28: Mothering Without a Mother with Sarah Harmon, Licensed Mental Health Therapist and Founder of The School of MOM (Mothering Ourselves Mindfully)
Introduction
Modern motherhood is a beautiful, complex, and often overwhelming experience. In a world where mothers are expected to do it all, be it all, and never drop the ball, many women are left feeling depleted, disconnected, and lost in the daily chaos. But what if the path to thriving motherhood wasn’t about doing more—but about coming home to yourself?
In this conversation on The Wand(HER)wild Podcast, host Monica sits down with Sarah Harmon, licensed mental health therapist, yoga teacher, and founder of The School of MOM (Mothering Ourselves Mindfully). Together, they dive into a powerful and necessary reframe for today’s moms: that in order to truly nurture others, we must first learn to mother ourselves.
The Origin Story: From Breakdown to Breakthrough
Sarah's story begins with one of life's most painful dualities. As she was walking across the stage to receive her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, her mother experienced a psychotic break and was hospitalized involuntarily. That life-altering moment became a spiritual wake-up call. While she had trained to support others, she was now being asked to confront what it meant to lose the foundation of her own mother-daughter bond.
Rather than spiral, Sarah channeled her pain into healing. She began integrating mindfulness, self-compassion, and nervous system education into both her personal and professional life. This journey led her to create The School of MOM, a community where mothers can reconnect with their authentic selves through embodied practices, therapeutic tools, and sacred sisterhood.
What Does It Mean to "Mother Ourselves Mindfully"?
We often hear the phrase "self-care" thrown around, but Sarah invites us into something deeper: a lifelong practice of mothering ourselves with the same tenderness, structure, and presence we offer our children.
To mother ourselves mindfully means:
Tuning into our needs in the moment without judgment
Responding with compassion rather than criticism
Holding space for all of our parts: the anxious voice, the inner critic, the overachiever
Making conscious choices that serve our well-being and growth
Sarah emphasizes that this is not about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about learning to ask, "What do I need right now?" and honoring the answer—even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable.
Introducing the M.O.M. Ritual: A Daily Anchor
One of the most accessible tools Sarah offers is the M.O.M. ritual:
M: Meet Yourself in the Moment
Pause and tune in. What am I thinking, feeling, sensing?
O: Observe With Curiosity and Kindness
No judgment. Just witness what’s present in your body and mind.
M: Mother Yourself
Ask, "What do I need right now?" Then, act on that need with love and intention.
This quick check-in can be done while brushing your teeth, sitting in the car, or during a quiet moment. It rewires the nervous system toward safety, regulation, and connection.
The Inner Voices That Shape Us
In her work, Sarah also introduces the concept of inner selves, based on Parts Work Therapy. These voices show up as archetypes many mothers know intimately:
Gina the anxious voice
Beth the inner critic
Polly the over-planner
Nancy the negative ruminator
These parts are not enemies. They are protectors. Sarah teaches mothers how to relate to these voices with compassion and curiosity, creating space to parent themselves through emotional storms instead of suppressing or ignoring their needs.
From the Mother Wound to the Mother Matrix
While much of motherhood healing focuses on the "mother wound"—the emotional pain passed down from our own mothers—Sarah is reframing the conversation. She prefers the term Mother Matrix, which recognizes the systemic, cultural, and generational forces shaping motherhood today.
We are not broken. We are responding to broken systems. From lack of postpartum care to unrealistic societal expectations, today’s mothers are waking up to the realization that:
We were never meant to mother in isolation
We can question the narratives we've inherited
We have the power to rewrite our story
By naming the matrix, Sarah empowers mothers to step out of shame and into choice. Healing becomes a radical act of self-liberation—one that ripples across generations.
The Role of Embodiment in Healing
Sarah’s approach is deeply body-based. As a yoga teacher and advocate for somatic healing, she guides women to return to their bodies as a source of wisdom, safety, and power. Through movement, breath, and tools like therapy balls for self-massage, mothers can begin to:
Release stored trauma
Reconnect with intuition
Cultivate self-trust
Embodiment is not about achieving physical goals. It’s about coming home to the body as a sanctuary, not a battlefield.
Small Practices, Big Shifts
If you're just starting on this journey, Sarah recommends beginning small:
Take one mindful breath before reacting to your child
Place your hand on your heart and ask, "What do I need?"
Move your body in a way that feels good (even for 3 minutes!)
Reflect on what narratives you’re unconsciously living out
These practices may seem simple, but they carry the power to rewire not only your brain, but your entire relationship with motherhood.
Building a Motherhood Revolution
Sarah's community, Flourish, is an online haven where mothers come together to do this work in real time. Through programs like Untethered (for those estranged or healing from painful maternal relationships), retreats, and high-touch support, she is creating a space where mothers can:
Be witnessed and validated
Explore their emotional landscape safely
Rewrite the narrative of what it means to be a good mother
Why This Matters More Than Ever
We are at a cultural crossroads. As mothers, we carry not only the responsibility of raising children, but the opportunity to reshape the world through how we show up.
When we mother ourselves:
We model emotional regulation and self-love
We heal generational trauma
We raise children who feel safe to be themselves
We become agents of change in our families and communities
As Sarah beautifully puts it, "We can’t give out what we can’t give in."
Final Thoughts
Mothering Ourselves Mindfully is not a trend—it’s a reclamation. It’s about stepping out of autopilot and into alignment. It’s about knowing that when we nourish ourselves, we nourish everyone around us.
A Call to Mothers Seeking More
If this conversation resonates with you, we invite you to become part of the Wand(HER)wild community—a space where we explore self-development and mindful motherhood together.
Connect with Sarah Harmon
Website: The School of MOM
Instagram: @the.schoolofmom
Podcast: Mothering Ourselves Mindfully
Take the quiz: Discover your dominant inner voice
As a Licensed Mental Health Therapist and Founder of The School of MOM (Mothering Ourselves Mindfully) and The Parent Wellness Group, Sarah Harmon blends her mindfulness, yoga, and mental wellness expertise to guide mothers toward authentic, fulfilling lives. Through her integrative approach, she empowers women to transform their experience of motherhood while creating lasting positive changes that ripple through generations. Sarah's mission is to help mothers not just survive, but truly thrive—rewriting the narrative of what modern motherhood can be.
Join the Movement
If this story resonates with you, we invite you to explore more. Visit our free resources, upcoming digital events, in person family retreats, and follow us on Substack or follow us on Instagram for conversations on self-healing and intentional living. Let’s walk this path together.
