Aisha Baker shares her candid reflections on the challenges and joys of motherhood.
Image: Instagram/ @bakedonline.
June has officially arrived and, if we're being honest, many of us are probably wondering where the first five months of the year disappeared to.
No, it doesn't magically erase your mistakes, pay your bills or make your laundry disappear. But it does offer a chance to pause, reflect and figure out what lessons the previous month brought with it before diving headfirst into the next one.
As June begins, lifestyle influencer Aisha Baker has sparked exactly that kind of reflection after sharing an honest look at her life throughout May.
Posting what she called her "May highlight reel" on Instagram, Baker gave followers a glimpse into life as a mother of three while adjusting to having a newborn in the house.
On paper, the month looked pretty special. There were celebrations, family moments and her eldest child turning eight. But Baker admitted there was a lot happening behind the scenes that never made it into the carefully edited clips and photos.
"May is always a full month for me, throwing a new baby in the mix definitely threw me off my game," she wrote.
The influencer opened up about the realities many new parents know all too well.
From postpartum tears and anxiety and trying to show up for everyone around her, Baker admitted she has felt pulled in every direction.
"What you don't see here is how much pressure I'm under, the endless crying and anxiety I feel as adding a new member to the family pulls me in all directions."
Social media has a funny way of convincing people that everyone else has their lives perfectly sorted. Meanwhile, most of us are one unexpected expense, unanswered email or sleepless night away from staring into space wondering what day it is.
Taking time to reflect can be good for emotional wellbeing.
Studies have found that self-reflection helps people process experiences, build resilience and gain perspective.
Looking back on both the wins and the challenges can also encourage gratitude and personal growth.
Baker's reflection serves as a reminder that a month can hold birthday celebrations, tears, gratitude, stress and joy all at once.
As June gets underway, perhaps the real goal isn't to have everything figured out. Maybe it's simply to acknowledge how far you've come, celebrate the wins, learn from the tough moments and give yourself permission to start again.
After all, every new month arrives with the same message: the story isn't over yet.