We've all experienced relationships that didn't withstand the test of time. Yet, the pain cuts deeper when that relationship is with the woman you once called your mother. Ideally, the bond we share with our mothers shapes us into the women we are today. However, it becomes especially challenging when that connection is full of pain and hurt feelings, leaving lingering wounds that have yet to heal.

You’ve spent a good portion of your life trying to convince others of your worth. More than likely you’ve bent over backward in a failed (yes, I said failed) attempt(s) to force down others throats all the great reason that make you worthy of being loved.

Balancing festive expectations, family dynamics, and the pressures of creating the perfect experience can become overwhelming.

According to the American Institute of Stress Statistics, approximately 33 percent of people report extreme stress. You probably think that this is a low number. Let me break it down a little further for you. Shall I? Of course. Of that 33 percent, 77 percent of people experience stress to the point that it adversely affects their physical health and a staggering 73 percent reported that it affects them mentally. From this, they have trouble sleeping, daily tasks are a struggle, and they have a lapse in memory and judgment. I told you it's serious.