Pink Moon Owner and Mom of three, Jill Adams with the help of her best friend, Stacie Hayes, founded the first self-care community for moms—offering fitness classes, support and resources, plus childcare –  all in one place. There is power in self-care, and these moms are on a mission to support mothers everywhere.

As a mom of three young kids, I know firsthand how overwhelming and all-consuming motherhood can feel. I don’t have what you’d call “chill” little people, as they are all extra in their own special way and things in my house are chaotic, to say the least. But motherhood  in this current cultural climate is such a confusing juxtaposition. To have little people that you would literally give your entire life for, but also feel REALLY frustrated that you can’t get a break from the mental weight of caring for their every need. 

When women keep up the outward appearance that being everything to everyone is somehow easy, the end result is burnout, resentment, and very little ability to care for ourselves or our own needs. The truth is that prioritizing our own mental and physical health isn’t selfish—it’s essential to even begin to try and juggle all of the things that society has decided we should. 

That’s why I created Pink Moon. It’s a complete community of connection for moms that encourages and empowers them to reconnect to their health, wellbeing, and identity by providing the resources and space they need to thrive. It’s the space I wished existed during my toughest moments as a mom—where fitness classes, childcare, a welcoming and beautiful lounge and work space, resources, and genuine connections coexist.

This Spring, we’re opening our first Pink Moon space in Bethesda, Maryland, and we couldn’t be more excited to share the journey with you. There is power in self-care, and this is our first step on our mission to support mothers everywhere.

Modern Day Parenting is a Mother

Motherhood is beautiful, but let’s be honest—it’s friggin’ hard. It breaks you down to your most vulnerable, just to build you back up again as a whole new and stronger version of yourself.

Research shows moms spend an average of 98 hours a week on parenting and household tasks. That’s more than double a full-time job! No wonder so many of us feel isolated, burned out, and unsupported.

I felt it too. When my family moved from downtown Washington, DC, to the “suburbs” (one metro stop out of DC in Bethesda, MD), I thought the location would provide built-in mom-friends and endless resources. But the reality was that finding the mom friends, and identifying and vetting and travelling to the resources was nearly impossible, especially when it further involved coordinating childcare. And despite a tight knit group of friends just a phone call away, I felt really lonely and  like I was the only one who couldn’t figure out how to “have it all”. When COVID hit, it only amplified the isolation and identity loss, and shortly after my third baby was born, it finally dawned on me that moms deserve better.

Moms Matter

During the period of time where I had reached a breaking point but didn’t quite know how to channel my rage at the status quo for moms, I turned frequently to my yoga mat. As a former competitive gymnast and recovering perfectionist, yoga had long been a sanctuary for me. As a mom, it was not just a way to escape my racing mind and be fully present in my body, but an outlet to reconnect with myself and heal.

Despite my total discomfort and the fact that I typically despise speaking in front of groups , I pursued a certification in yoga sculpt to understand what it was like on the other side of the class. I found that I loved the ability to let a playlist help totally reset the mood of a dragging Monday or a stressful week, and the experience helped  turn my frustration and loss of identity into a new drive and purpose: creating a community where women can prioritize their own mental and physical health and feel seen, supported, and connected throughout motherhood. 

To the Moon!

I enlisted my best friend, and now co-founder, Stacie, to help me bring the vision to life, and after nearly two years of researching, brainstorming, surveying, planning, building, and often waiting, the outcome is the first fitness and self-care community designed by moms, for moms. 

At Pink Moon, we understand the unique challenges women face all along their motherhood journeys. In a culture that both overextends and undervalues moms,  our mission is to empower them to reconnect and to prioritize their health, well being, and identity.

This Spring, we’ll finally open the doors to our first Pink moon studio, a space that offers moms fitness, community, self-care, and childcare all  in one convenient and beautiful location. Whether taking a yoga class while their child plays in the playroom, connecting with other moms, attending a supportive cohort or workshop, or simply sipping a cup of coffee in our flexible lounge area, Pink Moon is here to help moms prioritize themselves.

Beyond the brick and mortar,  Pink Moon also focuses on  Moms Matter initiatives to improve the way society treats and supports moms, encourages small but powerful acts of recognition and actively works with and donates to nonprofits who advocate on behalf of moms.

5 Ways to Prioritize Your Well-Being

While transformation takes time, there are small steps you can take today (and every day, hello micro-habits!) to prioritize your health and happiness in motherhood:

1. Embrace Imperfection: A former boss used to always tell me “don’t let perfection be the enemy of the good”. As a mom, that translates to not stressing over instagram worthy images and allowing yourself to be in the moment – even if it’s messy.
2. Schedule “Me Time”: Block it out like you would any other appointment. It’s an appointment with yourself, so prioritize it!
3. Realize that help comes in many forms: You don’t have to do it alone, even if it feels like you do. My best friends are mostly across state lines, but they got me through some of the hardest times I’ve experienced. Sometimes the help you need can be as simple as feeling heard and understood.
4. Listen to Music: Whatever your jam, put it on. Stop doom scrolling and finding every podcast focused on your current worries . Those things are great (don’t forget, I’m a fellow type-A’er), but sometimes you just have to let music wash over you and take you somewhere different.
5. Give Yourself Grace: Some days are just hard. Take it one moment  at a time and remember to celebrate when things go right. Oh, and if you need a good cry – do it. My favorite trick is watching a sad movie, and then just letting the tears flow until you’ve gotten it all out. It’s cathartic to give yourself permission to let go, and there’s beauty in the breakdown.

Join the Pink Moon Movement

We created Pink Moon because every mom deserves a space to reconnect with herself and feel supported. If my story resonates with you, I’d love to hear yours. You can email me at jill@pinkmoonmoms.com or message me on Instagram @pinkmoonmoms. 

Visit pinkmoonmoms.com to learn more about our upcoming Bethesda studio and to help us, help moms. Don’t forget to join our email list for updates, tips, and inspiration.

Motherhood isn’t a solo journey. Let’s build the village we all deserve—together. 

For another blog on self-care, read, “5 Things I Learned from Starting Weight Training at 8 Months Postpartum“.