Janet Mbugua dissects motherhood as she celebrates moms on Mother’s Day
Media personality and philanthropist Janet Mbugua has offered an honest and raw perspective on the challenges of motherhood as she celebrates mothers all over the world on Mother’s Day.
In a long, emotional video shared on her Instagram page on Sunday, May 11, 2025, Janet shared an honest reflection of her journey as a mother of two boys navigating work, family, and personal identity.
“This is not the perfect Mother’s Day post. This is not about flowers, or breakfast in bed, or a good curated Instagram post. This is about mothers who are doing their best even when they don’t think it’s enough,” she began.
The author admitted that her story comes from a place of privilege and access, yet she did not shy away from highlighting the exhausting and complex layers of being a modern-day mother. From battling Nairobi traffic to managing a business, a foundation, and a household, she spoke of the constant pressure and emotional toll that many mothers face daily.
“Some days I’m present. I take them to the movies…buy popcorn, candy, and we watch and debrief the movie. We go for a walk. Some days, I’m energetic, and we do things as a family. Other days, I’m exhausted. That means unfinished homework, promises to do better, and sometimes, feeling like a failure,” Mbugua shared.
Janet revealed that lately, exhaustion has become more frequent. While her children sometimes extend her some grace, she knows they miss the energetic version of their mother.
“When I’m present, I am on top of the world, I feel like I’m pouring my best self onto my sons, and the days I’m exhausted, and lately I am more exhausted. Sometimes they extend sympathy but I know they wonder what happened to the mom who was always energetic all the time,” she stated.
Adding;
“Not that she was perfect, she was still grinding, working and all that, but she had a light, she had a spark. And sometimes I feel I have lost it and I try to say to them, ‘maybe mom put a hold on the spark for a little bit, could you extend grace to her so she can find that spark again soon and share it with you.'”
She extended her empathy to mothers in every corner of the world, regardless of their circumstances. From women selling fish in Kisumu to mothers working night shifts in London, to single moms, grandmothers, refugee mothers, and those grieving or starting over later in life, Janet acknowledged them all.
“And motherhood looks different for everyone. It’s the mama in Kisumu who is selling fish to feed her children, to the one in Kongowea raising her children while running her kioski, to the one in London doing late night shifts still trying to figure out homework, to those who are moms to rainbow babies, to those in refugee camps, she is navigating a new language and a new system just to protect her child,” Mbugua expressed.
Adding;
“It’s the grandmother stepping in, it;s the sisters and the aunties becoming mothers by circumstance, it’s the single mothers playing every role, or the stepmother trying to earn trust, the mom whose child is in another country, is the mom fighting for custody, the one in therapy, the one starting at 40, is the one parenting while grieving.”
“This Mother’s Day, I’m not here to sugarcoat the journey. I’m here to honour it, in all its forms—the wins, the tears, the silent prayers, and the failures.”
Society
Janet also challenged societal norms that undervalue the role of mothers, especially stay-at-home moms. She criticised how some people view motherhood as a lack of productivity just because it doesn’t fit the traditional definition of work.
“It is not about the job, seeing it as work. It is seeing it as an honour and a duty. I keep telling people it is not bad, it’s hard—know the difference,” she said.
She called on families, workplaces, and society at large to make adjustments that support motherhood instead of expecting mothers to constantly bend and sacrifice.
“When you have a newborn and you are trying to navigate the diaper stage, the colic stage, the rotavirus stage, and also trying to figure out how to be a partner, how to please your family, your partner’s family, your friends, your bosses—we can’t get it right all the time,” she explained.
Adding;
“So whether you are mothering in a mansion or in a mabati house, whether you have a partner or not, you’re seen. You are doing your best.”
