No one can tell you what motherhood is going to be like. They will tell you about their experience and so what to expect. However, whatever you expect will probably be different from the reality you end up living.

Instead, have no expectations. Just know that life will be very different and be ready to deal with whatever comes your way.

Intrigued?

Then sit back, relax and listen to find out.

On this episode, I’m joined by Erin Buck whose experience of motherhood has left her clinging on and she is not ready to let go, yet.

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A bit about Erin

She is a virtual assistant who helps freelancers run their businesses by doing tasks that weigh them down and take them away from the work they are good at and enjoy.

What surprised her about being a mum was that it didn't come naturally. She had wanted children for so long that when she had them, her depression got in the way, and she struggled. She had believed she would feel connected the minute she touched her child.

Here are a few ways she can tell you she's a mum without telling you she's a mum:

1) living on kids leftover food because you are hungry and tired.

2) walking into the bathroom to find a pile of clothes NEXT to the washing basket and most of the bath water on the floor and not in the bath.

3) Going for a biscuit and the empty packet is still there but no biscuit.

4) Not seeing a shower or washing your hair in a week because of a newborn.

5) Being able to strip down a kid and redress them in record time because you are going to miss the bus if you don't.

The best thing about being a mum is watching her boys laughing and smiling at her.

Connect with Erin

Website: https://www.bizzybeebolly.com/

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/bizzybeebolly/

LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bizzybeebolly

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Becoming a mum isn’t your cue to give up on yourself as an individual. It’s your opportunity to use your uniqueness to raise your child the best way you can.

After all, we’re all unique, which includes our babies, and the only one who actually knows how to raise your baby is you.

You don’t have to lose your individuality.

Intrigued?

Then sit back, relax and listen to find out.

On this episode, I am joined by the hilarious Angie Belcher whose experience of mothering happened later in life and she’s very much enjoying giving her son the silliest and most fun childhood she can.

A bit about Angie

Angie Belcher is a comedy pioneer, whose career has evolved from stand up, acting and performing to award-winning work as a coach and trainer, teaching comedy to CEO’s and staff at major organisations and delivering ground-breaking workshops through the NHS.

A proud graduate of The Institute for the Development of Human Potential, she holds a post-graduate diploma in Humanistic Psychology for Leadership, Facilitation and Coaching. Angie is course leader for stand -up comedy on Circomedia’s BA course in Contemporary Performing Arts, Writer in Residence for First Story, Associate Lecturer in Comedy Writing at the University of Worcester and Comedian in Academic Residence at the University of Bristol.

The Hague awarded her World Comedian of Emancipation 2022 and in 2024 she was awarded a Gold HSJ Award for best mental health partnership with the NHS, for her work providing therapeutic comedy courses.

Connect with Angie

Website: https://angiebelcher.wordpress.com/

Aftermirth: http://www.aftermirthcomedy.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angiebelcher1

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Giving birth is one of the most frightening things I’ve ever done. You know the baby has got to come out and you’re just hoping that all will be okay.

Now, how would you cope if the birth didn't go according to plan? Could you stay calm and make the decisions that are right for you or would you just go with the flow because that is easier?

Intrigued to know what it's like, then sit back, relax and listen to find out.

On this episode, I am joined by the wonderful Elle Hack whose experience of mothering was slow to start and she very much used her voice to decide what was best for her and her baby.

A bit about Elle

As an expert speaker, trainer and coach, Elle helps Canine Professionals ( typically Vet Physios) get more joy, fulfilment and profit from their business. Removing stress and allowing them the freedom to do what they do best, caring for dogs.

My business is called Canine Care Hub.

What surprised her about being a mum was the amount one human can take over your mind, heart and soul.

She now regularly leaves the house for walks without having brushed my hair.

The best thing about being a mum is the joy and laughter her son brings to her, he is genuinely hilarious and she feels so lucky that he’s hers.

Connect with Elle

Website: https://elizabethhack.co.uk/

Canine Hub: https://caninecarehub.com/

Other links: https://linktr.ee/caninecarehub_elizabethhack

If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe.

If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

When I first became a mum, I remember feeling safe and secure in the knowledge that there were many people around me whom I could turn to for help.

The best thing was that my mum and sister, who already had two children, were just down the road.

What if that isn’t the case?

What if you have no one around you? You’re alone and your only connection is via a landline phone.

How would you cope?

Intrigued to know what it's like, then sit back, relax and listen to find out.

On this episode, I am joined by the wonderful Lucy Barrett whose experience of mothering started the moment her baby was placed in her hands in Hong Kong.

A bit about Lucy

Lucy has many roles as a Style Coach, wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. She has lived, worked and raised a family in Hong Kong, Japan and the UK.

She helps professional women and female business owners use the transformational power of the way they dress to feel confident in themselves and express who they are in every aspect of their life. Now and as they evolve through the transitions of life.

Styling from the inside out, Lucy collaborates with women to explore and discover their own unique style, their most flattering colours and styles and align their clothes with their life.

She understands that life is busy and our roles are varied. She helps women who want to open their wardrobe every morning and see clothes that reflect who they are now, give them inner confidence and provide what they need.

One role that has been really important in her life is being a mum to three. Something that surprised her about being a mum was how much confidence it has given her in herself, especially living miles away from family and not always being able to speak the language. At times being a mum can be challenging and yet one of the best things, apart from the love of course, is watching these helpless, but surprisingly loud, little humans go through all the phases and grow into full grown, adventurous adults.

Connect with Lucy

FaceBook @lucybarrettstylecoach

LinkedIn @lucy-barrett-style-coach/

Website www.lucybarrettstylecoach.co.uk/

If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe.

If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Just because you're a woman, it doesn't mean that you automatically know whether you want to be a mum.

Just because you're a woman, it doesn't mean you're maternal from the moment you take your first breath.

Sometimes it just takes time, being with the right person and being in the right place.

What do you think?

Intrigued to know what it's like, then sit back, relax and listen to find out.

On this episode, I am joined by the wonderful Louise Lawton whose experience of mothering started before she had her first child.

A bit about Louise

Most people call her Lou. She works as an interventional radiographer in the NHS while also running her own business as a personal stylist.

She's married to Benny and has a son who's 7 and a stepson who's 16. She's Irish and moved to the UK when she was 18 and never left! She's been in Bristol for over 20 years now.

She decided to train as a personal stylist when she was 40 having had a few sessions with a life coach. She realised that she wanted more from life. She always loved clothes and style and wanted to tap into the creative side of her personality.

She loves to help women find or rediscover their confidence through their style and look. Many of her clients have come out of a big "life event" such as recovering from an illness and given her other job, she can often have quite open conversations with these ladies.

She helps her clients refine their style and find what works for them via colour analyses, wardrobe restyles and of course by hitting the shops together! Her motto is "life is too short" to not feel happy in your own skin.

The thing that has surprised her the most about being a mum is what that mother-child bond can feel like and how strong that love is.

Nowadays, she happily sacrifices things because it's not just about her anymore! When you have kids you realise you can't be so selfish anymore. Even if it's just sharing food. If her son has his eye on her dinner she'll happily share with him.

The best thing about being a mum is the laughter, silliness and the permission to just do fun things.

Connect with Louise

Instragram @stylegalorewithlou

Website www.stylegalore.co.uk/

If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe.

If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

No two births are the same.

We know that.

After all, every individual is different and therefore their entry into the world is going to be different.

What if the difference is having your first baby at 25 weeks old and starting life in the Neonatal intensive care unit and your second goes to full term?

How would you cope?

Intrigued to know what it's like, then sit back, relax and listen to find out.

On this episode, I am joined by the wonderful Hazel Weyman whose experience of giving birth to her daughters was completely different.

A bit about Hazel

She's a country girl, who loves the peace and space of the countryside and spending time with her horses. She is also a mum of 2 girls and a virtual assistant who helps fellow business mums maintain their business visibility despite all the challenges life throws at them by helping with their content, whether that’s creation, setting up tech or just scheduling so that it actually gets out into the world.

Before her eldest was born, she was a Veterinary Nurse, A career she was enjoying but when her daughter was born extremely early, the minute she entered that NICU room, being a vet nurse didn’t hold any meaning to her anymore compared to the work the amazing people were doing. It’s something that she didn’t expect and very personal to her but that association with nursing just shifted and she hasn’t gone back to that industry since!

She certainly didn’t expect to have a complete career change because she was a parent but it was definitely meant to be.

These days she never gets to eat her dinner whilst it’s still piping hot!

The best bit about being a mum is watching them achieve something they didn’t expect and seeing the pure joy on their faces.

Connect with Hazel

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/busykeys.co.uk

Instagram @busyskeysvirtual_hazelweyman

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How would you cope with becoming a first-time mum abroad?

Would it feel scary, isolating and not something that you'd ever consider?

Or

Would it be exciting, liberating and a bit of an adventure?

Personally, I'm grateful for the fact that I had my family near me. I knew no different.

I'm not sure how I would have coped if things had been different although I do know I would have done my best.

How about you?

Intrigued to know what it's like, then sit back, relax and listen to find out.

On this episode, I am joined by the wonderful Alison Taylor whose experience of motherhood started on an island far far away.

A bit about Alison

Alison is a 72 year old woman who still rolls her sleeves up and stands up for her community, family and health. 

She did not always know she wanted to be a mum. In the 1980's it's what we just did. You got married and had children. 

Her mum journey has been relatively straight forward although she definitely found the teenage years far more demanding. There has been much joy and also many heartaches too.  

Through her work, Alison is championing the need for good health and balance in a vibrant working environment.

Connect with Alison

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisontaylornetworking⁠⁠

⁠⁠www.facebook.com/alisonjataylor⁠⁠ 

⁠⁠www.alisontaylor.myforever.biz/taylor⁠⁠

If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe. 

If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

At what point do you realise that you might not be able to get pregnant?

It didn’t cross my mind. I just assumed I could.

What if you can't?

What if the reason you can’t is because of you?

This episode might just have the answers you’re looking for.

On this episode, I am joined by the wonderful Hils Crisp who is The Business Alchemist and is also a mum.

If you’re wondering what happens when donor eggs are your best option, perimenopause has crept its way into your life and by the way you want to get pregnant, then this is the episode for you.

A bit about Hils

I’m Hils Crisp, The Business Alchemist and I’m a Strategic Business and Marketing Mentor and Uplevel Coach.

I empower and support ambitious soulful women doing transformational work online such as coaches, therapists and health and wellness practitioners, go from confused, overwhelmed, winging it and not making the kind of money they want, to move beyond their inner blocks, uncover and own their soul-aligned niche, step confidently into their expertise, uplevel their business, and get strategic so they can do their best work, be seen as the expert they are, feel more fulfilled, make a bigger impact and achieve their business and income goals.

Website: https://hilscrisp.com

The biggest surprise about being a mum is how all-consuming it is, like ‘der’. My fridge is covered with 'paintings' aka splodges of brown paint that look more like inkblot tests than anything else! The best thing about being a mum is the immense love I feel in my heart and the impromptu cuddles, kisses and displays of love from him (he’s 3!).

If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe. 

If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠ and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠.