Happy Mama Movement With Amy Taylor-kabbaz

"I should know how to do this" - it's the catch cry of so many mamas as they navigate motherhood. We have grown up with The Maternal Mandate - an assumption that because you are aa woman you should a) want to have a baby, b) find it easy and natural to become pregnant, birth naturally and breastfeed easily, and c) love every minute of it. And it's something every single woman out there has had to contend with at some stage. But if you also happen to have been trained in some form to support babies, mothers or children, this extra pressure of 'should know how to do this' is amplified. Midwives tell themselves birth will be easy; Child educators and carers believe teaching and playing with their children will be natural;Doctors and nurses go into it knowing the physical demands of motherhood, but never expect the personal transformation and questioning. Welcome to matrescence! It's the same for all of us. In this week's podcast episode, I speak with Edwina Sharrock - a mum of two, registered nurse and midwife,

"Our greatest suffering comes from our attachment to our fantasies."Annie had wanted to be a mum since she was a little girl. Before she had her children she had a very clear idea of what motherhood was going to look like. But her fantasy was a long way from the reality she experienced.As a mum of three sons, the youngest of which who was born with Down Syndrome and then having to navigate two of her boys getting very unwell in their young years - Annie has had to endure some very tough challenges, way more than most of us has to manage as parents.In this beautifully vulnerable and honest interview, Annie describes her actual journey and how far that deviated from her life long fairytale, but with such acceptance and grace."I think we grow up expecting a fairytale. Marrying the partner of our dreams, falling pregnant easily and giving birth to perfect children, living happily ever after. I have learned the hard way that things don’t always (or maybe ever) happen the way we expect them to. And yet, these exper

For the one hundred and fiftieth episode of the Happy Mama Movement Podcast, I wanted to reflect on the journey a woman must make in her life - and the three elements she needs to be able to sustain her in that journey. Many years ago, I first came across the work of Maureen Murdoch and The Heroine's Journey. And after many years and many thousands of mama's experiences, I can see that motherhood is a Heroine's Journey: it is the retreat into the feminine, it is the chance to reflect on what was working, it it our opportunity to heal and rebuild and redefine. And then, through ritual, circles and self-exploration, we emerge - more balanced, more whole, ready to do things differently. This is the Heroine's Journey. This is matrescence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katie Rose is an inspirational powerhouse, making ancient yogic and Ayurvedic wisdom accessible for busy modern-day women.She has weaved in and out of my life over the last decade and to say I am grateful for her knowledge and influence. We are currently working together and sharing resources through yoga, Ayurveda and essential oils.I'm thrilled to share Katie with you today - she has a beautiful and in-depth understand of the Yoga of birth and motherhood. She shares a beautiful understanding of what we need, to not only birth our children, but to become a mother.Katie is a gorgeous mother of four and you will love her story and her wisdom.She works with busy women to help them overcome feelings of overwhelm, low self-esteem and a lack of energy. Using the teachings of yoga and Ayurveda she supports her clients through trainings that bring them back to centre and help of themselves and helps them to reclaim their truest sparkle.When it comes to her Yoga of Birth - her prenatal yoga training for yoga teachers

We worry we're not doing enough for them, then we worry we're doing too much for them. We feel bad we don't play enough with them, and then we worry about all the other things we need to get done while we play with them. Motherhood is full of contrasts - and doubt. But what if we dropped all of those expectations of perfection, and actually began to see what our children really need: connection. And not just connection with them, but with ourselves too. Motherhood is a chance to reparent yourself - and find within you what you are missing too. And in this episode with mama of four, former award-winning teacher, and creator of Playful Families, Amy Cox shares with us how she has discovered that learning how to 'play' with your kids is actually just the beginning... what it really opens up is an acceptance of not only your child's uniqueness, but your own. You can find out more about Amy's phenomenal approach to play and motherhood here - http://Playfulfamilies.com/manifesto Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva

Our bodies are the source and creator of motherhood.They are the vessel for the gifts of our children.But what happens when our body doesn't follow the 'plan' of pregnancy and birth?What happens when you feel your body let you down,or is now changed forever?Dr Rebecca Ray is one of the most beautiful and insightful writers on instagram at the moment - and is known for her radical self-acceptance work.But in this interview on her journey into and through motherhood, she opens up like never before - sharing her struggles with her body during fertility treatment, then pregnancy and then post-birth.And in the process, breaks down the expectation that we should 'love' our bodies, and instead invites us to radically reimagine our relationship with the body that made us mothers.For the complete list of instagram accounts Dr Ray suggests to follow for body confidence and acceptance, go to the podcast notes at amytaylorkabbaz.comAnd follow Dr Ray's beautiful words on instagram, and her books and programs here. Hosted

For many years after my first child was born, I struggled with trying to find the balance between who I was before my children arrived, and being a mama. It was as if I was a mass of contradiction - on the one hand, I wanted nothing more than to give myself to my children, dedicated to their wellbeing and happiness. But on the other, I craved my space, my independence, the dreams I had worked so hard to achieve. It wasn't until years later, in my research into matrescence, that I discovered what this was - and how normal it really is. I call it The Inner Split. And it explains how you can both love being a mama, and struggle with it at the same time. If you'd like to know more about your own Inner Split, take a look at The Birth of You online program. And if you're feeling called to share matrescence and the Inner Split with the world, register for the Mama Rising training coming up in September 2020. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the space in between.It's the not who you used to be, and not quite who you will be yet.It's the darkness and the opportunity.And as my guest in this episode describes it: it's the liminal space in motherhood.Jessie Harrold is a couch, doula and author. She has been working with women for more than a decade, supporting them through the rites of passage of womanhood - especially motherhood.As she outlines in this interview, there is a sacred space for a woman when she becomes a mother that must be deeply respected and honoured - and if we don't hold that for her, she will feel lonely, unsure, and lost.So how do we safely move through this time?How can you honour your own uncertain moments in motherhood?This is a beautiful insight into the rituals and support we all need in matrescence.You can read more about Jessie's work here. And if you'd like to learn more about how to support women through matrescence, register here for the Mama Rising training coming up early September. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com

Sometimes, the most profound changes in our life come from the most simple ideas. This week's podcast is a living example of that.Allison Hillery is a mama of two girls. When she found herself pregnant with her second baby while still trying to understand the realities of the physical challenges her first baby was born with, Allison says she entered a time of deep darkness.Without her usual support and guides around her, and unable to heal from the first baby before diving back into pregnancy again, she was diagnosed with post-natal depression.Something she now describes as 'the beginning of my awakening.'Her way back from the darkness?Loving kindness - for herself and everyone else.It's a simple idea, but practiced daily, can completely transform a life. As I have seen it do with Allison.This episode will inspire you to see your own challenges as classrooms, and your heart as the most powerful anchor there is.You can find out more about Allison on instagram and Facebook. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva

If matrescence is the transformation of a woman as she becomes a mother - is there something called 'patrescence' for the dads?Do men go through a similar identity shift?This is something I am constantly asked.Of course, the transition a woman goes through is unique - her transformation is physical, emotional, economic, social and spiritual. There is nothing it does not touch.But if we are to revolutionise the way we support and honour the transition into motherhood, do we also need to consider the changes a father goes through that might also have been overlooked and missed?If you've ever wanted to better understand how a man feels about fatherhood, felt resentment or anger towards your partner as you figure out parenting, or tried to support a man in early parenthood, this interview is for you.PANDA - Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia - have been gathering the data and stories of fathers, and have found that one in ten fathers will experience postnatal anxiety or depression. They have also discover

Many years ago, I began to explore postpartum support, the fourth trimester and motherhood with Julia Jones. At the time, she was running a pilot training of her postpartum doula training, and I was all in. Years later, this work still influences me in so many ways. Julia is a pioneer in the way we honour the transition into motherhood. But more than that, she reminds us that the way we honour motherhood is a reflection on our society. If we allow this period to be nurturing and nourishing, and change the way we transition and support mamas, then we will change our world. This podcast is both a call to action and a gentle reminder that, no matter what stage of mamahood you're at, you can honour yourself differently. And by doing that - change the world. You can learn more about Julia Jones' work at Newborn Mothers. And you can register your interest for my world-first training on teaching and sharing matrescence here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matrescence is universal - no matter who you are or where you are in the world, motherhood brings a transformation of identity. However, within matrescence, and the transition from woman to mother, there are many factors we must acknowledge, including race, background and support. It is deeply important that on this podcast, we not only bring to light the universality of matresence, but also highlight the differences in experience - which is why this interview with Yemi Penn is one of the most powerful I've been a part of. In this podcast, Yemi - a mama to two and author of 'Did You Get The Memo?' - shares her experience of motherhood, of trying to find her own culture and identity, and what it's like to be a mother of black children in our world today. You can find more of Yemi's work at her website, including her empowering book. And explore your own identity shift and matrescence in my online program The Birth of You. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mamahood is filled with so many questions:how do I help my child with their emotions?why do they have so many meltdowns?am I doing something wrong?Is it me?Through in a really tough year on top, and you have mamas all over the globe questioning who they are and whether they're doing it 'right'.This podcast, and all my work, is dedicated to answering those questions that keep mamas awake, and make them question their worth. Whether it's matrescence or meltdowns, we need this understanding so we can stop thinking it's 'our fault', and realise the very best thing we can do is work on ourselves and our own emotions, so we can be there for them.That's why I asked Heidi Garcia onto the podcast.Heidi is a mama to two based in Canada, and has been an Occupational Therapist for more than 15 years. In our community, she noticed a lot of mamas doubting themselves and feeling worried about their children, so she offered to bring some answers.What she shared was way more than that though -and in the end, it came back to w

Thanks to the work of Dr Oscar Serrallach, we now know about Post-Natal Depletion: a physical and mental deterioration caused not just by the process of giving birth and breastfeeding, but by the stresses and strains of modern parenthood. It has been a breakthrough in how we view mothers, and how we can better support mamas. I would like to suggest a new term for us to consider right now - a term I'm calling Post-Pandemic Depletion. Taking Dr Serrallach's definition, and instead of birth and breastfeeding, looking at the mental and physical stress of modern parenting in a pandemic, I believe we're looking at a very similar outcome. We've been through a lot. It's been a time of great stress and worry, as well as joy. But we can not just allow the world to go back to 'normal' without acknowledging the toll this has taken. Just as we can't assume and ignore the effect on a mother's body and identity when she becomes a mother, we can not ignore what mothers have had to do over the past four months - and the toll

Balance is all BS, right? We're mamas and women, we've chased that dream and realised it was a pipe dream. Right? It seems many of us are still not 100% clear on this. Even though we've heard the stats and know the reality, many of us are still believing that if we worked harder, got more organised, woke earlier or finally started meditating, we might find that balance we were promised. Enter Felicity Harley, mama to three and another former 'superwoman'. Felicity has dived deep into our belief system of why we think Balance is possible, and what we do to ourselves in our pursuit of it. And in this interview, she shares her own insights and experience, as well as the answers she has discovered along the way into what it really means to be a happy mama and woman in this time of our life. 'Balance and other BS' by Felicity Harley is published by Allen & Unwin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're meant to gather in a village, hearing from the elders, passing down our own knowledge and receiving wisdom from others. But we've lost that village - and that wisdom. So, what happens when you move through motherhood without an understanding of what's happening to you, and how you are changing? And what happens when you get to the other end of motherhood - your children leaving home and space finally opening up for your own dreams - if you haven't had the understanding of matrescence along the way? It is my great pleasure in sharing this interview with mama and, in my mind, elder Jean Dawkins. Jean is a mama of a daughter now in college, and is a reminder to us all that it's really never too late to explore how motherhood has changed you... and discover who you really are. You can follow Jean's wisdom on instagramAnd join us both, and many many more, in Returning Home - The Village here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A big part of my work with mamas over the past six years has been online group coaching and online women's circles. We gather together, sometimes monthly, sometimes weekly, to reflect, learn and grow together - it has been one of the greatest gifts of my work. In these calls, mamas get to know one another - and get to know themselves. We share our wins and our fears, and we grow together. As part of the Happy Mama Movement podcast, I'm going to start sharing some of these calls with you - in the hope that you hear yourself in them, and you hear the answers you're looking for. This call is from the Returning Home membership - which is now open again. For the next six months, we are going to gather in calls like this, and in our village, to learn, honour, embrace and rise together. You can join us here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As lockdowns begin to change around the world, and as isolation rules slowly begin to ease, there is a call for us all to return to 'normal' life. But what if the 'normal' we were living isn't what we want anymore? What if, during these weeks of isolation, we've liked slowing down, saying no to all those extra curricular activities?And what if, now we've slowed down, we resist the rush back to normal? In this episode, I speak with one of my favourite business mama in Australia - Alisha Lynch from the Naughty Naturopath Mum. As you'll hear in this episode, Alisha is so much fun. She brings a joy and lightness to health and healing - and life - that is much needed. But she also has seen, through many years of supporting women and mamas, the serious side affects of stress, overwhelm and burn out. She knows all too well how important it is that we let ourselves unhook from the busy-ness, and allow ourselves to move at a different pace. If you'd like to be a part of the 6 month Returning Home membership - an onlin

Pregnancy and childbirth can bring its own special type of worry - so much of what is to come is unknown. In fact, in many ways, preparing for birth is a lot like preparing for motherhood: a daily practice of surrendering the need to know, and trusting your instincts.But pregnancy and birth in the time of isolation, lockdown and infection brings a whole new level of unknown.In this special CALMCAST episode, I speak with Australia's leading birth educator, Nadine Richardson, from SheBirths.In this episode, we speak about what you can do to prepare, no matter what's going on in the world, how to talk to your partner and birthing team, and how to trust yourself as a capable mama-to-be.To explore SheBirths world leading birth education and support, go to SheBirths website, and enter the code happymama10 to receive 10% off the full online program. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the past few weeks, I have listened to hundreds of mamas' experience of isolation - what is stressing them out, and what they are loving. And one of the worries that is coming up a lot is: relationships and intimacy. When everyone is packed into a home, and the kids are underfoot all day long, how do you connect with your partner? When they are stressed about work, and you're stressed about the kids (and work), is it normal to just put the relationship on the bottom of the to-do list? And what if you and your partner are expecting very different things from each other right now? In this CalmCast episode, I speak with Isiah McKimmie, Couples Therapist and Sexologist about intimacy and relationships in isolation who believes that with the right tools and support, your relationship can emerge stronger than ever.Isiah is currently offering a free day program and support group to help your relationship thrive during this challenging time.You get practical, actionable tools to help you:Rebuild connectionDiffus