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Why every mom can identify with Meghan Markle

Sitting in a room filled with women I don’t know, at the home of a mom I’ve only met briefly at school, I feel oddly at ease.
Royal wedding
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Sitting in a room filled with women I don’t know, at the home of a mom I’ve only met briefly at school, I feel oddly at ease.

Unlike engaging in small talk with strangers at a business function, I know that I’m amongst people who are soon to become friends. We’re all moms, partaking in a wine social to get to know each other as we begin a new school year.

Regardless of age, background, interests, or beliefs, when you get a group of moms together in a room, chances are the conversation will eventually turn to the challenges we’ve faced with our children. We bond over birth stories, botched bedtimes, toddler tantrums, and fussy feeding schedules, and take comfort in knowing that we’re not alone in our struggles. 

Being a mom is hard. But being a new mom who’s navigating parenthood for the very first time is even harder. Add to that the newness of motherhood and doing it all under the world’s watchful eye and it’s easy to understand why a newly-married, newly-royal mom wouldn’t be ok.

In a recent interview with Tom Bradby of ITV, Meghan Markle chokes back tears as she discusses the personal challenges she faces as a new mom who is living life in the spotlight. During the interview, the topic turns to motherhood, and Bradby asks if she’s ok. Meghan responds, “Thank you for asking, because not many people have asked if I’m ok, but it’s a very real thing to be going through behind the scenes.” 

Recognizing the pain behind her poised response, Bradby continues, “And the answer is, would it be fair to say, not really ok?”

In a gut-wrenchingly all-too-relatable reply, Meghan responds with a choked up, “Yes.”

Showing the real emotions that hide behind the royal waves and steady smiles, Meghan Markle suddenly becomes relatable to the everyday moms who feel her pain.

“It’s not enough to just survive something, that’s not the point of life. You’ve gotta thrive, and feel happy and I think I’ve really tried to adopt this British sensibility of a stiff upper lip, but I think what that does internally can be really damaging,” Markle shares in another clip from the interview, and we get it.

I’m juggling my job with the everyday grind of being a mom of three busy kids. And while being a mom is a rewarding and wonderful role, I wouldn’t be able to do it without the support of my husband and friends.

I hope that Meghan has a group of mom friends to confide in and find the support she needs, and I hope Harry continues to stand by her side as she navigates the newness of motherhood, and all the challenges that her new role brings. I take comfort in knowing that she is just another mom who is doing her best, struggles and all, and I know that other moms can relate too.

Bianca Bujan is a mother of three, writer, editor, and marketing consultant. Find her on Twitter @biancabujan and Instagram @bitsofbee.