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heather | maternal mental health

@messybun_heather

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a psychology brain with an arts & crafts problem 🎨
thoughtful support + creative connection
recovering perfectionist 💕

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your mom friend who used to be a therapist, now offering support that’s informed, grounded, and very human.

master’s in clinical psychology.
8 years in private practice.
4 years deep in motherhood.

I’m not here to fix you. I’m here to sit with you, help you breathe a little easier, and remind you that you’re actually doing a great job.

fantasy novels, caffeine, and nervous system regulation included.

#selfcareformoms #maternalmentalhealth #annarbormoms #readingismycopingmechanism

p.s. if you know this song deep in your bones (hello covid era cozy gaming), we're already besties. by @messybun_heather

Today was about so much more than a retreat. 💕

It was about the mother who finally got to exhale. The woman who was reminded that she matters, too. The baby held by loving hands so mama could have a moment to herself. The conversations that made us feel a little less alone.

Because somewhere between caring for our babies, our families, and everyone else, it’s easy to forget that we deserve to be cared for, too.

Today, we watched something beautiful happen. Mothers who arrived as strangers shared stories, laughter, vulnerability, and the kind of understanding that only another mother can give.

And that is exactly why Sacred Fourth exists.

Not because mothers need another thing to do. But because mothers deserve a place where nothing is asked of them, and everything is poured back into them.

To every mama who trusted us with a piece of her journey today: thank you. You are the reason we are building this village.

This wasn’t just a day of rest. It was a reminder of what motherhood can feel like when we don’t have to do it alone.

Your village is here. And we’re just getting started. 🤎

#SacredFourth #PostpartumSupport #MotherhoodUnfiltered #ItTakesAVillage #PostpartumVillage AnnArborMoms by @messybun_heather

📚 book club, minus the homework.

no assigned books. no prep. no pretending you have your ducks in a row.

just come hang out, talk books (or life), and enjoy some grown-up conversation.

register on Zeffy, and let me know if you need childcare (it's provided in the on-site playroom)

No-prep book club
This Sunday 9/13 at Little Break 💛
12-2p.

Come as you are. Seriously. by @messybun_heather

I wish this was just a metaphor...

but honestly my gallbladder just chose violence 🔪

one afternoon I'm chilling at no-prep book club, eating snacks, and enjoying some truly heartfelt connections...

less than 24hrs later I'm having emergency surgery to yeet the treacherous organ from my abdomen.

motherhood sometimes has a funny way of reminding us that we can't control what comes next.

not "ha ha funny" either, more like "are you 🦆ing kidding me right now?!"

so here's your reminder to do the thing and not wait for the "right" time.

life is unpredictable, and it's all the more reason to prioritize yourself from time to time and stop letting your needs fall to the bottom of the list.

➡️ what are you doing this week to take care of YOU?

(p.s. I'm recovering well and very happy to report that I'm no longer in a toxic relationship with my gallbladder ❤️‍🩹) by @messybun_heather

here's your monthly reminder that you don't have to finish a book, prepare discussion questions, or even make small talk (if that's not your vibe)

no prep book club is for moms who want a moment for themselves.

come settle in with whatever you're reading (or have been meaning to read), enjoy a cozy space, snack on something delicious, and connect with other book-loving moms who just get it.

there are no assigned books, no homework, and no pressure... just a soft, welcoming afternoon to recharge.

in partnership with @littlebreakcowork, childcare is available! so if you need to bring the kids along, you can still relax while you're here 😉

if you've been thinking of checking it out, this is your sign to grab your spot. registration helps me plan for snacks and childcare, so save your spot soon!

tag your favorite bookish mom and come join us-- we meet on the second sunday each month 💚 by @messybun_heather

if the words "there will be snacks" are enough to convince you... welcome!

no prep book club is exactly what it sounds like:

👀 no reading assignment
📚no pressure to finish a book
☁️ a soft start so you can settle in, grab a snack, and ease into the afternoon
👶childcare available, so you can actually relax
🕰️ time to read quietly, chat with other bookish moms, or do a little of both

🗓️Sunday July 12
☀️Noon-2pm
📍@littlebreakcowork
3909 Research Park Dr. Ste 300
Ann Arbor

come exactly as you are, bring whatever you're currently reading (or haven't started yet), and let someone else worry about entertaining the kids for a while.

sometimes self-care looks like a good book, good company... and tasty snacks. 💚

🔗in bio to register by @messybun_heather

the mental load of motherhood is so much more than just keeping everyone alive.
it's constantly solving problems no one else even notices.

too hot to play outside 🥵
too much energy to stay inside 🫯
too many hours until bedtime ⛅

so we adapt...

if you've ever looked around your house and thought, "this is ridiculous... but it's working," you're my kind of mom. 💚

save this one for the next heatwave-- and if you try it, I'd love to hear what your kids think! by @messybun_heather

messybun was never about having it all together 🫠

it was always about throwing your hair up, taking a deep breath, and doing the next right thing.

so... here's me doing exactly that

welcome to my new office. 💚 nestled in the back corner of @littlebreakcowork

what's something you've been waiting to do until you felt "ready"? by @messybun_heather

breaking news: summer scheduling has entered the chat ☀️📅

as school wraps up and many of us begin the annual game of “who’s watching the children and when do I actually work?” … I’m adjusting my schedule too.

new drop-in office hours:
thursdays + select tuesdays
1–2pm

you can check the schedule and grab a free 15-minute slot directly through my google calendar if you'd like to chat, ask questions, or see whether coaching might be helpful for you.

we can meet at Little Break Cowork in Ann Arbor (where free on-site childwatch is provided for the duration of your session) or we can arrange a virtual visit through google meet- whatever works best for you!

also — in the interest of not melting into a human puddle… my stupid mental health walks are moving to mid-morning for the summer months🚶‍♀️☀️

walks will generally start around 10:30am (give or take, depending on the day and whatever weather drama we're working with)

summer schedules: flexible, imperfect, slightly feral. see you there 🫠 by @messybun_heather

a book club for people who are too busy for book clubs 📖

just a little time to read, snack, and be a person again.

dates for the next one are coming soon 💫

does this sound like your kind of club? by @messybun_heather

ever notice how a short walk outside can totally shift your mood?

it’s not just in your head.

even brief time in nature has been shown to lower stress hormones, support nervous system regulation, and improve focus and creativity🎨

add in a little rhythmic movement (walking, pushing a stroller, wandering aimlessly), and you’re giving your brain a predictable pattern that helps regulate mood😍

no intense workout. no optimization required.

just fresh air, sunlight, and a few minutes of moving your body through it.

a “stupid little walk for your stupid mental health” is actually a pretty solid, evidence-based reset.

if your brain feels foggy, or your patience is running thin today…
maybe try stepping outside for 10 minutes and see what happens 🧠 by @messybun_heather

nature vs. nurture, but make it 🐲 dragon books!

I honestly can't say who brought home their awesome book first, but these two are basically siblings 😂

so now I'm wondering if favorite genres are hereditary, or if this is just what happens when you grow up in a house full of nerdy books?

tell me👇🏼 what are you and your kids reading lately?

anyone else have a grade schooler bringing home Star Wars easy readers week after week?

#bookishmom #bookishkids #marchisreadingmonth #springhassprung #scholasticbookfair by @messybun_heather