The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
I experienced postnatal depression for my first and third children, even though for the third time I really nourished my body and prioritised self-care, trying my best to take things slow.
The first time I didn’t really know what was going on. I experienced anger that I had never felt before. It was quite scary at times. I was very sleep deprived and overwhelmed but didn’t know how or when to reach out for help. I did see a counsellor who helped me manage the emotions I was experiencing, but it was a pretty lonely experience.
And then third time around, I expected things to be easy because I had all the tools, the self awareness and had had a great postpartum with my second daughter. This wasn’t the case! PND crept up again after the first sleep regression and I had to really take things easy to get back on track.
What I learnt through my experience is that postpartum is such a fragile time when mothers are raw and vulnerable, giving so much of themselves to meet the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs of their child. Mothers need so much more support during this time; they need community and proper nourishment and care, and people to nurture them while they’re nurturing others.
If mothers were truly supported, valued and cared for, I believe we wouldn’t be seeing so many mothers experiencing postnatal depression and depletion.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The pros are:
- Flexibility to work around the needs of my kids.
- I get to work how I want to work within my own values and passions.
- I get to choose my clients and colleagues and get to make decisions about how much I get paid.
The cons are:
- It’s not easy wearing so many different hats and doing tasks that are not my forte (like marketing!).
- Growing a business takes time, effort and consistency before you really reap the rewards, and it’s a huge personal journey along the way.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
My hope is that motherhood is different for my daughters, that the mothers role is more valued, and that the village becomes the norm again so communities support each other to thrive – so we can fully experience all the joy and happiness that motherhood brings.
That’s what drives me to do this work- to be part of the change for our future.
Visit The Mother Tree Effect website to find out more, and join their supportive communities on Facebook and Instagram.
