‘It’s complicated enough to find your way in the jungle of motherhood’

Jannine Berkelaar is editor-in-chief of Kek Mama. She and her husband Erik have daughter Elin (9) and son Mats (7).

It’s time again for the all-important mombracing theme. A theme that I think should be on the agenda every month.

mom bracing

A little refresher: mombracing is the opposite of momshaming. And mom shaming? That is the phenomenon where mothers criticize each other for the choices they make in motherhood. Do you breastfeed or not? Have you chosen the right baby carrier or sling? Do you not work or do you work a lot? It’s complicated enough to find your way in the jungle of motherhood, let alone with the critical opinions of your fellow mothers flying around you.

Last year, the Kek Mama survey showed that no less than 77% of mothers suffer from mom shaming. Incredibly much. That is why Kek Mama is fighting again this year for a world in which mothers support each other instead of knocking them down like scratching in a crab basket.

You can read more stories from mothers about everything that has to do with mombracing here.

so what

And we do that with the So What movement, among other things. Countless tough moms show how they do in motherhood in these videos. Maybe not everyone agrees with the choice they make? So what! They feel good about it. And isn’t that what it’s all about? Feeling good about your own choices and having the confidence to find your own way. Because hey: there is no mother like you and no child like yours.

“There is no mother like you and no child like yours”

You too can contribute to spreading the positive #mombracing message. Share a post with a beautiful, positive mombracing message on your socials, using #momshaming and @kekmamamagazine. Let’s not divide, but unite.

The beautiful mombracing special is now in stores. Be kind to yourself and immerse yourself in this special full of recognition, inspiration, humor and relaxation. Just a moment just for you. You earned that.