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Dec. 2, 2022

Fresh Take: Leslie Forde of Mom's Hierarchy of Needs

Do you feel like your health, well-being, and sanity as a mom always comes after your family’s needs– which means there’s no room left to consider such things? Guest Leslie Forde, CEO of Mom's Hierarchy of Needs, explains how to get more intentional.

Ever heard of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs? Maslow proposed a pyramid as the pattern through which human needs and motivations generally move. We can't worry about what's at the upper levels of the pyramid until and unless the more basic needs at the bottom of the pyramid– food, warmth, safety– are met first.

Leslie Forde, founder of Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs, has rethought that pyramid for the way we live our lives as mothers. There's a reason there's not enough bandwidth in our lives for fun and connection and self-actualization. Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs provides moms with products, research and community to reclaim time from their never-done to-do lists.

In this episode, Leslie explains:

  • Why mom's hierarchy of needs is a little different than Maslow's
  • When and why your hierarchy of needs might shift
  • How to prioritize your career, healthy relationships, and self-care in your own hierarchy


Leslie says that it's important to realize your health and wellbeing is equal in importance to your children's health and wellbeing, and once you internalize that, you can start to make room for your own needs without feeling guilty or frivolous.

Here's where you can find Leslie:


Our episode "Isn't This Supposed to Be More Fun?"

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