Our first pregnancy wasn’t exactly easy. I say “our” because it was undoubtedly a team effort—sometimes involving two, three, even five people. It started with morning sickness that lasted all day, then came the brain fog at work, the sudden “Oh my god are we really doing this?” spirals, and finally, the third trimester curveball: preeclampsia. Definitely not in the birth plan.

The truth is, I wouldn’t have made it through pregnancy without my community. Support looked different at different times.

Family showed up on FaceTime when I needed a pep talk or familiar face. Friends shared their registries and must-have items, helping me feel more prepared to bring my baby home. Coworkers picked up the slack at work, checked in, and reminded me it was okay to slow down. And when the panic set in during those final weeks, and I was overwhelmed with thoughts of “What if I’m a bad mom? What if I can’t handle the pain of childbirth? What if my kid doesn’t like me?”— my husband Graham was a rock, reminding me that we were in this together.

Not everyone has the same kind of support system, but every mother deserves one. As Mother’s Day comes around, let this be your reminder: you are not alone. Motherhood isn’t meant to be a solo act. It’s something we grow into, with help from the people who love us and show up along the way.