Today, I Paired Socks – A Poem for Maternal Mental Health Day May 2025

Maternal Mental Health Day (7th May) and UK Mental Health Awareness Week 

Are both times to pause and reflect on the emotional realities many mothers quietly carry.

From the outside, motherhood often looks like cuddles, milestones, and smiles. Beneath the surface, it can feel like barely holding it all together.

This poem is for the mothers carrying invisible weight.

The ones who break down over what, to others, look like the easy tasks. The washing, the dishes, the socks. Not because of the task itself, but because the effort needed to do that pile of washing might just snap the last thread they're clinging to in order to hold it all together.

Today, I Paired Socks

Today, I paired socks.

No mountain to climb,

but for years it felt

like a steep incline.

A simple task

nearly broke me in two.

A joke to the others,

just too heavy to do.

Sarah can’t pair socks, they’d laugh,

so we only bought black.

No colour, no fuss,

no thought—just black.

A sameness to soothe me,

to stop my descent.

They never could see

it was never just socks—

it was holding it together,

one task at a time.

Deep in my mind,

I was close to the edge

just gripping, gasping

for safety, a ledge.

To pair them meant tipping,

to match them meant fall,

and I needed that tether

to hold onto it all.

The weight was too much,

the chaos too loud.

But today, I paired socks.

No panic, no tears.

Just hands that felt steady,

a mind calm and clear.

Not perfect, not fixed,

but I smiled at the sight—

socks neatly paired,

and a soul feeling light.

@SJHardyPoetry

 Why I Wrote This

You might have guessed it. But this poem isn’t really about socks.

It’s about overwhelm, survival, and how something as small as pairing socks (not even the whole washing pile) can tip the balance when you're already at your limit.

For me, socks symbolised the edge—the point where the mental load of motherhood, work, and life became too much. Pairing them felt impossible.

But today, I did it. Without panic. Without tears. And that small act meant something. It meant healing. It meant progress. It meant I felt just a little more like myself.

You Are Not Alone

If you’re a mother carrying too much, who finds the simplest things impossibly heavy this is for you. Your struggles are real. Your feelings are valid. And even when it feels like you’re failing, you are doing more than enough.

Let this be a reminder that healing doesn’t always look like huge milestones.

Sometimes, it looks like socks, neatly paired, and a soul feeling light.

If this resonated with you, feel free to share it with someone who might need it.

You can also explore more reflections and resources on motherhood and mental health on my blog.

And if you’re struggling please don’t do it alone.

Speak to someone, reach out, your mental health matters

 Free Mental Health Support in the UK

📞 Mind Offers information and support for anyone experiencing mental health problems.Website: https://www.mind.org.ukInfoline: 0300 123 3393 (Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm)

📞 PANDAS Foundation Specialist support for parents and families affected by pre- and postnatal mental health issues.Website: https://www.pandasfoundation.org.ukHelpline: 0808 1961 776 (Free, open 11am–10pm daily)

📞 Maternal Mental Health Alliance A national charity working to ensure all women get the perinatal mental health support they need.Website: https://maternalmentalhealthalliance.org

📞 Samaritans 24/7 emotional support for anyone struggling to cope.Website: https://www.samaritans.orgFreephone: 116 123

📞 NHS Every Mind Matters Practical tips and expert advice for mental wellbeing.Website: https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters