Get Your Pink Back: Rediscovering Yourself After Kids
- Arboro Empowered
- Oct 16
- 4 min read
Guest Blog Contributor: Laurel Sisler, LCSW , LCAS, CCS
Or maybe your color isn’t pink anymore. Maybe it’s neon green, black, or a bright fuchsia that makes you feel alive again.
Did you know flamingos lose their pink color while caring for their babies—and slowly regain it as their chicks grow? Their famous blush comes from pigments in their food, but when they’re nurturing, they give that color away. They pour all their energy into their young—and, for a while, they fade.
Sound familiar?
Parenthood has a way of pulling our energy outward—toward nap schedules, school forms, sports practices, and the invisible work of keeping everyone afloat. It’s beautiful, meaningful, and relentless. And somewhere in that swirl, many of us notice we’ve lost a little of our color too.
Our “pink” might not show on the outside, but we feel it: less laughter, fewer creative outlets, a shorter fuse, or a nagging sense of disconnection from ourselves. If that resonates—you’re not alone. And like the flamingo, you can get your color back.
When the Color Fades
Modern parenting can feel like a marathon you never trained for. Between work, home life, relationships, and your kids’ emotional needs, it’s easy to lose touch with who you were—or who you’re becoming.
For many parents, especially mothers, the mental load feels endless. The scheduling, worrying, remembering—it all adds up. Even when we’re running on empty, we keep giving, because we love deeply and want our kids to thrive. But constantly pouring from an empty cup takes a toll. Over time, our spark—the sense of joy, creativity, and energy that makes us feel like us—starts to dim.
It’s not selfish to want that spark back. It’s essential.
The Color Returns Slowly
Just like the flamingo, our color comes back in small, steady ways. It might start with saying no to something that drains you, walking alone for ten quiet minutes, or picking up a hobby that has nothing to do with being a parent.
For others, it means setting firmer boundaries, finding therapy, or rebuilding friendships that remind you who you are. These small steps refill your tank and model something powerful for your kids—that adults deserve full, colorful lives too.
How to Start Getting Your Color Back
1. Reconnect with what lights you up. What did you love before life got busy—music, writing, movement, art? Even a few minutes a week can make a difference. Or try something new—a pottery class, hiking group, or language course. The only rule: it should feel like you, not your “parent” role.
2. Lighten the load. Parenting comes with invisible labor—responsibility, vigilance, worry. Have honest conversations with your partner or co-parent about sharing that load. Tools like The Fair Play Deck by Eve Rodsky can help. Remember: “good enough” is often good enough.
3. Find your people. Parenting can be isolating. Seek community—not just with other parents, but in spaces that center your interests. Book clubs, yoga studios, hiking groups—all count. Or you can join our upcoming “Get Your Pink Back” event—a creative, grown-ups-only evening designed to help parents reconnect with themselves through art and reflection.
4. Set boundaries. Boundaries aren’t selfish—they protect what matters. They might look like saying no to a volunteer role, blocking off 30 minutes for yourself, or asking for help before burnout hits.
5. Care for your mental health. Many parents struggle with anxiety, depression, or burnout. Therapy can help you process guilt, identity changes, or overwhelm. You don’t have to be in crisis to seek support—it’s a sign of strength.
If you’re in the Greensboro area, local therapist and parent Laurel Sisler is accepting new clients and helping adults rediscover joy, balance, and color in their lives. You can also explore listings through Psychology Today or ask your primary care provider for referrals.
Join Us: “Get Your Pink Back” Social for Parents
At this community event, you’ll have space to slow down, create, and reconnect with yourself through a fun paint-by-numbers activity designed by local artist Emily Vidovich. Led by therapist Laurel Sisler, we’ll reflect on:
Setting boundaries that support balance
Lightening the mental load (and the guilt that can come with it)
Finding connection and support
Accessing local mental health resources
Expect laughter, reflection, and the reminder that it’s okay to take up space in your own life again.
A Gentle Reminder
Getting your pink back isn’t about returning to who you were before kids—it’s about becoming the most vibrant version of who you are now. Growth changes our color; wisdom deepens it.
So, what’s your shade today? Coral, turquoise, lavender, or something new entirely? Whatever it is, it’s yours—and it’s beautiful.
Because the world is brighter when you’re in full color.
Interested in therapy, a conversation, or knowing more about Laurel? Email us at hello@arboroempowered.com and we will get you connected!
Laurel is currently accepting new patients in Greensboro, NC. She specializes in life's transitions, anxiety, relationships, parenting, trauma, and substance misuse.
Comment below: What shade are you feeling now? What did you read from Laurel that resonated with you?
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