#22 - The Mother's Day No One Talks About

Mother’s Day is often presented as a day of warmth, gratitude and celebration.

But for many women, the reality of that relationship is far more complicated.

In this episode, Leanne speaks openly about the emotional impact of growing up with a difficult relationship with her own mother, and the quiet grief many women carry when their experience doesn’t match the cultural script of what a mother - child relationship is supposed to look like.

From the pressure of social media tributes to the silence surrounding difficult family dynamics, this conversation explores the hidden side of Mother’s Day that rarely gets acknowledged.

Leanne also shares parts of her own journey navigating a strained relationship with her mother, and the turning point that allowed her to move from trying to prove her worth to understanding her mother’s limitations without letting them define her value.

This episode is not about blame or bitterness.

It’s about honesty, emotional maturity, and recognising that love and pain can exist in the same relationship.

If Mother’s Day feels complicated for you, this conversation may help you organise some of your thoughts and realise that you are not alone.

In this episode we explore:

• Why Mother’s Day can trigger deep emotional responses
• The cultural fantasy of motherhood versus lived experience
• How early relationships shape self-worth and emotional regulation
• The guilt many women feel when acknowledging harm in family relationships
• Why two truths can exist at the same time - love and impact
• Moving from longing for a different mother to building emotional stability within yourself

This episode is for the women who find themselves in the grey area of Mother’s Day - where the relationship with their mother isn’t simple, but their experience still deserves to be acknowledged.

https://braverwomen.com/