The Strength Mothers Carry — And Why We Shouldn’t Carry It Alone

Mother’s Day is usually filled with celebrations, flowers, and heartfelt messages about how strong mothers are. And they truly are.

But as I reflect on the women around me — mothers, daughters, wives, friends, entrepreneurs — I’ve realised that many of us have also been taught something else quietly over the years:
To stay strong by handling everything alone.
We learn to smile through uncertainty.
To suppress our fears.
To avoid worrying the people we love.
To quietly carry pressure because we think that is what strength looks like.

The truth is, not many people openly share what they are really going through. Especially when the news is difficult. Whether it is retrenchment, financial stress, burnout, fear of failure, or the anxiety that comes with starting over, these conversations are uncomfortable. They make us feel vulnerable. Sometimes we worry people may judge us, pity us, or feel disappointed in us.

And very often, the first person we try to protect is Mum. That is why Jovalene’s story resonated so deeply with me. In 2023, Jovalene, CEO of Luli Singapore, was retrenched after spending more than 20 years in the corporate world. Imagine dedicating decades to a career, only to suddenly find yourself forced to rethink everything you thought was stable and familiar.

Most people would understandably feel lost. Yet despite having no prior experience in the F&B industry, she made the bold decision to start a business from scratch. It was a courageous move, but also a scary one. 

And interestingly, although many of us instinctively turn to our mothers when big life moments happen, Jovalene held back from sharing the news immediately.

Not because she was weak.
Not because she was ashamed.
But because she loved her mother deeply and did not want to cause worry or disappointment.
I think many of us can relate to that feeling.
We often convince ourselves that being strong means staying silent.
That we should “handle it ourselves.”
That vulnerability is a burden to others.
But over time, I’ve come to realise that true strength is not just about silently carrying pressure.

True strength is also about being able to say:
“I’m struggling.”
“I’m scared.”
“I don’t know what to do next.”

Because when we finally open up, something unexpected happens.
People help.
Not always in huge dramatic ways, but in meaningful ones.

Someone offers advice.
Someone connects you to an opportunity.
Someone checks in on you more often.
Someone reassures you that you are not alone.
Someone simply listens — and sometimes, that alone changes everything.

The reality is that people cannot support us if they do not know what we are going through. And perhaps that is something worth remembering this Mother’s Day. Behind every strong mother is also a human being who gets tired, worried, uncertain, and overwhelmed sometimes. The same goes for daughters, women rebuilding their lives, and anyone navigating change quietly behind closed doors.

Strength should not only be measured by how much we can endure silently.
Sometimes, strength is vulnerability.
Sometimes, strength is honesty.
Sometimes, strength is allowing yourself to be supported.

This Mother’s Day, maybe the greatest gift we can give ourselves and the people we love is openness. And I hope for FullOut Activewear to be that platform where our apparels inspire confidence, energy. And that our activities bring people together so that we may be each other's support.

To my dear girlfriend Jov, I love your spontaneity. Thank you for inspiring others to share vulnerable side. Watch the series of videos over here

xoxo,
Mel
Founder of FullOut Activewear