By Kodie Axelsen
Motherhood is one of those roles that doesn’t come with a job description, yet somehow carries the weight of a thousand expectations. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself what it actually means to be a “good” mum? Is it being present at every school event, providing financially, raising polite, respectful kids, or simply getting through the day with everyone fed, safe, and still somewhat smiling? I find this question comes up more often than we realise. Not always out loud, but quietly in the comparison, the guilt, and the pressure we place on ourselves.
Because if we’re honest, motherhood today looks very different to what it did a generation ago. Many households now rely on two incomes just to stay afloat. The cost of living keeps creeping up, time feels tighter, and expectations feel higher. Somewhere in the middle of it all, mums are trying to balance being everything to everyone, while often putting themselves last. And when money enters the conversation, that pressure only seems to grow, especially when one income changes or pauses and big decisions still need to be made.
I wonder if part of the challenge is that we’ve blurred the line between doing our best and doing everything. They’re not the same. Doing your best is grounded and realistic; it shifts with the season you’re in. Doing everything, on the other hand, is exhausting and often unsustainable. And yet so many mothers carry this quiet pressure to do more. Earn more. Save more. Give more. But at what cost? Because when we stretch ourselves too far, something gives. Sometimes it’s our energy, sometimes our patience, and sometimes our financial stability.
Motherhood, much like money, isn’t about perfection; it’s about consistency. It’s the small, repeated actions that shape outcomes over time. The same applies financially. Kids don’t just learn from what we tell them; they learn from what they see. How we spend, how we save, and how we handle stress and decisions. Whether we realise it or not, those everyday moments are shaping their future relationship with money.
I believe this is where motherhood and financial awareness intersect in a powerful way. Not in having all the answers or getting everything right, but in being intentional. Because when income shifts, even temporarily, clarity becomes everything. Understanding your cash flow, knowing what’s coming in and going out, and creating some breathing room where you can. It all matters. Not from a place of fear, but from a place of awareness.
There is no perfect time. For kids, for property, or for big financial decisions. What matters more is asking what the right step is for you, right now. Not forever, just now. Because one decision doesn’t have to solve everything, it just needs to move you forward.
There will be days when you feel like you’ve nailed it, and days when it feels messy and far from perfect. Both are part of it. The same applies to money. So, if you’ve been questioning whether you’re doing enough, I’d gently challenge that. Maybe the question isn’t “am I doing enough?” but “am I being intentional with what I’m already doing?”
Because you don’t need to have it all figured out. You don’t need the perfect system. You just need to begin. Starting small is better than not starting at all. At its core, motherhood isn’t about perfection; it’s about showing up, adapting, and doing what you can with what you have in the season you’re in. Over time, those small, consistent efforts both in your home and in your finances add up in ways you don’t always see straight away. But they matter. More than you probably realise. And what you’re building isn’t just for today. It’s shaping the future. For you and your kids.
Visit the Co.Finance website here: https://www.cofinance.com.au/
