You’ve probably heard early motherhood described as “the newborn blur” that extends into the utter mayhem that can be the toddler years. But what if we described it as: a continuous endurance event of sleepless nights, emotional highs, and mental multitasking?
Meet Needed Champions Amrit and Lauren
Amrit Tietz and Lauren Levinger, co-founders of the website Spread the Jelly, are redefining resilience and community in the messy, miraculous early years. Through radical honesty, they share the parenthood experiences nobody talks about, from teething tantrums to toddler meltdowns, and yes, the real-life chaos of schlepping kids to school, work, and playdates.
“Motherhood is an endurance sport™ because it’s an ever evolving journey that keeps you on your toes, 24/7.” - Amrit
The Science of Early Motherhood Endurance
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Sleep deprivation in new parents mirrors the cognitive decline of mild intoxication, and chronic lack of REM sleep impairs immune response. The average mom with a child under one gets less than 5.7 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night.
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Mental load, the invisible labor of tracking schedules, feeding, and care activates the same stress pathways as high-stakes cognitive work.
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Toddlers add another layer of physical and emotional demand: constant vigilance, play supervision, and negotiating independence while managing household and work responsibilities.
Why Amrit and Lauren Are Our Champions Amrit and Lauren embody balance in motion. They navigate work, identity, and motherhood with honesty, showing that early parenthood is not about perfection. It's about endurance with heart. By openly sharing the highs, lows, and everyday chaos, they create a community that validates the invisible effort behind every diaper change, tantrum, and bedtime story.
Practical Takeaways
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Prioritize protein, magnesium, and B vitamins to combat fatigue and mood dips.
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Outsource where possible: Asking for help is a recovery strategy, not a failure.
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Schedule recovery: Even 20 minutes of quiet counts.
The Bottom Line
“ As a mom you’re a forever student, learning right alongside your kids.” - Lauren
Early motherhood is a full-body, full-heart endurance event.
Needed celebrates this phase as physically and emotionally demanding and like all the moments before on your Motherspan deserving of radical support. Amrit and Lauren remind us that thriving as a parent isn’t about perfection, it’s about perseverance, honesty, and finding joy in the chaos.
Our “Motherhood Is an Endurance Sport ™” campaign kicks off alongside the NYC Marathon, celebrating the unmatched strength, stamina, and resilience of mothers everywhere. The visuals spotlight the many faces of endurance with champions from IVF and infertility journeys to labor or everyday marathon of motherhood. Reminding the world that moms deserve the same recognition, recovery, and support as any athlete. At the heart of this initiative is Every Mother Counts (EMC), a nonprofit improving maternal health worldwide. To further their mission, we’re releasing a limited-edition “Motherhood Is an Endurance Sport ™” shirt, available online and at Happier Grocery, with 100% of proceeds supporting EMC’s vital work.
