Welcome to this week’s Motherhood Chats Unfiltered blog post! As a Wisconsin native myself, I was super excited for the chance to interview two Wisconsin moms who created the HERself Podcast. They empower and uplift women through their podcast and community, and the values of MammaEase align completely with their mission. Let's dive in with Amy and Abby!
Tell us a little bit about yourself. What inspired you to start your podcast?
We are two Wisconsin moms who love listening to podcasts. It's the perfect way to have a busy lifestyle myself, with listening while out for a walk, doing housework, or commuting. However, there was something missing in the podcast world - real, honest answers from everyday people and experts. A place to have conversations about the biggest struggles but also a place to celebrate the wins. We knew we could create a community that could do all of this while meeting our listeners exactly where they were!
Tell us about your own motherhood journey. What is one thing you wish you knew before becoming a mom?
We both have 3 young children. In the early years with one child, life revolved around them. Friendships were put on the backburner, time for us wasn't a top priority, we had a "I can do it all" mentality, and we'd run back home any chance we could. It wasn't until each of our second kids came around that we realized this pace of life was unmanageable! Also, allowing support from others and taking time away was good for everyone.
What advice do you have for moms who are experiencing 'mom guilt'?
Mom guilt can feel debilitating, but knowing who you are outside of the "mother" title will help you hold on to yourself while raising a child. Ask yourself - “would you want your child to sacrifice everything life is offering to spend an extra few hours with their children every day? Would you want your child to forget about their marriage/partnership because it feels like one more demand? Would you want your child to miss out on understanding themselves on a cellular level because they were too focused on raising their own kids?”
Chances are, the answer is no. Our kids learn from us. Set the example, be the change, and look internally on what YOU need and not what society is telling you to do. Kids feel love in quality, not quantity, so a focused, energized mama who's "on” for 20 minutes is far better than a burned out, resentful mom who's just there for hours and hours.
What societal or cultural messages about motherhood frustrate you and how would you like to see them changed?
For those in a heterosexual relationship, your male partner can do almost everything that you can do. There is no reason that women should be the leaders of the house work, scheduling, signups, childcare, etc. Give them permission to take the reins and a fair partnership inside the home will change what our future generations see as "normal".
How do you take care of yourself? What advice do you have for other moms regarding self-care?
Self-care is non-negotiable. We both build in breaks throughout the day to take space, move, drink water and re-fuel. Having a life without taking care of yourself is not a life worth living. If you don't have 30 minutes in your day to do this... perfect! Make sure it's 60 minutes then.
You can follow Abby and Amy on Instagram or listen to the HERself Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. They recently hit two million downloads and we are super excited for them! Congratulations ladies!
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