There’s no instruction manual for motherhood. I sometimes wish there was but also wonder: would I read it, or toss it to the side like a set of IKEA instructions? What I’ve found to be true is that even with an abundance of information at my fingertips, there’s no escape from living through, and learning from, the lessons we are dealt on the journey of motherhood.
This episode is a personal reflection on 15 of my best-of motherhood lessons so far. I probably could have shared 50 of them! These were the first 15 that came to mind and I expand on each of them individually in this episode:
- How my relationship with my partner has changed and adapted
- Consistency is important, and also difficult (for me)
- 3 months is not the magic number
- Motherhood is a journey of self discovery and our children are our greatest teacher
- The effects of sleep deprivation are real
- Don’t hit pause… keep doing what brings you joy
- Matrescence is great to understand
- Housework is not motherhood
- Find more help, support and a community
- Motherhood is an AND game, not an either/or game
- A mother’s strength knows no bounds
- I/you/we are normal, it’s not just me/you
- Motherhood is co-creative with our children
- The perfect mother myth impacts on us
- Everything is a phase
I’d love to hear your best-of motherhood lessons so far! Tag me @benitabensch or send me a message on Instagram or Facebook.
Be kind to yourself as you listen to this. If this, or any, ME + MOTHERHOOD podcast episode ‘triggers you’ or raise issues for you, I urge you to reach out and speak to a professional on any one of these related support lines:
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
- Blue Knot Helpline: 1300 657 380
- PANDA National Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Helpline: 1300 726 306
