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Before we dive in this week, I want to ask you for a quick favor.

We’re running a short survey to help us better understand the amazing community behind Moms First — what you care about, what you need, and how we can show up for you in a way that feels real and relevant. This movement is built on moms’ voices, and that includes yours.

It takes just a few minutes, and your responses will help shape the content, resources, and action tools we share going forward.

Take the survey here — we’d love to hear from you.

Now, let’s talk about power — the kind that starts at home.

 
 
Motherhood Isn’t a Weakness — It’s a Badge of Honor

Motherhood is one of the most personal, powerful, and universal things in the world, yet everyone seems to have an opinion about how to do it.

Some people want us to embrace motherhood as a sacred calling. Others tell us to hide it if we want to be taken seriously at work. There’s pressure to be either a full-time homemaker or a high-powered “girl boss” as if those are the only two boxes we’re allowed to choose from.

But here’s the truth most moms already know: real life happens in the middle.

Motherhood is messy, dynamic, beautiful, exhausting, empowering — sometimes all before 9am. And it doesn’t fit neatly into hashtags or headlines.

That’s why this Mother’s Day, I want to honor the whole of motherhood — the joy and the frustration. The deep love and the mental load. The traditions we carry and the boundaries we break.

This week, I had the honor of being the guest editor of the first-ever Motherhood Issue of Marie Claire — and unveiling our 2025 list of Power Moms at an event co-sponsored with Marie Claire in New York City. The event celebrated the moms who are shaping culture, business, entertainment, and fashion while leading with their full, authentic selves.

From cover stars like Gabrielle Union, Kali Uchis, and Deepika Padukone, to moms who are building businesses and challenging old systems, these women have one thing in common: they don’t hide their motherhood. They embrace it and they elevate it.

But the Power Moms list isn’t about celebrities. It’s about what happens when we give mothers the visibility, respect, support, and celebration they deserve.

Because the most important thing about the Power Moms list — and the message at the heart of the Moms First movement — is that you don’t have to be on a red carpet, on a stage, or behind a podium to be powerful.

Whether you’re nursing a newborn, managing a carpool, launching a nonprofit, or simply making it through the day with humor and grit — you’re a Power Mom.

And if no one’s told you lately: you’re doing an amazing job.

At Moms First, we’re here to fight for the structural support every mom needs — things like paid leave, affordable and accessible child care, and the freedom to move in and out of the workforce without penalty.

But we’re also here to fight for something even bigger: the right to show up as whole people. The right to lead with our motherhood — not in spite of it, but because of it.

Some of us want to be home when our kids get off the bus. Some of us want to break barriers in rooms we’ve never been invited into. Most of us are trying to find our own version of “enough.”

And we all deserve a country that makes that possible — not just on Mother’s Day, but every day.

So here’s to you — the moms who are doing the work that holds families, communities, and the future together.

We see you.
We celebrate you.
We’re fighting for you.

And if you’re looking for something high impact to do this Mother’s Day, send this to a mom you admire. Or reply to this email and tell me what motherhood looks like for you — the joy, the challenge, the truth. Because that’s what builds this movement: our voices, our stories, and our solidarity.

Happy Mother’s Day. However you’re spending it, I hope you feel surrounded by love — and reminded of your power.

  • TV: The Motherhood (Hallmark Channel)
  • Book: The Motherload: Episodes From the Brink of Motherhood (Sarah Hoover)

  • Mother’s Day Fundraiser with birthFUND | LA | May 10 | 3-6pm: An afternoon of joy, community, and advocacy to support maternal health. From dancing and tacos to red light therapy and family portraits, this family-friendly party has something for everyone — all for a powerful cause. RSVP
  • Conversation & Cocktails at Max Mara | NYC | May 21 | 5-7pm: Join me for a fun, meaningful evening of cocktails, connection, and conversation. I’ll be sharing a bit about my own motherhood journey, the highs and lows of balancing work and family during midlife, and what I’ve learned from the amazing moms I’ve met along the way. Moms First is proud to partner with Max Mara for this event. Guests will receive 30% off their Spring 2025 Max Mara purchase, with 10% of proceeds benefiting Moms First. Seats are limited. RSVP today.
  • Also, to celebrate Mother’s Day, now through May 11, 10% of every Max Mara purchase will support Moms First. Shop in-store or at maxmara.com.

 
Check out what people are saying about Moms First in the news:

Thanks for taking a moment to read this week’s newsletter, I hope you also take a moment to feel just how powerful you are — not because of what you juggle, but because of who you are. You deserve to be seen, celebrated, and supported — today and every day. 

With so much gratitude,
Reshma Saujani