This post was originally posted on my publication, Simple Faithful Motherhood, on Substack.

Her spotless home was bathed in warm, golden sunlight, and she had on this apron in a lovely neutral colour above the most dreamy, flowy, floral dress I’ve ever seen. It made me want to pause the YouTube video to do a shopping search on Google for that exact apron and that specific dress, but I was mesmerized by the video, so I watched on.

Everything about her home aesthetics made me drool. Everything she said about making bread from scratch and denouncing store-bought snacks made so much sense. Her ease in going through a typical “day-in-a-life of a homeschooling mom of four kids” made me wonder how it is that I’m struggling to even just get through my day-in-a-life of a working-from-home mom of one — without losing my cool.

The video ends, and YouTube recommends me another. It’s a similarly dressed woman in another beautiful home, decorated in that wood-and-white aesthetic that I so adore, talking about her sourdough recipes, garden harvest and homeschooling her kids.

“It didn’t take long before I realised: I was slowly absorbing a very specific narrative: that this was what motherhood should look like — calm, quiet, slow, beautiful, effortless, glamorous.”

And I’m seeing the same woman everywhere*, popping up on my Instagram feed every now and then. Same dreamy, flowy, floral dress. Taking nature walks with her kids so well-behaved, it’s truly a picture of heaven.

It didn’t take long before I realised: I was slowly absorbing a very specific narrative: that this was what motherhood should look like — calm, quiet, slow, beautiful, effortless, glamorous. Homemade sourdough bread optional, but preferred.

*Please know that I’m being careful not to villainise these creators — many of them are doing great work with good intentions.

Am I Not “Mom Enough”?

Of course I knew I was watching their carefully curated highlight reels. Who really knows what struggles and meltdowns happen just behind the camera, right? But even with that awareness — even with my best efforts to keep comparison at bay — it still found a way in.

Somewhere between their sourdough starter recipes, Pinterest-worthy home decor, mommy outfit posts and Bible study reels, I started wondering: Am I not “mom enough”? Should I be more like her?

“I wasn’t just admiring these social media portrayals of motherhood. I was beginning to aspire to an image of motherhood that was never the script God wrote for me”

I wasn’t just admiring these social media portrayals of motherhood. I was beginning to aspire to an image of motherhood that was never the script God wrote for me. I chased an image of motherhood that I hoped would fill me, validate me, and even save me from my own feelings of failure — things only God could give.

The Image of Motherhood We Make

The truth is… there is no one blueprint for godly motherhood.

Homeschooling, homemaking, bread-baking, quiet mornings, hand-lettered Bible journaling, abundance of outdoor hours — these are beautiful expressions of good and godly motherhood, but they’re not biblical requirements.

Scripture doesn’t give us a checklist of what daily life should look like, or a single mould every mother should squeeze herself into. We’re meant to conform to the image of Christ, not the image of motherhood society has made.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 ESV)
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:29 ESV)

Before We Ever Became Mothers, We Were First Daughters

Daughters of a God who sees us not for what we do, or how put-together or home looks, but for whose we are. We are His.

We are uniquely called; each of us fearfully and wonderfully made.

None of that changed the moment we entered motherhood.

We didn’t lose the gifts and strengths God already wove into our lives. We didn’t suddenly become someone else. All the experiences that have shaped us, the passions we’ve pursued, the things we’ve studied and learned, and — oh dear sister, yes, even the dreams we’ve been carrying? None of these disappeared when we became moms.

Motherhood was never meant to overwrite who God created us to be.

And even more so, the popular, polished image of motherhood we often see on social media was never meant to be our identity, our goal, or the measurement of our worth.

Our identity was always first as daughters. Everything else, including motherhood, flows out of that.

From my heart, as a mommy content creator:

Even as someone who shares about motherhood online, I want to be so careful not to hold up a picture-perfect ideal for you to follow.

I never want to give you the impression that I’ve figured it out — or worse, that this is the standard and you should strive to meet it.

What I share isn’t a blueprint or a how-to manual for godly motherhood. It’s just my simple journey as I try to follow Christ in this season. If anything, I hope my life doesn’t say, “Be like me”… but “come, let’s be like Him.”

DID YOU FIND THIS HELPFUL?

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About the Writer

Hi, I’m Samantha

I’m a stay-home-working mum to a toddler son and a handful of plants I’m *trying* to keep alive. I’m also a proud and grateful wife to a gentle nerd #ITsupportforlife.
As a former teacher and church worker, I have a heart and passion for journeying with others — currently through my work at The Hearthmakers, where I share faith and motherhood content on simple living, savouring little joys, and staying rooted in Christ in the early motherhood years.
Follow along for more stories of everyday mum life in sunny-city Singapore, reflections on faith, and occasional glimpses into my creative pursuits!

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