When Gratitude Feels Like Pressure

By K & O of KO Unscripted

Let’s talk about something we don’t say out loud enough: sometimes gratitude feels…heavy.

We know — gratitude journals, #blessed captions, “thankful hearts” mugs — it’s all meant to be inspiring. But in the middle of real life? When you’re spinning through the holidays like a tornado in leggings? Gratitude can start to sound like another thing on the to-do list.

The “You Should Be Grateful” Season

The holidays bring a special kind of pressure. You’re supposed to be joyful, giving, peaceful, festive — all while making 47 side dishes, attending every class party, and remembering to move that creepy little Elf every single night.

And when you’re running on caffeine and chaos, hearing “just be grateful” can feel like someone handing you a Hallmark card while your house is on fire.

The Reality of the Mom Gratitude Complex

Moms carry it all — the mental load, the emotional labor, the endless guilt. So when we’re told to “soak it all in,” it can hit like:“I should  be more grateful.”“I shouldn’t feel overwhelmed.”“I should  love every second.”

But here’s the thing — you can be grateful and tired. You can love your family and need a break from them. You can feel thankful for this life and still wish for five minutes of silence.

The Reframe

Maybe gratitude isn’t about feeling thankful all the time.Maybe it’s about finding a quiet, imperfect moment in the middle of the noise — like sipping your coffee before everyone wakes up or hearing your kid laugh from another room.

That’s the kind of gratitude that counts.Not the Pinterest version. The real, messy, mom-life version.

The KO Truth:Gratitude isn’t about pretending everything’s perfect — it’s about noticing the tiny moments that are good enough.

XO,

K+O