A parenting expert is encouraging mothers who need “kind words or support” to tie ribbons to their bags – to signal that they need support.
Author and psychotherapist Anna Mathur from Surrey launched the social media campaign as she recalled feeling “empty in the tank” one day when she was out with her own children, and wished more strangers felt like she could provide their assistance.
The influencer shared the initiative on Instagram, where she has more than 198,000 followers, and said she wants the gesture to act as a code of encouragement for people willing to give and take help.
Anna shared her experiences as a mother and said she recently wondered why so many of us are hesitant to reach out.
“I was walking down the main street and one of the kids was screaming and the other two were left behind.
Author and psychotherapist Anna Mathur launched the campaign on social media when she recalled feeling “empty in the tank” one day when she was out with her own kids
“And I had that feeling, you know that feeling that you have nothing in the tank and you don’t know what to do?”
Anna recalls “looking around, hoping to see a friend or someone she knew who could give her a hug and help her.”
“I saw mothers and families and knew that at least one of them would have wished they could help me,” she continued.
“It got me thinking, what’s stopping us from asking, what’s stopping us from bidding?”
The mother explained that in her own experience, she sometimes felt “like a failure” when she needed support, which prevented her from reaching out.
“I remember taking one of the kids to daycare for the first time,” she added.
“I walked into a cafe alone, feeling emotional and knowing someone in there would understand, but not knowing how or who to talk to.
The influencer shared the initiative on Instagram, where she has more than 198,000 followers, and said she wants the gesture to act as an encouragement code
The mother explained that in her own experience, she sometimes felt “like a failure” when she needed support, which prevented her from reaching out as a result.
Anna talks about her experiences as a mother and says she recently wondered why so many of us are hesitant to reach out
She took to her stories and shared and posted a flurry of ribbon-lined bags encouraging moms to keep up the momentum
Speaking to Metro.co.uk, Anna said she chose a ribbon because it felt like an easy-to-replicate symbol that wouldn’t be too expensive for anyone to get.
“I would love to be the mom who helps another mom with an extra hand, some emergency tissues, or some comfort.
“I wish there was a way I could say, ‘I’m ready for you to help me, I won’t be offended. And I’m ready to help you too, you can talk to me.'”
Speak against Metro.nlAnna said she chose a ribbon because it felt like an easy-to-replicate symbol that wouldn’t be too expensive for anyone to get — not because it was visually appealing.
“In a society where women are pitted against women, this is a rallying cry that needing each other is not [about] lack of power,” she told the outlet.
Leaning towards each other makes us mentally stronger and healthier. This is an antidote to loneliness, comparison, division, fear of being rejected when supporting others.”
The parenting influencer — who recently announced her latest venture, a book titled Raising a Happier Mom: How to Find Balance, Feel Good, and Help Your Kids Flourish Because of It — has already seen the movement gain momentum to win
One handmade bow company – Ribbon England – has even sent free ribbons to charities, shops and campaign groups
The parenting influencer — who recently announced her latest venture, a book titled Raising a Happier Mom: How to Find Balance, Feel Good, and Help Your Kids Flourish Because of It — has already seen the movement gain momentum to win.
She took to her stories and shared and posted a flurry of ribbon-lined bags, encouraging moms to keep up the momentum.
One handmade bow company – Ribbon England – has even sent free ribbons to charities, shops and campaign groups.
“The response to the @annamathur Mum Ribbon movement has been amazing,” the company wrote in an Instagram post.
‘ So many lovely people, charities, shops, baby groups, everyone is participating!
“We will continue to try to send as many ribbons for free as possible in the coming days.”