we giving her permission to say, “I’m not okay”?
and I want to be very clear: I don’t believe a hobby, a craft, or a little time to yourself is a substitute for professional mental healthcare. there are circumstances that require serious medical and psychiatric support, and mothers deserve access to that care without shame or fear that her kids will be ripped away from her. but I also believe there is room for the smaller things that help us feel human again.
for me, that was embroidery. it gave me a tiny pocket of time where I wasn’t someone’s mom. i was just…me. and that is a huge part of why I created this community. not because I think making something for 20 minutes can fix motherhood but because I want this to be a place where moms can breathe, create, connect, and remember that they matter, too.
if you’re a mom who has felt especially shaken by this story, I hope you know you’re not alone. and I hope you give yourself permission to take care of you with the same tenderness you give everyone else 🤍
