5 Lessons from Motherhood, Metabolic Health & the Messiness in Between
May was… a lot. Not necessarily in a bad way—just full. Of moments. Emotions. Little growth spurts (my own and my son’s). Crumbs under the table. Deep conversations. Shallow sleep. And somehow, in all of that, a quiet unfolding of lessons I didn’t even know I was learning.
Here’s what I’m taking with me into June. Some of these are personal. Some are professional. Most are both. Because the more I work in women’s health—and live inside this ever-changing female body—the more I realize: nothing is just one thing. Life, like hormones, is layered.
1. Rest is not weakness—it’s fuel.
This month, I worked out less—not because I didn’t want to move, but because I needed to rest. And not “scrolling on the couch while thinking about my to-do list” rest. Real, eyes-closed, noise-canceling, unapologetic rest.
It felt uncomfortable at first. But the exhaustion wasn’t subtle: heavy legs, foggy brain, shorter fuse. I could feel my body saying: “Enough.”
What I’ve realized is that rest doesn’t always look luxurious or Insta-worthy. Sometimes, it’s lying on the floor while your kiddo plays. Sometimes, it’s giving yourself permission to not be productive for 15 minutes. Sometimes, it’s canceling something you committed to with zero guilt.
This month taught me that if I don’t make space for rest, my body will make the decision for me—through headaches, cravings, or irritability. And I’d rather choose rest than be forced into it.
2. Motherhood rewires priorities—again and again.
Becoming a mother changed everything. But what I didn’t expect was how often motherhood keeps changing everything.
Just when we get into a rhythm, something shifts. A new nap schedule. A developmental leap. A phase of clinginess or exploration or sleep resistance. And suddenly, what worked last week no longer fits.
This month, I’ve had to let go of rigid plans and ask myself more honestly: What actually matters today?
Often, the answer wasn’t more work. It was more presence. Fewer tasks, more connection. Saying yes to fewer things so I could say yes to the things (and people) that really matter.
And here’s the thing—our home is full right now. My parents are visiting, which means we’re four adults and one curious toddler in a space that suddenly feels too small, especially since our dishwasher broke. The sink is always full, there's always someone on our couch and there’s no such thing as a quiet moment.
But.
My heart is full, too.
Seeing my parents with little M—playing on the floor, looking at books, going on walks—it makes the clutter and chaos worth it. It’s crowded, yes. But it’s precious.
And it’s reminding me that motherhood isn’t just about sacrifice—it’s about shared joy.
3. Being in tune isn’t about control—it’s about curiosity.
As someone who’s worn both the scientist hat and the health coach hat, I’ve always valued tracking and data. Knowing my glucose trends, understanding hormone shifts, planning my workouts accordingly—it’s empowering.
But this month, I noticed myself getting a bit rigid. I was too focused on every variable. And when things didn’t go “right” (like not hitting the workout numbers, or craving more chocolate than "usual"), I felt disappointed.
So I paused.
And I asked: What would it feel like to stop trying to control—and start getting curious instead?
That small shift changed everything.
Now, when I feel off, I don’t jump into judgment. I ask:
What’s going on in my life?
Where’s my cycle right now?
Did I sleep enough?
What will fill my cup?
Curiosity invites compassion. And compassion creates space for true connection with my body. It’s not always about food. Or movement.
Sometimes, it’s about unmet needs. Or overstimulation. Or needing a moment for myself in the shower. That’s the kind of tuning in I want more of.
4. Women are tired of being told to “just manage stress.”
Every week I talk to women who are holding so much. They’re navigating work, parenting, caregiving, perimenopause, mental load, and in many cases—feeling like they’re failing because they can’t also fit in self-care, meditation, and 10,000 steps a day.
The advice to “reduce stress” often lands like a slap in the face.
We know stress matters. It impacts everything—glucose, hormones, sleep, energy. But what most women need isn’t another tip on managing stress. They need recognition. Tools that fit their life.
Support that meets them where they are.
And sometimes, they just need someone to say:
Of course you’re tired. You’re doing a lot. And you’re doing it incredibly well.
5. The most powerful health tool is community.
I saw it again and again this month: women don’t heal faster because they have better data. They heal faster because they feel less alone.
When you hear someone else say “I’ve been there too,” it creates space for honesty.
When a client feels safe to say “I had ice cream last night and I feel guilty,” and the group responds with kindness instead of judgment—that’s when the healing begins.
No wearable, no tracker, no supplement can replace the magic of shared understanding.
This month reminded me that we are not meant to do health alone.
We are wired for connection. And connection is medicine.
Wrapping Up
So, May brought me messy kitchens, full hearts, short nights, deep reflections, and the quiet reminder that health is not a checklist—it’s a relationship. With our bodies. With our needs. With each other.
If you’re in a season where your energy feels stretched, your body feels different, or your capacity isn’t what it used to be—I see you.
And you don’t need to do it all. You don’t need to do it perfectly.
You just need a little space to rest.
A little permission to feel.
And a lot of reminders that you are not alone in this.
Here’s to messy, meaningful months—and everything they teach us.