There is a quiet kind of grief that lives inside many highly sensitive mothers — a grief for the version of themselves that existed before the constant giving, nurturing, and self-sacrifice. But what if joy in motherhood isn’t something that disappears… only something that patiently waits to be rediscovered? 

Through simple hobbies, gentle routines, and intentional pauses, we can begin to remember that we are whole people too. This is where the path back to you begins.

Pssst….this blog article was inspired by an interview I had with Mckayla Spencer of Everyday She Moms on The Unburdened Motherhood Podcast. If you’d rather listen while you go about mom life, you can do that here: 

Finding Joy in Motherhood Through Simple Hobbies

Something became very clear: joy in motherhood as an HSP mom isn’t found in doing more. It’s found in remembering who you are beneath the role of “mom.”

Often that remembering doesn’t show up in giant life changes or grand reinventions, but it comes quietly, through small moments: learning to crochet, stepping into an aerial yoga hammock, or even picking up a video game that hasn’t been touched in years. These hobbies aren’t just “fun little distractions”, they become lifelines back to yourself.

Many of us don’t realize how deeply we’ve gone into survival mode until we finally take a breath and ask, Who am I now? McKayla shared that much of her early motherhood felt like a fog …a blur of diapers, dishes, exhaustion, and emotional overwhelm. Hobbies were the bridge that slowly brought clarity, connection, and identity back into her life.

This is the heart of joy in motherhood — not in sacrificing more of yourself, but in gently restoring yourself.

Hobbies as a Form of Self-Expression and Healing

Joy looks different for every mother. For McKayla, her joy she shared about lived in two main spaces:

Movement and release

Through aerial yoga, she found a place where her mind could quiet and her body could move freely again. It gave her just one hour a week that belonged completely to her without the pull of a crying baby, a buzzing phone, or a long to-do list. In that hour, she felt strong, capable, and alive.

Creativity and making

Crochet became another beautiful outlet. As her hands worked through patterns, her mind softened. She created blankets, gifts, and meaningful pieces for the people she loved,  including her own children. In creating something new, she slowly rebuilt her sense of self and purpose.

These weren’t just “hobbies.”
They were acts of regulation, healing, and reclaiming her identity.
They were joy in motherhood in its most authentic form.

The Guilt That Often Comes With Choosing Yourself

Let’s be honest for a moment. Even when we know we deserve time for ourselves, it doesn’t always feel easy. Guilt can still creep in when we schedule a hobby night or take time away from our kids, even for something that deeply nourishes us. Thoughts like:

• Can I really leave right now?
  
• Am I putting too much on my partner?
  
• What if they need me?
  
• Am I being selfish?
  

If you’ve ever had those thoughts too, you are not alone. Motherhood conditions us to believe that choosing ourselves is a betrayal, but in reality, it is an act of love. When we fill our own cups and set that boundary, we show up softer, steadier, and more present for the ones we love.

And often, that guilt isn’t logic — it’s simply discomfort. Our nervous systems are adjusting to something new. With gentle repetition and proof that “everything is still okay,” it starts to soften.

The Legacy We Create Through Our Joy

One of the most beautiful parts of this conversation is what it means for our children. When a mother chooses joy in motherhood, she teaches her children powerful lessons:

• That their worth is not found only in what they give
  
• That creativity is valuable
  
• That rest is allowed
  
• That identity is fluid and ever-evolving
  
• That it’s okay to start, stop, and start again
  

McKayla shared how her own grandma was always exploring new hobbies, like calligraphy, scrapbooking, soap-making, and crafting. She never felt shame when one season ended and another began. 

That legacy of permission and curiosity can shape your own journey. This is the kind of legacy we pass on: not just productivity… but passion.

How to Gently Begin Reclaiming Your Joy in Motherhood

If you are feeling that quiet tug to rediscover joy in motherhood, here is a simple place to start:

• Choose one tiny thing that sounds peaceful or interesting
  
• Give yourself 10–15 minutes
  
• Keep the supplies visible and accessible
  
• Let it be messy
  
• Let it be imperfect
  
• Let it be yours
  

If you’re not sure where to start you can try things like: crocheting, knitting, watercolor painting, journaling, going for a walk and noticing what’s around you, reading a few pages out of a book, or baking something just for the fun of it! It doesn’t have to be grand, it just has to be a small,  intentional yes. 

Your Next Gentle Step 

Are you struggling with where to begin? I’d like to invite you to join The Creative Monthly Spark membership, simple creative activities delivered straight to your inbox every month. It will help you reconnect with what lights you up without pressure, guilt, or the overwhelm of where to even begin.

And be sure to follow McKayla over on Instagram at @everydayshemoms_ if you want to learn more about embracing your hobbies and finding joy in motherhood. Her journey is a beautiful testament to what’s possible when we choose ourselves again.

Before you go, I want to gently remind you of this:

You are not just “mom.”
You are still you.
And your joy matters.