Happy Mama Movement With Amy Taylor-kabbaz

I want to show my children what is possible. I want them to see that you can be a kind, compassionate and present mama, and still do what you love. I want to show them that you can have a healthy and respectful marriage with three kids taking up ALL OF YOUR SPACE. I want them to know that it's possible to be happy and full without being Superwoman. And if I want them to see ALL of this, then that means ... my number one priority is to be a living example of what's possible. In this podcast episode, Amy talks about this simple and powerful idea, how it is helping her prioritise things differently, and how you too might use this idea to refocus on what you really want your children to see. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you find peace with parts of this mamahood journey that aren't so joyful and happy? What if you feel a sense of sadness or anger that it seems so much easier for others? How exactly do you live with grace? These are the questions author and mama Cathy Spooner had to face when she realised that deep down inside, she was not happy. On the outside, she should have been - she had all she'd dreamed about. but somewhere underneath it all, there was a sense of loss too. A loss of herself, and a loss of some of the core joyful moments of early mamahood. In this beautiful interview, Cathy shares her story of post-natal depression and darkness, and how she has found her way back to herself - her true self. Grace, and what it really means on a daily basis, has helped her put rock-solid self-care practices into her life, and has guided her to realise that even when it's nothing like you want it to be, motherhood is the making of you. If you'd like to read more of Cathy's story, use the code HAPPYMAMA here to recei

If only it were as easy as listening to a podcast, and ... that's it.⁣⁣Your thoughts are changed. ⁣⁣Your energy is cleared, your old stories of not being good enough, your beliefs that you should be doing more, transformed.⁣If only.⁣⁣Every single day for the past decade, I have committed to myself and my family that I will do my best:⁣⁣my best for them, and for me.⁣⁣I know you feel the same - ⁣⁣you don't want to unconsciously walk through this time - this beautiful stage of motherhood ​​​- with your eyes closed. ⁣⁣But how? ⁣⁣How do we keep showing up each day, doing our best? ⁣⁣Today, I have a podcast with a difference to share with you: ⁣⁣it's not an interview with a global expert on motherhood or womanhood.⁣⁣This time, it's actually a recording of a video I did earlier this year to share a new tool I have brought into that daily commitment to be my best.​​​​​​​​⁣⁣It’s something new for my Happy Mama tribe - and I share it with you as yet another invitation to ask: ⁣How am I going to support myself to show u

If we want to work, does that mean we value motherhood less?And if we suddenly find ourselves reprioritising our career plans to be with our little ones while they are still little, does that mean we have given up on our ambition?Can we make decisions on what we most want at this time of our life without the judgement of what it actually 'means'?For so long, we've been told that we have a choice: one or the other. One means we love being a mum, and the other means we love our job. And these 'competing devotions', as author and professor of gender and sociology, Mary Blair-Loy describes it, often make us feel stuck.In this episode, I share how this realisation that I couldn't have both (and what I believed that meant for me) has affected me, and how we can all start to look at our own competing devotions, and decide for ourselves what we really want right now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We think falling pregnant will be easy;We have a very clear idea of what the birth will look like;We believe we know exactly how it will be when we return to work;We have the perfect vision for our perfect families:And of course, motherhood shows us life can be very very different.So how do we navigate the great expectations we have of this time in our life, with the reality that we are faced with?Naomi Woolfson is a mama of two who has had her fair share of 'great expectations' - especially around the process of becoming a mama. But with each challenge comes an opportunity, and in this interview, Naomi shares how she has learnt to detach herself from the 'noise' in her head, find her true self, and come out of the 'hibernation of early motherhood'.Naomi is a mum of two and inspires and supports women on their journeys to and through motherhood.Embrace Fertility was birthed from her journey through infertility, IVF and miscarriage. Naomi started blogging about the anxiety and depression she was experiencing a

I used to think I would just tac motherhood onto my life - as if it would be another role on top of all I do. I'd go back to who I was - at work, in my relationship, with my body and health - just with the added bonus of a baby, or three!What I didn't know then, but I know now, is... we never go back. Every part of our lives is changed with motherhood - that's what matrescence is all about. But, if we're not aware of this, we can feel like we've lost a part of ourselves, and we grieve what used to be.Are we allowed to grieve our old lives?Are we even allowed to admit that we wish it was like it used to be?Yes, of course. In fact, grieving the changes in your life is a very important step - no matter where you are in motherhood.In this episode, I share a simple and practical exercise we can all do to help acknowledge the significant changes that we are going through, and become OK with the loss of who we used to be.Listen, and share with me how you went with it.I'd love to hear. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/

How does something like mindfulness actually help us as mothers? When so many of us just want to be calmer and more present when we're with our children, how does something like a mindfulness practice actually help? Sometimes, understanding the science behind something can be the key to actually sticking to it. You can see the need for healthy food and exercise, but once you understand what it does to your brain and body, it becomes obvious that this has to be a part of your life. Once you've heard Dr Elise Bialylew explain the science behind mindfulness - in a really down to earth way - you'll feel the same about mindfulness. Being aware of your thoughts is one of the keys to being a Happy Mama. Knowing the tools to reach for when it's all getting too much is absolutely one of the first steps to being the mama you want to be. In this episode, mama and founder of Mindful in May, Dr Elise Bialylew explain how she discovered this truth, how and why it works, and what we can all start doing now to be more mindfu

If we can accept that right now, in this season of life, we are in 'matrescence', the transformation from woman to mother, then we can start to accept that all we're feeling, all we're going through, all we're facing is a part of a process.In fact, it's a DIVINE process.This is the making of us, mamas.All that we are going through is the making of us.So can we start to change the way we view what we're going through?And, perhaps even see it is a gift?In this episode, I remind us all that matrescence is one of the greatest gifts of womanhood - if only we can start to embrace it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Again and again and again I recognise the stunning beauty in pain. And the outrageous gift that is motherhood - in all its tiresome, messy and unsure glory."These are the words of mama, business woman and my beautiful friend, Lisa Corduff. When I read these words recently, I immediately reached out to Lisa and insisted we jump on a call as soon as possible to discuss.How can we remember the stunning beauty in pain, struggle, overwhelm, suffering?How do we prioritise ourselves as women when our family or our loved ones need us so much?Can we really trust that everything is happening for the best?These are just some of the divine questions I put to Lisa - and her answers will flaw you. As I say in the introduction to this episode, listen with a notepad and pen, mamas. This is a keeper.To follow all of Lisa's insights into motherhood, business and life, visit Small Steps Living or Lisa Corduff.And share. Please share with mamas and friends everywhere. The world needs this conversation to go far and wide. Hosted

What if your anger and anxiety was your life calling you?Here's an interesting idea, mamas - what if all that overwhelm, anger, anxiety and worry was actually a gift? What if it was the warning sign your life was sending you, that things were out of balance?As women, we believe anything that is going right is our fault: we should 'fix' it by trying harder, giving more of ourselves, doing more, and doing it better.It's what the world has been telling us our whole lives: do more, do better.But what if the struggles we are feeling are not our fault at all? What if it was a symptom of the values the world has put on us - and our anxiety, anger and depression was our life calling us back to the truth?This is the message from the phenomenal book 'Circle of Stones' by Judith Duerk - and in this episode, I talk about what this means to me, and the courage it takes to decide to listen to your anger, and ask: what is it it's trying to tell me? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It starts small - an affirmation card, a podcast, a meditation in a yoga class. Sometimes, it can be a green smoothie and a commitment to move your body. It doesn't really matter what the entry point is - because once you're on your way, you're on your way. There's no turning back.That's the process of self-discovery.Motherhood can be such a catalyst for this: a chance to look at yourself in a new light. You want to get healthy for your kids, or you want to stop yelling and do it differently than your own mother did. And so begins a beautiful relationship with yourself.Sophie Melville is another Happy Mama who has fallen in love with this process. Starting with her first child, she began to question what she loved, what she wanted to do, and who she wanted to be. And since then (and two more babies later), she marvels at where she is.As an artist, Sophie has found her creativity and outlet, but through self-discovery, meditation and commitment to herself, she has found a new meaning of life.May this podcast b

Modern mamahood is filled with a sense of panic: we feel we have to be on top of everything, all of the time, otherwise the wheels will fall off. Our days are so unpredictable, and we are often so stretched, that we feel like we're only just hanging on.But when Amy speaks with mamas the world over, they always tell her the same thing:They want to feel ease, surrender, and presence. They want to let go of the rushing and the focus on 'what's next', and be in the moment.So why is there such a disconnect? And why do we feel we need to control everything?Because, at the heart of it, everything feels out of control - because we're trying to control the uncontrollable.When instead, we need to be focusing on what we CAN control, which is: our own inner self.In this episode, Amy speaks about why we struggle with this, and how we can start to feel that surrender and ease we most desire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So many of us want to slow down, be more present, calm and connected. We crave a different life right now, feeling a pull within to make big changes. And then... nothing much changes. Our inner world does not really align to what we're doing in the outer world. But it is this inner and outer disconnected that is causing so much struggle. It's what mamahood - and the transition we all go through as we move through this time in our life - is all about. It's about realising that we want things to be different - and now's our chance. But how? How do we align what we are feeling inside with what we have in reality? Zoe Gameau is a mama, actress, change-agent and curator of the most amazing events. Since mamahood, she has been committed to bringing her values into her world - for herself, and her family. In this episode, she shares how to begin to align with what you most desire, what she learnt through the power of sitting in Circle, and why she now wants to bring this powerful space to all mamas. Hosted on Acast.

We keep holding our breath until the we reach the next milestone. As mamas, we often sacrifice ourselves, or put some part of our lives on hold, hoping that when we reach 'that time', we will get the space.Maybe it's starting school. Maybe it's starting to sleep. Maybe it's a certain age.But the thing with matrescence is: it doesn't stop. There is no milestone we reach when finally we get our whole selves back.So what does that mean for us, as women? How do we cope with these transitions and changes, and honour ourselves in amongst it all?In this episode, Amy reflects on the constant seasons of change in motherhood, and how we can navigate it with grace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two years ago, at an event I held in Melbourne, one very brave mama stood up from the back row and asked a question that changed her life. It was a true sliding doors moment: when one decision leads to a whole new way of living.Sarah is a mama of three, and is the epitome of what I am trying to bring to light with this podcast and all my work. Through the darkness of post-natal depression, health concerns and isolation, she has found her way back to herself - and beyond. She has created a new self, a woman she is proud of, and is now sharing this with the world.Sarah is the first of my new style of episodes in which I talk to 'everyday mamas' about their transition through matrescence - and I am truly honoured to share her story with you.You can find Sarah's amazing affirmation card company, The Affirmation Farm - a little company dedicated to hope, joy, resilience, mindfulness and positive reinforcement, through the use of affirmation cards which she founded after her commitment to her inner connection and h

"What have you shut down to get the family you desired, Amy?"That was the question that stopped my heart. The moment it was asked, I knew the answer: I had shut down a very big part of who I was in the belief that I could not have both. I could not have that and be the mama, partner, sister, daughter, woman I desired to be. They simply were not compatible. We do this a lot. As women, we shut parts of ourselves down in the mistaken belief that we can't be something AND be the mama or woman we need to be right now. But although life is all about compromises - especially when you have small children - shutting down a core part of yourself is never the answer. There has to be a way to honour ALL of you, even in the smallest ways, even in the middle of motherhood. In this episode, I share what happened when I was asked this question recently. And what we can all do about calling back in that part of us we have long given up on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spontaneity, freedom, travel - what's that again?That's what the early years of motherhood can feel like at times. The free spirited part of our solves - the woman who ran with the wolves - can sometimes feel completely missing from our now parenting-focused worlds.But to completely dismiss a whole part of ourselves - a part that we used to thrive on - is to deny a core part of what makes us happier. And whilst motherhood, especially the early years, does require some major rethinking of what living a wild and free life looks like, we must find a way to rewild motherhood in our own way.That's what writer, artist, and mama to two Geordie Bull has has to do. With the arrival of her second baby came a dark time in her life. Juggling two children meant no time to paint or be present with her older daughter, and she felt herself get lost in the dark thoughts and overwhelm. Since then, she has been on her own inner adventure - to 'rewild' motherhood, and herself.You can follow Geordie's rewilding adventure on Insta

On my recent trip to the United States, I spent an afternoon at The Motherhood Center, New York. And as I walked through the door, and saw the support they offered to mamas, I was immediately taken back to the first days of mamahood again: scared, overwhelmed, and desperate for the daily support I received at my local hospital. Years on, I still have days of craving that support. I still feel like, at times, I have no idea what I'm doing and wish I could walk through the doors of a beautiful Centre filled with wise women, get a cup of tea, and listen and learn. Lean on them. Feel safe.In this episode, I talk about the need for ongoing support for all of us as mamas and women, and where we can get it - even now, no matter where you are. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When I became a mother 11 years ago, there was a very real but at the time imperceptible 'split' within me: on one hand, there was the woman who had big dreams and goals and identified with her purpose in the world, and on the other hand, there was the newborn mother. The nurturer, the carer, the woman who wanted to be there with her child for every single milestone.And it has taken me more than a decade to understand: it is this split that has been the hardest part to reconcile.For years, I searched for role models of women who were doing it both: who were able to honour both sides of that split. I couldn't find any. And so when I came across author, international speaker and success coach Debra Poneman and her story of walking away from an enormous international career to be a mum, I had to speak with her. It was during one of our conversations that she shared with me one of the most life-changing sentences I have ever heard:Your dharma will wait for you.In this episode, you will hear how Debra has honoured

Life with little ones is anything but predictable. When our whole world is at the mercy to our children, our environment, and our to-do list, many of us tip into control-mode to try and get through. When we can't control what's happening in our day, we end up trying to control the tiniest things - and burn ourselves out. Over the years, I have come to realise that I have very little control over anything in my life, except one thing: how I react. That's it. And whilst that can feel scary at first (what do you mean I have absolutely no control over how this is going to work out?), it is also quite liberating. So if you are finding yourself tipping into control mode - or it's cousins perfectionism and anxiety - then this episode is for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.