Dear Katherine,

I love my daughter, but what if I’m not a good mom?

—Terri

My dearest Terri,

Let’s get this out of the way: every mother who cares wonders if she’s doing it wrong. If she’s loving enough, patient enough, strong enough. That fear? It’s not failure. It’s the cost of caring deeply.

You’re in it now—this strange, beautiful, exhausting transformation. No one gives you a script. There’s no gold star for how fast you bounce back or how gentle you sound when you’re sleep-deprived and fraying. You’re not here to be perfect. You’re here to be real.

Being a good mother doesn’t mean never messing up. It means showing up. Repairing. Loving the best you can on any given day—and letting that be enough.

You’re still becoming. You’re allowed to not have it all figured out. You’re allowed to feel joy and fear in the same breath.

And if anyone suggests otherwise? Remind them that becoming someone’s home is messy, sacred work—and you’re already doing it.

With all my wicked little heart,
Katherine 🖤