As I sat sipping coffee with my friend Ava, who I hadn’t seen in ages, she asked how my new career was progressing. After switching fields a few years ago, I’ve put in the hard work to make a name for myself, and now I’m finally starting to see the fruits of my labor. Ava was genuinely excited to hear about my recent promotion, and as she wrapped me in a big hug, I found myself brushing off my accomplishments. “Oh, thanks, but it’s really not that big of a deal,” I said, and before I knew it, we were on to other topics.
That moment has stuck with me. Why can’t I revel in my success? Why is it so difficult to accept praise and shout out, “Heck yeah! Let’s celebrate my awesomeness!”? I’ve poured countless hours into proving myself in this new career. I’ve sacrificed household tasks and some parenting responsibilities to hone my skills in a cutthroat industry, and you know what? I’m really good at what I do. I’ve earned the right to embrace compliments, and yet, every time someone acknowledges my hard work, I shy away from the recognition.
It seems like I’m not alone. I see women deflecting compliments every day. We’ve all been conditioned to be humble, to downplay our successes—whether in our careers or as mothers. It’s infuriating! I witness a mom who spends months organizing a school event, only to attribute her success to “a lot of help.” I see a talented author shy away from boasting about her book hitting The New York Times best-seller list, instead crediting her agency’s marketing efforts. And how many times have we heard a mom with well-behaved kids say, “Oh, they were a nightmare earlier”? Seriously, ladies?
We are fierce warriors, tackling challenges head-on every single day. Whether it’s managing toddlers or navigating workplace misogyny, we rise to the occasion. When are we going to acknowledge that we’re incredible? When will we allow ourselves to feel pride in raising amazing kids and building successful careers?
The time has come for us to embrace our accomplishments. Let’s stop apologizing for being awesome. It’s time to put an end to the narrative that our hard work isn’t a big deal. If you see a woman downplaying her success, encourage her to own it. Remind her she deserves to feel proud, and maybe one day, she’ll start believing in her badassery.
Being a mom is no small feat—it’s an exhausting, often thankless job. We work tirelessly to raise good humans, keep them alive, and manage their schedules while also fighting against gender bias in our careers. We’re juggling it all—soccer practice, breastfeeding, and sleep deprivation. We are unstoppable.
So, the next time someone compliments your hard work, claim it! Say “thank you” and let yourself feel proud of what you’ve achieved. Declare, “Yes, I did that!” Stop whatever you’re doing right now and say, “I am badass”—because you absolutely are, and badasses don’t apologize for their greatness.
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Summary
Women often struggle to accept praise for their accomplishments, downplaying their hard work in both professional and personal arenas. This article encourages women to embrace their successes, acknowledge their efforts, and confidently accept compliments. It highlights the importance of supporting one another in recognizing our achievements and standing proud in our identities as mothers and professionals.