“When I Lost My Pink — What Flamingo Moms Taught Me About Motherhood”

by Mareli Mosca

I remember the first time I heard it. Flamingo moms lose their pink.

Wait, what?

Yes. Apparently, flamingos, those stunning birds that flaunt the most vibrant pink, fade in color when they become mothers. Not because they stop being flamingos. But because they pour so much of themselves—nutrients, energy, care—into their babies that their own color fades. And then, over time, they get it back.

I sat with that for a moment, blinking back tears.

Because in that moment, I was the faded flamingo.

Motherhood had swept into my life like a beautiful, chaotic storm. Sleepless nights, cluster feeds, teething, tantrums, the never-ending snack requests, the mental load, the quiet worries, the invisible work. Somewhere between burping my baby and Googling “how to get a toddler to eat vegetables,” I’d stopped recognizing the woman in the mirror.

I didn’t feel “pink.”

I felt gray. Faded. A little lost in the middle of love and laundry.

But hearing about the flamingos gave me something I didn’t know I needed: permission.

Permission to feel tired. Permission to feel not-so-glowy. Permission to not have it all together. Because it wasn’t failure. It was sacrifice. It was love in action.

And just like the flamingos, I could get my pink back too.

How I Started Reclaiming My Pink

It didn’t happen in one big swoop. It came in moments:

• A solo coffee date in the car, even if it was just 12 minutes of silence.

• Saying yes to help instead of pretending I had superpowers.

• Letting go of the guilt when I needed to rest instead of multitask.

• Wearing that shirt I loved before the babies—even if it got stained again five minutes later.

• Journaling. Praying. Moving my body. Drinking more water. Laughing with a friend over a voice note.

• Telling myself, “You’re doing better than you think.”

If You’re In the Faded Stage…

Mama, maybe you’re reading this while bouncing a baby on your hip, or sitting in the car line, or hiding in the pantry for just a minute of peace. Maybe you feel like your pink is long gone. Like the old you is too far away to remember.

Please know this: You haven’t lost her.

She’s just loving deeply. She’s pouring out. She’s transforming.

And pink will come back—not because you strive for it, but because you’re healing, growing, and finding pieces of yourself again. Not the same as before—something deeper, wiser, stronger.

So if no one has told you lately: You are seen. You are beautiful—even in your faded. You are not alone.

And your pink? It’s still there. It’s just resting. And when you’re ready, it’ll rise again—bolder than ever.

Here’s to all the flamingo moms.

 We may lose our color for a while.

 But we never lose our wings.