For the first time, the mother is finally feeling validated and normal in her experience simply by learning just this one word! And of course, now her desire is to share it with her partner with hopes that her partner will understand her experience too. So will he/she understand it? Maybe more broadly, but really deeply get it? Ehh, that might take some time; honestly…if ever.

The thing is, so many people equate rest with laziness or feel guilty when they aren’t being productive. They think that these moments of “rest” are worthless and wasted. But rest IS being productive, Mama. It’s restorative. It’s regenerative. It’s the gas in your tank.