Let me start with a truth that might sting a little: you’ve probably spent more time this week thinking about everyone else’s needs than your own.

The school run. The packed lunches. The bedtime negotiations. The mental load of remembering who needs what, when, and where. The invisible labour of keeping an entire household running while simultaneously trying to remember if you’ve had a proper meal yourself today.

Sound familiar?

Motherhood is beautiful, transformative, and utterly relentless. And while the world happily celebrates you one Sunday a year with cards and breakfast in bed (often eaten while still managing everyone else’s chaos), what you actually need, what you truly deserve, is so much more than flowers that wilt by Tuesday.

The permission you’ve been waiting for

Here’s what I want you to know: self-care isn’t selfish. It’s survival.

That nagging feeling that you should be doing more, giving more, being more? That’s not intuition. That’s conditioning. And it’s time to question it.

When you’re running on empty, physically exhausted, emotionally drained, spiritually depleted, you can’t pour anything meaningful into the people you love. You know this already. You’ve felt it in those moments when your patience snaps over something small, when tears come unexpectedly, when you can’t remember the last time you felt like yourself rather than just “Mum.”

Research backs this up beautifully. When mothers prioritize their own physical and emotional health, they’re better equipped to manage stress, build emotional resilience, and create a healthier, more nurturing environment for their families. Self-care practices, even small ones, significantly decrease feelings of exhaustion, burnout, stress, and depression.

But here’s the thing: knowing you need self-care and actually giving yourself permission to take it are two entirely different things.

Why Mother’s Day weekend could be different this year

Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, March 15th this year. And instead of the usual routine, brunch surrounded by chaos, a card made with sticky fingers, maybe a bunch of supermarket tulips, what if you gave yourself something radical?

Space. Stillness. Time.

What if this Mother’s Day, you chose yourself?

Our Keyhaven Coastal Retreat runs from March 13-15, the entire Mother’s Day weekend. It’s not a coincidence. This weekend was curated specifically for women who need to step away, breathe deeply, and remember who they are beyond the roles they play.

Think about it: a long weekend where nobody needs you to find their shoes, mediate sibling disputes, or remember that dentist appointment. Just you, the sound of waves, and space to simply be.

What your body and mind are asking for

Your nervous system has been in overdrive. The constant vigilance of keeping tiny humans alive (or not-so-tiny humans thriving) keeps your body in a perpetual state of low-level stress. You’ve probably normalized feeling slightly anxious, always “on,” never quite rested even after sleep.

This is where intentional retreat becomes medicine.

At Keyhaven, we blend movement practices designed to release what your body has been holding:

Vinyasa flow to reconnect with your strength and breath, not the punishing kind that leaves you depleted, but the kind that makes you feel alive and capable in your own skin again.

Yin yoga for those deep tissues that have been braced for months (or years). Longer holds. Deeper release. Permission to soften.

Sound baths that let your overactive mind finally rest, held by ancient healing frequencies while your body does what it does best: heal itself when given the chance.

Meditation practices that don’t require you to “empty your mind” (impossible for most mothers) but teach you how to find calm within the mental noise.

The coastal setting itself does half the work. There’s something about salt air and endless sky that puts life back into perspective. Walking along Keyhaven’s shoreline, with views across to the Isle of Wight and out toward the Needles, you remember that you’re part of something larger than school pick-ups and grocery lists.

The nourishment you’ve been craving

Let’s talk about food for a moment. When was the last time someone cooked for you?

Not the thrown-together meals you eat standing up at the kitchen counter. Not the leftovers from your children’s plates. Not the biscuits you grab between tasks because you’re too busy to sit down.

Actual nourishment. Thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, wholesome food that fuels rather than just fills.

Every meal at our retreat is plant-based, gluten-free, and designed to restore. Think warming butterbean and mushroom pie that tastes like a hug. Date and orange chocolate torte that proves dessert can be both indulgent and nourishing. Fresh, seasonal ingredients prepared with care while you do absolutely nothing except enjoy.

You’ll sit down to eat. At a table. With other women who understand exactly why this matters.

If a retreat feels impossible right now

I understand, genuinely, that a weekend away might not be possible for everyone reading this. Childcare, finances, work commitments, or simply the logistical overwhelm of leaving can feel insurmountable.

So let me offer you something else: micro-practices of self-nurture you can weave into the life you’re already living.

Ten minutes of morning stillness before the household wakes. Just you, a cup of tea, and silence. Set your alarm fifteen minutes earlier if you need to. This isn’t about productivity, it’s about meeting yourself before you meet everyone else’s needs.

Breathing practices while folding laundry. Inhale for four counts, hold for four, exhale for six. Transform mundane tasks into meditation.

A weekly bath that’s non-negotiable. Put a lock on the door. Light a candle. Tell your family this is sacred time. Model boundaries for your children by having them.

Say no to one thing this week that you’d normally say yes to out of obligation. Feel the space that creates.

Move your body in ways that feel good. Not punishment workouts. Dance in your kitchen. Stretch on your bedroom floor. Walk around the block alone with your favorite music.

Journal for five minutes before bed. Three things you’re grateful for. One thing you’re releasing. One way you showed up for yourself today.

These aren’t Instagram-worthy self-care practices. They’re small, sustainable, and sacred. They count.

The gift that keeps giving

Here’s what happens when you prioritize your own well-being: you teach your children: especially your daughters: that women’s needs matter. That rest isn’t something you earn through productivity. That saying no is powerful. That taking space for yourself makes you a better human, not a selfish one.

You model the life you want them to live. Not the martyr narrative. Not the “I’ll rest when I’m dead” mentality. But balance, boundaries, and the radical act of self-love.

And practically? You’ll have more patience. More energy. More emotional capacity. More of yourself to give: because you’ve actually filled your own cup first.

Your invitation

This Mother’s Day weekend, you have a choice. The same Sunday traditions or something transformative.

Our Keyhaven Coastal Retreat still has a few spaces remaining for March 13-15. If you’ve been feeling the pull toward something different: if you’re reading this and feeling that flutter of “what if?”: that’s your intuition speaking.

You deserve more than wilting flowers and a card. You deserve restoration. Connection. Space to remember who you are when you’re not in constant service to everyone else.

The logistics will work themselves out. The childcare will happen. The world will keep spinning. And you: you’ll return home not depleted and resentful, but genuinely replenished. That’s the real gift.

Ready to give yourself the Mother’s Day you actually need? Explore our upcoming retreats or reach out if you have questions. We’re here, holding space for you.

Because every mum needs a time-out. Including you.

With love and solidarity,
Nova ✨