Vulnerability: The Power We Try to Hide

By: Mareli Mosca - Motherhood Founder

When you hear the word vulnerability, what comes to mind? For many of us, it feels like weakness, fragility, or something to be avoided. Especially in motherhood, where so much is expected of us, showing vulnerability can feel like we’re letting others see the cracks in our armor. But what if those very cracks are where our greatest strength lies?

Dr. Brené Brown, a researcher and storyteller who has studied vulnerability for decades, reframes it in a powerful way. She teaches us that vulnerability is not weakness, but the birthplace of courage, creativity, and connection. Think about that: the very moments when we admit we don’t have it all together, when we ask for help, or when we share our real struggles, those are the moments when courage is born.

Vulnerability as Courage in Motherhood

Motherhood is full of uncharted waters: sleepless nights, self-doubt, and the endless push to balance everyone’s needs with your own. Choosing vulnerability means being honest about those realities instead of pretending to “have it all together.” It takes courage to say:

• I’m exhausted.

• I feel lonely.

• I need help.

Yet, in doing so, we invite others to step closer, to connect, and to remind us that we’re not alone. Vulnerability becomes the bridge that transforms isolation into community.

Why It Matters

By modeling vulnerability, we give our children permission to do the same. They learn that it’s okay to express feelings, ask for support, and show up as their true selves. Vulnerability is not about oversharing every detail of our lives, it’s about being real enough that others can see the humanity in us and feel safe to be human too.

As Brené Brown says, “Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.” And in motherhood, perhaps the bravest thing we can do is show up fully, messy, real, vulnerable, and allow that to be enough.

Reflection

Next time you feel the instinct to “tough it out” or “hold it all together,” pause. Ask yourself: What would courage look like if I let myself be vulnerable right now?

Vulnerability is not the end of strength, it’s the beginning of it.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments!