Finding my style again

By Jenna Yates

I’ve been a mum for over six years now. My littlest just turned two, and even though we ended our breastfeeding journey back in January I’m still wearing my maternity bras. 

Most days I chuck on some black tights and a baggy jumper. I don’t have a clue what my personal style is or what works on my changed body.

I’ve been very practical because life with 3 little boys is… messy. But now I’m out of the baby haze I’d like to look like it! And that starts with adding some colour into my wardrobe!

(We spoke about this with stylist Caitlin Marwaha in an episode of How Motherhood Changed Me - it was really helpful!)

I connected with the gorgeous Monica from Style Synergy Studio and was offered a colour analysis session. I’d previously guessed I was a spring or summer but didn’t know too much about it, so when our online appointment rolled around I wasn’t sure what to expect. 

Monica was so thorough (and so, so lovely!)

I learned I am a Light Summer - which means my complexion suits soft and muted colours. My optimal palette includes soft blues, gentle pinks, muted lavenders, and cool greys. 

I was sent a 20 page guide covering everything including celebrities in my season, my best and worst colours, and even the most complimentary metals and gemstones to wear, makeup and hair colours.  

Yesterday, for the first time in a long time, I hit the shops with some confidence. I had a bit of fun and tried on some things (and some colours) I normally wouldn’t. Feel free to let me know what you think!

The plan is to build a capsule wardrobe with pieces that suit me rather than trying to follow trends. 

When Monica and I spoke, I explained some of the main reasons I’ve felt a bit stuck with fashion. She wrote a really great blog on that including lots of tips, which you can read here.

You should also check out her colour analysis sessions if like me, you’re feeling a bit confused about your personal style now you’re a mum. 

In My Daddy’s Belly

Logan Brown is a transgender man who unexpectedly fell pregnant.

He garnered widespread attention for sharing his journey on social media and his blog Up The Duff Man, also featuring on the front cover of Glamour UK’s pride edition. 

His daughter Nova was born in 2023, and in an effort to give her something to relate to, Logan wrote a children’s book.

In My Daddy’s Belly is a story about two Dads eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child, following the excitement and joy of welcoming a new baby into a loving family. The person giving birth just happens to be one of the Dads.

Written in a way that is accessible to children of all ages and easy to understand, it gives some basic facts about Transgender Dads giving birth, and celebrates new life with colourful, bold illustrations and a wholesome story with the message; 'it doesn't matter what your family looks like, as long as you are safe and loved.'

Alongside the story there are optional interactive questions to help children explore their feelings in a safe space, and FAQs, tips for adults, and links and resources to family-centric Transgender Charities.

We connected with Logan on social media, and were honoured when he offered to be a guest on our podcast. You can listen to our chat here.

Read more about Logan’s book and purchase here.

In My Daddy’s Belly is also available on Amazon.

Congratulations Logan! Nova is so lucky to have such a loving and thoughtful parent.

A letter to the person who saved me

* Written by Hayley Pearson in November 2017

I know I’m not the only one who’s been through something terrible and I know, sadly, it could happen to many an Adelady in the future. But, if you’re ever faced with a truly heartbreaking situation at the same time as having a baby, I hope my words help you in some small way.

Seven days after my baby boy was born, my brother passed away from alcohol addiction.

This is a letter to the person who saved me: my real-life superhero; my six-year-old birthday boy.

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Dear Austin Bobaroo,

Today, you turned the big six. I say this all the time and I know you can’t possibly understand the meaning behind my words, but you seriously are my superhero.

The day you were born, was the best day of my life. Despite spewing my guts up for the first 12 hours, after taking a cocktail of drugs to numb the pain from my emergency C-section, I was filled with complete happiness. And not just because my vagina didn’t rip in two. But because I had just met my favourite new person. You.

I have one big regret about that day though. As I was horizontal and projectile vomiting, my phone rang. Mum answered and it was my bro, your Uncle Ryan. 

He’d just heard that he had finally become an uncle and was crying with joy. He wanted to speak to me, but I was so ill that I shooed the phone away and said I’d speak to him later. But, I never did.

For the next seven days, I was wrapped up in my brand-new-baby world and every little bit of attention was on you — my superhero. Although at that time, I didn’t know you actually were a superhero.

At the time, I was annoyed at Ryan for not getting himself sober, so he could come to the hospital and meet you. I’d told him months before he died, he wasn’t allowed to hold my baby if he wasn’t sober. I assumed that was enough to help his addiction. Now, I know it wasn’t his fault.

Seven days after you were born, we were sitting in your room and completely overcome from a lack of sleep. As I was trying to absorb everything about you — every little noise and every tiny movement — I felt a sudden urge to call Uncle Ryan. He didn’t answer, so I tried a couple more times. Three hours later, your dad was in the shower and I saw his phone ring. I could see it was my mum (your Ganny) calling. As soon as I saw her name pop up, I knew something bad had happened.

At 10:35pm, your dad sat beside me and looked at me. I can’t even write what happened next, as it hurts too much. But an hour and a half after hearing the news, you woke up and needed to be fed. In my head, all I could hear were the very loud words, “HOW THE HELL AM I GOING TO DO THIS?”

Looking back, I actually don’t know how I did it. I couldn’t cry myself to sleep; I couldn’t collapse on the floor and numb myself with sleeping pills. I had to get up, I had to be your mum and feed you. I remember being blurry-eyed and looking down at your little face. You had no idea that your mum was in so much pain. You just looked up at me with sheer innocence and suckled your milk.

Austin, from that moment on, I knew you were a superhero. You arrived at both the best and the worst time in my life. But because of you, I’ve laughed every single day since your uncle passed away. You’ve distracted me in the best way possible, when my heart felt like it was being ripped out of my chest.

Austin, I hope you never understand the feeling of having a baby and losing someone at the same time. But for people reading this letter, you would know the rollercoaster I speak of. It’s indescribable sadness, anger and enormous love and happiness all mixed into the one feeling. And of course, the multitude of hormones that come with just having a baby. I didn’t have time to revel in depths of despair. Everyone grieves differently and there is no right or wrong way to process it. For me, I allowed myself to get engulfed by the love I had for you, because you were the only thing that made me forget what had just happened.

I remember feeling guilty when my mother’s group would be complaining about their kids and how stressful it is. Because for me, looking after you was piss-easy compared to losing my brother.

But Austin, you didn’t just save your mumma. You saved three people: your Mum, your Ganny and your Pa. And that makes you their superhero too!

Pa often tears up while talking about you, but not because he’s a silly, old man. Well, he is a silly, old man; but it’s mainly because you just light up their world! They lost their son and YOU helped them heal.

To you and all other superhero babies, thank you! You saved us and I’ll try to remind of you of that every birthday. Thank you for being our superhero.

Happy birthday Austin Bob

Mumma xx

*Listen to more of Hayley’s story on How Motherhood Changed Me here.

Motherhood has changed me

This beautiful poem written by the incredible Jess Urlichs, is really what kicked things off for us.

You might remember a reel we shared (before we even launched the podcast) of Jenna reading it out to Kerrie… and it went VIRAL!

Our socials were slowly gaining followers but there was something about this poem, and the raw emotion in our video that resonated with you. Quickly our follower count on Instagram grew higher and higher, and we knew we were onto something special… because motherhood changes us all!

Jess hasn’t yet given this poem a title.

She told us that she wrote it quickly on her phone notes, shared it to her Instagram stories one night, and was asked by her followers to put it on her feed.

We think it should be called ‘Motherhood Changed Me’, what do you think?

So to kick off season 2 of our show, we were so honoured to have the chance to chat with Jess about some of the personal stories that inspired her to write. Listen here.

She has so many more relatable and tear jerking poems, check out her website and support this talented mumma!

Becoming a mother changes your friendships

By Jenna Yates, Tracey Murray and Veronica Sams

Kerrie and I met right as she was about to become a mum but our friendship only really developed once she returned to work. We connected in between news bulletins at the radio station we both worked at… turning what was often a stressful and emotionally draining job, into fun. We didn’t really discuss the 1-year-old that Kerrie went home to, and now I’m a mum myself I realise how strange that is. I wish I was a better support.

But truthfully, aside from now having a podcast together about motherhood, our friendship has never really been about being mums. We’ve had a handful of playdates with the kids but we’ve mostly caught up after bedtime over dinner and a glass of bubbles.

Just like Lise & Sarah said in a recent episode we shared, it’s been more about the departure from motherhood for us. Of course, we each have many other kinds of mum friends that make up our village of support, and I think they’re all so needed. Here are a two stories from our listeners highlighting just that…

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Tracey’s story: My best friend, Ash and I have known each other since High School. We are soul mates through and through, with similar interests and personalities… we understand each other on a deep level.

Over the years our friendship has overcome living in separate countries (twice!), navigating mental health problems, a divorce and three children.

When I became a Mother, there was definitely a shift that occurred between us. Ash became an Aunty/fairy godmother and took to this role like a duck to water. My children love her just as much as I do and she loves them like her own. In a way it deepened our friendship and we became more like family.

Naturally, we couldn't hang out as much as we used to and some of our catch ups included small children interrupting our conversations, but we made it work. Initially during our catch ups, Ash would come to my house because it was easier for me this way and I really appreciated her effort doing this. But I recognised that we both needed to make an effort for the friendship, so I ensured we also caught up without the kids around.

Whilst she loves and adores my children, she also deserves to have my full attention. 

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Ve’s story: Navigating friendship in motherhood has been a rollercoaster—full of ups and downs.

I started this wild journey at 16, and let me tell you, I lost a lot of friends back then. But the ones who stuck around? They’re still my besties today.

They became my kids’ “aunties,” even though our lives couldn’t have been more different. They were carefree teens and young adults, while I was, well, figuring out how to keep a tiny human alive.

Finding mom friends was like hunting for a unicorn. I was always the youngest mom in the room, feeling like the odd one out because my life looked nothing like theirs. One mom, who was much older but had her first child as a teen, was a lifesaver.

Our kids were friends, and so were we. She got me—no judgment, just kindness. But when our kids stopped being friends, so did we. It felt so lonely not having mom friends who truly understood.

Having friends who are different from you and still love you is wonderful, but sometimes you need someone who just gets it. Someone who isn’t your husband or mom. Now, at 30, my best friends are having kids, and I’m meeting a lot more moms online who just get it. Having those friends is like a breath of fresh air. It’s so validating and reassuring, making me feel like I’m not a terrible mom whose kids deserve better. These mom friends share my struggles and inner thoughts. Every conversation feels like a hug.

I’ve been yearning for this acceptance and community for 14 years. Motherhood is chaotic, and having a supportive community is so important—but so hard to find. For all the moms out there, finding your tribe might be a challenge, but when you do, it’s like finding a lighthouse in the storm.

Listen to our friendship episode with Lise & Sarah, ‘finding your mum squad’ here.

There’s nothing ‘elective’ about fertility struggles

By Kerrie Turner

Before I was remotely close to being at the ‘having babies’ stage of life, I remember a colleague telling me she was going through IVF and that she thought she was doing the right thing by being open with our workplace… until she was told she would need to use annual leave for any appointments she needed to attend because it was “elective”. It upset her, and it certainly didn’t seem right to me – there’s nothing ‘elective’ about fertility struggles, surely?

Her experience stuck with me, because when – almost 10 years later - I was faced with the need for fertility treatment to help me fall pregnant, I opted to keep quiet and not let my workplace know what I was going through. Where I could, I made my appointments outside of my work hours. But when I needed time off work for my egg collection, I simply said I was having a procedure which required day surgery and I was granted the time off as sick leave. No questions asked. I was back at work the next day, bloated and sore, but getting on with it. So, do workplaces need to be more supportive?

In May 2024, the Queensland Government introduced reproductive health leave. It means public servants in Queensland can access up to 10 days per year, paid reproductive health leave. That leave can be used for each parent to receive fertility/IVF treatment! Amazing!! But why only Queensland? What about the rest of Australia? Come on other states!

Surely, in 2024, it’s time to be as supportive as possible of your employees. I guarantee an employee is going to appreciate an open and honest environment, where a line manager or HR department is supportive and understanding. No judgement. And all the while, knowing their experience is going to be kept confidential. That’s right – no all-staff email to announce that Jane in sales will be away for a couple of days because she’s using some of her reproductive health leave. No one wants to be the subject of water-cooler gossip – and it’s not anyone else’s story to share!

Some people don’t mind who knows, and are open about everything they are going through. Others may choose to keep their fertility struggles a secret, and that is ok. I know all about that – I told basically no one! And explained to my husband why I didn’t want people to know what we were going through. My anxious ways were not going to cope with all the questions!

I chat all about my fertility journey in episode 6 of How Motherhood Changed Me. I hope it helps you feel less alone if you are going through something similar.

I lost my libido when I became a mum

By Amy Gerard

With three very small children, I had the sex drive of a potato. Gone were the days where I would happily jump in the back seat of a car and sit on Rhian’s lap. You couldn’t have paid me money to have sex anywhere that was remotely uncomfortable. Or cold. Or that required me to take off all my clothes. I turned into something of a starfish. I would still put out here and there — and once we were having sex, it always felt good. It was just that the feeling of wanting it had completely disappeared. For four years I put myself last, looking after the needs of my three kids first, and I just didn't have it in me to wax Rhian's sword.

Navigating a sex life with your partner when there are kids involved is tricky. It’s something that takes time and simply can't be rushed.

When you don’t want sex, you need to communicate exactly that. You also need to make space for your partner to communicate what they are missing. If he wanted to go to pound town multiple times a week, then I'd be flipping the bird and asking him to come back with a more reasonable request.

But please know that, just as parenting small kids is a season, so is the roller-coaster ride that is your sex life. There can be so many exhilarating moments, but you can also find yourself suddenly stuck at the top of a hill due to a mechanical issue.

When you've had a tough day parenting small kids, the last thing you want to do is feign interest in a bulging penis staring directly at you.

Sex is such an emotional thing for me. Not only did the physical touching stop for me but the resentment built up, and those free-flowing conversations became a thing of the past. I would have been far more inclined to want to jump Rhian’s bones if he had helped me bring in the washing and then sat down and we’d just had a chat. About anything. I want to talk to my partner and feel like I’m being heard. Based on the qualitative data of many chats with many girlfriends, I’ve concluded that more often than not, men don’t want to simply listen: the only want to offer up solutions to the problems. When I felt like I was drowning in the demands of three babies, I almost hated Rhian. He was working long hours but, in my head, home life with the kids was always much harder. I actually do remember him telling me that going to work felt like a holiday, so my feelings were completely valid. I was more sexually attracted to the Uber Eats delivery driver than I was my husband at one point because I had been harbouring resentment for so long. When he was working long hours and I was three kids deep, intimacy would fall in the ‘just couldn’t be fucked’ basket.

If you're lucky, your libido might have only taken off to New Zealand for a ski season, then returned after a few months. Mine had well and truly started a new life in Mexico, married a hot señorita and started a family, and I had no idea if it was ever going to return.

It took me ages to even want to get back on the horse but I noticed that things started to change when Kobe started preschool. It made total sense. For almost five years I had always been at home with a child — or two, or three — and after five years I finally got two days to myself back. So I used that time to do something for myself. It wasn't 'take a poo solo' (but that also felt good). I started pilates. It was there that I slowly started to feel like myself again. I’m not sure if it was the endorphins the pilates set off, or the fact that I didn’t have someone hanging off me every minute of the day, but all of a sudden I had a slight skip in my step. And slowly but surely I felt my libido packing up its belongings over in Mexico and starting its long journey home. It still took a while — because it’s a libido, and it doesn't know how to read airport signs — but after a few months of lying on my back and exercising (the only form of exercise I like), my libido walked through the front door and back into my life. Not only did I feel so much better but I started being the one initiating sex. Doing something for myself (even just pilates for an hour twice a week) made me feel like I was coming alive again. Hornbag Amy from 2001 probably won't ever resurface but a more mature, sexually charged mum of three had taken her place. My mojo was back.

From that year onwards, there was a ripple effect: the exercise helped release endorphins, my clitoris came back to life, I fell. back in love with self-pleasuring, and it made me want to jump Rhian’s bones all over again. After having three children in close succession, most of my internal organs felt like they had been rearranged. My once favourite position wasn’t so comfortable anymore, so we began practising different positions to work out what felt good now. I was also sent a sex toy in a PR package once - it’s called the ‘Essential Vibe’ but I nicknamed it ‘the pear’ because that’s what it looks like. If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen me mention it a few times. I’m basically their unofficial ambassador and it has absolutely elevated my self-pleasure game… SWEET BABY JESUS.

For those of you who are back where I was seven years ago, I promise you things will change again for the better. But it’s definitely not something that shifts overnight. You will one day start to feel like yourself again, and you'll realise that this too was a season that passed. So ride the roller-coaster (or horsey) that is your libido after children, communicate to your partner if you need time, and say what you want. Listen to your partner's needs and compromise somewhere in the middle. Buy yourself a pear and get reacquainted with your bad self; work out what you and your body like now that things have moved about. Take that new knowledge (and your new toy) into the relationship and spice things up a bit.

* You just read an excerpt from Amy’s hilarious memoir ‘Strap Yourself In’ available here.

Listen to Amy share more about her motherhood journey in episode 5 of How Motherhood Changed Me.

RadioToday shared an article on us!

This week marked a bit of a milestone for our show… we published episode 5 of How Motherhood Changed Me and we’re told most podcasts don’t make it this far.

We totally get that because it’s vulnerable putting your heart and soul into something and what if noone’s listening?

For that reason and because we didn’t want to be discouraged, we've been avoiding all the listener stats. However, on Thursday an email came through from Podstatus and we are #19 in Australia in the Parenting category on Apple Podcasts and #6 in NZ!!!

(We’ve since climbed up to 17!)

Wild!!!

To say we are blown away by this would be an understatement. We’re just two mums building this up from nothing. Our Instagram page continues to grow, and every day we are contacted by new people sharing how much they’re loving what we’re doing - thank you! We are so proud of the community we are building.

Another exciting thing that happened this week is RadioToday sharing an article on us! You can have a read of that HERE.

Feeling grateful, motivated and excited about what’s to come!

‘Back in my day…’

By Jenna Yates & Kerrie Turner

We’re coming to realise that the phrase ‘back in my day’ is somewhat of a rite-of-passage for parents… we rolled our eyes when we heard it as kids but now it’s our turn to use it!

Please enjoy this stroll down memory lane… we have thoroughly enjoyed sharing our blissful pre-social media world with our children, and are quite sure these innocent little faces would not have handled all the added pressures of growing up today with it.

Kerrie here, and when I was 13, it was 1993. I was desperately trying to grow out what I had thought would be a good idea for my very thick, bob cut hair (how wrong I was!)… a spiral perm.

If the cassette player in my room wasn't being used to make mix-tapes, or record my favourite songs off the radio, it was playing my collection of 100% hits albums that I had saved and then spent my pocket money on. I would also save up and buy myself the latest in the Babysitter's Club series.

I caught the bus to school and home again. I remember a boy who lived near my house would get off the bus at the same stop and walk behind me along the footpath, spitting at my back. Vile. But I wasn't brave enough to say anything so would just walk quicker and cross the road to try and get away.

There was only a phone connected to the wall in my house - if I wanted to speak with my friends on weekends or after school, I had to call their homes and usually would find myself speaking to their parents before I would get to talk to them. What was a text message?! Nothing that I had heard of yet!

I don't remember if we had a computer at home, but if we did it would have been a huge box of a thing - and we certainly wouldn't have had connection to the internet. My sister and I were allowed 30 minutes a day to play 'Frogger' or 'Granny's Garden'.

My TV viewing was a mix of watching the lives of those who called Wandin Valley, Summer Bay or Erinsborough home. It was a simple time. I was very innocent and naive to the world. 

Jenna here now, and I’ve got to say… there was slightly more tech in my house when I became a teenager, ten years later! After school, me and my siblings would fight over the shared family computer that sat just off our living room, to play the SIMS. I’m pretty sure we had Wifi, but the only use I had for it was researching for class assignments.

A friend eventually set me up with a Hotmail account… the email is forever seared in my memory - jenna_c72@… - she was horses_rule something. We would sometimes chat on MSN messenger but I remember it being ‘cooler’ to be offline as that meant you had better things you were doing.

13-year-old Jenna also had a mobile phone… my mum’s old Nokia 3310. I powered it up with a $30 prepaid Vodaphone SIM that often was ‘out of credit’ meaning I’d have to call from the home phone. I had no problem with that but my parents usually cut me off at a certain point. 

Both mum and dad worked full time and we lived in a semi-rural area, so after-school hang outs weren’t really a thing for us. Truthfully though, I was more than happy to be home with my sisters and brother where I was free to be myself. I didn’t know it at the time but I was incredibly anxious and insecure. My face would turn beetroot red at the drop of the hat (even sometimes just because I was worried about it happening.) I know the other kids laughed about it - thank God there was no camera phones. 

I’m not sure if this is normal but I still sometimes think of something that happened during High School and cringe. That awkward, self-conscious girl would not have been able to handle the constant pressure of being ‘on.’

We had such an eye-opening chat with Yasmin London in episode four of How Motherhood Changed Me. It’s given us much to think about as our kids approach ages where social media and smartphones will come into play.

The 36 months campaign is a great initiative we are wholeheartedly behind. If you’re yet to sign the petition to help raise the legal age of social media citizenship in Australia from 13 to 16, you can do so here. 

It takes a village to make it work

By Jenna Yates

How does she do it?

Is a question we all ask ourselves sometimes when looking at another mum and how she seemingly has it all put together! It’s so easy to fall into the comparison trap.

That’s why we found Teresa Palmer so refreshingly real in episode three of How Motherhood Changed Me… with everything she has on the go, of course she drops the ball from time to time too!

When you become a mum, it’s never as easy as just going off to work for the day. You have to juggle childcare or school drop offs, lunchboxes, sickness, and so much more.

We decided to fire off some questions at Dani Cuff, CEO of Harrison McMillan – to get an insight into how she balances her high-level executive career and being a mum of two girls.

How has motherhood changed you career-wise?

Before becoming a mother, I was always ambitious and driven, with a strong focus on achieving my professional goals. That drive hasn’t changed, but my perspective has shifted. Motherhood has taught me the importance of empathy and understanding, not just in my personal life but also in my professional interactions.

I’ve become more people-focused and less solely driven by goals and targets and outcomes. Leading with empathy has allowed me to build stronger, more cohesive teams. I’ve learned to appreciate the diverse needs and circumstances of my colleagues, which has made me a more compassionate and effective leader.

Balancing work and family life requires a high level of organisation and efficiency. I’ve learnt to say no to things as you really cant do it all, so I would say my boundaries are now tighter.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Ha! Mostly a bit chaotic. My kids often climb into our bed, so my day can start early with two kids thrashing around. Twice a week, I go to Pilates at 6:30 AM, but mostly mornings are about my husband and I sharing the “getting ready” for school/childcare routine which can involve plenty of meltdowns. After drop-offs, I head to the office, where I have 4-6 meetings a day and work on supporting the teams. On a good day, I might enjoy a nice client lunch. Then it’s pick-ups, dinner, bath, and bed. I end the day with either some night-time admin work, watching trash TV or talking with my husband. If I get time I might actually respond to personal texts or messages but only on a good day.

Tell us about the village of support you lean on to be able to achieve all that you do at work?

I am incredibly fortunate to have an amazing village of support that enables me to achieve so much at work. My parents and my husband’s family play a significant role, helping out with childcare and various other tasks. I also have an exceptional EA/nanny who helps with the girls for about 10 hours a week and supports me with Administration at the office, plus we have a cleaner/housekeeper who helps keep the house running smoothly.

My friends are a tremendous source of support, and we have wonderful neighbours with whom we share school pick-ups and drop-offs. Our friends lend a hand during school holidays, where we all take the kids together for one or 2 days each, and we receive support from my sisters.

Having such a robust support system means that I can focus on my work knowing that my children and home are well taken care of. It’s a true team effort, and I am incredibly grateful for each person who contributes to our family’s well-being.

It sounds like it’s important for you to show your girls they can have a career and a family?!

Absolutely, it’s extremely important that I demonstrate to my daughters that they can successfully balance a career and a family. In today’s world, it’s likely they will be part of dual-income households, so it’s crucial they see firsthand how this balance can be achieved. I want to role model a life where both career ambitions and family responsibilities are shared equally between partners. It’s about showing them that with the right support system and mindset, they can pursue their professional goals without compromising on their personal aspirations. This includes demonstrating a 50/50 partnership with my husband, where responsibilities are shared and both parents contribute equally at home and at work.

You have a lot of mums working for you, what are some of the qualities you’ve noticed in mums?

I’ve noticed they are incredibly productive and efficient, often managing their time exceptionally well. They demonstrate remarkable resilience, balancing multiple responsibilities and handling challenges with grace. Their sense of humour and ability to stay positive in the face of adversity is inspiring. They also have love, empathy, and compassion, which fosters a supportive and nurturing work environment. These qualities make them invaluable members of the team, contributing not just to the success of our projects, but also to the overall workplace culture. We definitely have a village at work too.

Do you have any advice for mums struggling with balancing work and family?

Balancing work and family can be incredibly challenging, and it honestly takes a village to make it work. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family, friends, or even professional services. Most importantly, try to pursue a career that you truly love. As Simon Sinek said, “Working hard for something we do not care about is called stress; working hard for something we love is called passion.” When you are passionate about your family and your work, it can make the balancing act a bit easier and more fulfilling.

It’s normal to struggle, and seeking support is a strength, not a weakness. Prioritise what matters most to you and find joy in both your professional and personal life. No is a complete sentence and remember to not say yes to things if it means saying no to yourself and/ or your family.

Meeting my surrogate was like finding ‘the one.’

By Sarah Wright & Jenna Yates

I never understood when people would say “I don’t remember life before having kids…” until I became a parent myself. Maybe that’s because I always wanted to be a mother. 

When I was asked as a 5-year-old schoolgirl what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer was always “married with a baby.” Little did I know it would be the most hard and painful process I’ve ever experienced… and no, I’m not describing childbirth because I did not actually give birth to my daughter, Evie. Our surrogate Danni did.

My husband Ben and I met Danni, 7 years after I was diagnosed with cervical cancer and lost the chance to ever carry a baby. Meeting her was like finding “the one”.

Danni, her husband Troy, and their 3 kids are family now. Evie is only 3, so she wouldn’t be able to understand it just yet but she knows they are special. We celebrate all the big and little milestones of her life together, and we still use the group chat we set up at the start of our surrogacy journey. 

I was waiting for so long to welcome my baby… and I’m so grateful to say Evie has expanded and completed our family in more ways than we could ever have imagined.

*** Hear Sarah’s full surrogacy story in episode two of How Motherhood Changed Me: ‘I went through menopause before I became a mum.’

Let’s redefine what it means to ‘become a Mum.’

By Kerrie Turner

I’ve been a Mum for 8.5 years, and it’s only now I understand that the changes that come with navigating this incredible job, are completely natural. I was in fact not alone in feeling how I felt and thinking what I thought. You see, I recently discovered a word that has changed everything. That word is matrescence.

In the very first episode of our podcast, How Motherhood Changed Me, we had a fantastic chat with journalist, author and matrescence advocate, Amy Taylor-Kabbaz. Amy spoke to us about everything, from the ridiculous expectation that we should simply “know what we’re doing” when we first have a baby, to the idea of matricentric feminism.

We all accept adolescence is a huge time of transition and change for young people – yet the physical, emotional and psychological transition into motherhood has been largely neglected for far too long.

Now we have a word that encompasses that transition and transformation. It validates the complexities that come with becoming a mother, and it acknowledges the journey is so much more than simply the birth of a baby – it’s also the birth of a mother.

Reflecting on my own journey, I can’t believe how much this one word – matrescence – resonates with my experience. The early days and weeks of motherhood were a whirlwind of sleepless nights, constant feeds and the most overwhelming sense of responsibility, yet I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, or whether what I was doing was right! I often felt like I was losing myself, that asking for help might be seen as a sign of failure. I didn’t know who I was outside of my new role as a mother. Yet wanted it to appear as though I had everything together. How ridiculous, Kerrie!

Discovering the word matrescence has given me the validation that the struggles and changes I faced, were not isolated to only me – but rather, they were a completely natural part of the transition into motherhood.

I am so grateful for the insights Amy shared with us, and while we joked about being “Amy’s Angels” and helping spread the word ‘matrescence’ far and wide, I genuinely do want to see attitudes change.

I have an 8.5 year old daughter. If she chooses to become a mother one day, I don’t want her to feel as alone as I did. It’s time for society to change how it views this enormous transition in a woman’s life. It’s not just about me, or my girlfriends.. it’s about paving the way for future generations.

I want my daughter to live in a world that honours and supports the transformation to motherhood. I want her to feel seen, heard and valued should she one day find herself navigating the changes of matrescence.

All of this, has been inspired by the powerful and honest conversation we had in our very first episode.

If you haven’t already, please listen to Episode One of ‘How Motherhood Changed Me’, share your own experiences and together let’s redefine what it means to become a Mum.

We’re all changed now we’re mums

No woman can say motherhood hasn’t changed her… but every mother’s story is different. 

Hi! We are Kerrie Turner and Jenna Yates - two mumma’s who hatched up this idea to do a podcast together one night over a glass of bubbles. Funnily enough, it was actually maternity leave that brought us together! We met in a radio newsroom in 2015 with Jenna covering Kerrie as she took time off to become a mum. In the years that followed we were lucky enough to work together; singing Shakira in between news bulletins and forging a friendship to withstand another 4 kids!

We’re here to unpack it all, with the hope you might see a bit of yourself and feel less alone. Think of us as a mother’s group in your ears… some beautiful storytelling, a bit of learning, and a whole lot of laughter. 

We’ll chat with some inspiring people, share about our own journey from maiden to mother, and give you a platform to do the same because… we’re all changed now we are mums.

This is How Motherhood Changed Me…