If you’ve ever looked around your home and thought “I can’t sit down until this is done,” this episode is for you.

We dive deep into the real reason mums don’t rest. It’s not because we don’t know we need it. It’s because of the pressure we carry. The beliefs we have about what it means to be a good mum. The guilt tied to mess, to laundry, to takeaway dinners, to sending your kids to school in a crumpled uniform.

I share the mental spiral that turns crumbs on the floor into feeling like you’re failing your kids… and why so much of that pressure is coming from expectations placed on women and mothers.

We also talk about the truth no one wants to admit

You will never be on top of everything

There is always a trade off

And chasing “having it all together” is what is actually burning you out

This episode is your permission slip to stop trying to keep up and start choosing what actually matters.

We talk about

Why “sleep when the baby sleeps” feels so triggering

Why resting can actually feel harder than pushing through

How dropping the ball on purpose is the only way to take control

And the powerful shift that happens when you start prioritising yourself without waiting for everything else to be done

Most importantly, we break down how self care and rest don’t just benefit you… they literally change your capacity to handle the chaos of mum life.

Because the mess doesn’t disappear

But the way it feels does

If you’ve been running on empty, feeling overstimulated, touched out, and constantly behind… this conversation will hit home.

This is real mum life

This is the mental load

This is your reminder that you deserve rest not because it makes you more useful… but because you are a human who deserves a calm nervous system and a good life

Come in, grab a drink, and let’s talk about it

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We talk about what makes a “good mum,” what kids actually notice (and what they don’t), and whether all the things we stress about as mums even matter to them. Spoiler: they don’t.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for needing a break, for dropping the ball, for not being everything all at once… this episode will hit you. Because hearing it from your child? It changes everything.

This is your reminder that the pressure we put on ourselves is often louder than the reality our kids are living in.

Real mum life. No filters. No perfection.

In this episode:

– What a 6-year-old thinks a “good mum” is

– Do kids notice when we drop the ball?

– Why mum guilt might not be real to them

– The moments that actually matter to kids

– Letting go of unrealistic expectations

If you’re a mum trying to do it all, this conversation will help you breathe a little easier.

Subscribe for more real conversations about motherhood, self care, identity, and learning to put yourself back on your own list.

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What does a 6-year-old think makes a good mum

In this episode of The Pooch Podcast, I sit down with my daughter for the sweetest, most wholesome chat about motherhood straight from a child’s perspective. And honestly it is not what you think.

We talk about the little things that matter most to kids, the unexpected answers she gives, and the simple moments that define good mum life in her world. Spoiler it is not the clean house, the routines, or doing everything perfectly.

This is a light hearted, feel good episode filled with funny, honest and heart melting moments that will make you laugh, reflect and probably rethink the pressure you put on yourself as a mum.

If you have been stuck in mum guilt, overthinking whether you are doing enough, or trying to be the perfect mum this episode is your reminder that your kids see you very differently.

And maybe you are already exactly what they need.

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This episode is a real and honest conversation about what it feels like to raise a boy in a time where the internet is shaping what masculinity looks like. There is a whole corner of the internet telling boys what makes them valuable, how women work, what they are owed, and how to be a man. And the scary part is… it is working.

I talk about the messages boys are being fed about men versus women, high value men, dominance, rejection, and entitlement. Not from a place of blaming boys, but from a place of understanding what they are being exposed to every single day.

As a mum, this hits differently. Because I cannot control what my son will see. But I can control what feels true to him.

In this episode I share what I am consciously doing to raise a son who does not need the manosphere to tell him who he is. A boy who understands his worth, respects women as people, can handle rejection, and does not feel like he has to prove himself through dominance or control.

This is not about raising perfect boys.

This is about raising boys who can think for themselves.

If you are raising a son, or even just thinking about the kind of men this generation is becoming, this conversation matters.

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Today we’re talking about how the patriarchy sets mums up to fail, from the invisible mental load to impossible expectations and the constant pressure to be everything to everyone. Because the truth is, it’s not that mums aren’t coping, it’s that the system was never built to support us in the first place.

In this honest and relatable chat, I unpack why modern motherhood feels so overwhelming, the pressure to be a “perfect mum” while also working and managing a home, the mental load mums carry every single day, and why mum guilt is so common and not actually your fault. We also dive into how society benefits from unpaid motherhood labour and why so many mums feel like they’re falling short.

If you’ve ever thought “why is this so hard?” or “why can’t I keep up?” you are not alone, and more importantly, you are not the problem.

This is a real and unfiltered conversation about motherhood, identity, pressure, and the expectations placed on women today.

Whether you're a stay at home mum, a working mum, or somewhere in between, this episode will make you feel seen.

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Its easy, we are not here for elaborate. We are here for a good glass of wine, some easy food, all hands in.

Ill hold the baby while you dress the salad. Ill chop up toddler snacks while you order the pizza.

This is our time. Let's talk, let's cry, let's change it all.

On this episode we talk about why we grieve our pre-baby selves and how creativity can help us find out selves again.

Becoming a mum changes everything but what happens when you start feeling like you’ve lost yourself in motherhood?

In this episode of The Pooch Podcast I’m talking honestly about something many mums feel but rarely say out loud. The quiet grief of your pre baby life and the identity shift that comes with becoming a mother.

So many women say “I lost myself after having kids.”

But is that really what happens?

In this conversation we unpack the deeper truth behind the motherhood identity crisis. Why so many mums feel disconnected from who they used to be, why we grieve parts of our old life and how we can start finding ourselves again after kids.

Because maybe we didn’t actually lose ourselves.

Maybe we just lost the space to keep becoming who we were becoming.

In this episode we talk about

Why mums often feel like they’ve lost their identity after kids

The parts of our pre baby life we secretly grieve

Why motherhood can make you feel unfamiliar to yourself

The identity shift no one prepares you for

What actually makes us feel like ourselves again

Why creativity, autonomy and expression matter so much for mums

How to start rebuilding your sense of self after children

If you’ve ever thought

“I love being a mum but I miss who I used to be”

This episode is for you.

Motherhood changes us but it doesn’t mean the woman you were before is gone. She might just be evolving into something new.

New episodes of The Pooch Podcast every week.

If this conversation resonated with you don’t forget to subscribe, like and share with another mum who might need to hear this.

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In this episode, I explore the tension between believing in the importance of the village and struggling to feel at home in traditional mothers groups and mums and bubs classes.

We unpack

Identity loss and identity shifts in early motherhood

Postpartum loneliness and modern mum life

Why proximity does not always create real connection

How nervous system safety impacts social experiences

The difference between structured support and organic community

Creating a village that supports the whole woman, not just the mother

For many women, mothers groups are essential and deeply supportive. For others, they can feel overwhelming, performative, or limiting. Both experiences are valid.

If you are navigating postpartum, craving deeper mum friendships, questioning where you belong, or redefining what support looks like in modern motherhood, this episode is for you.

You are allowed to want meaningful connection.

You are allowed to protect your identity.

You are allowed to build a village that reflects who you truly are.

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In this episode, I unpack the viral idea that encouraging mums to practice self care is just a bandaid solution to motherhood in the patriarchy. I explore why burnout is not a personal failure, why so many women feel they lose their identity after becoming mothers, and how societal conditioning keeps mums stuck at the very bottom of their own hierarchy of needs.

I share my honest thoughts on:

– Why self care can feel like just another expectation

– How productivity culture has hijacked the concept of self love

– Why asking permission to meet your needs keeps you in survival mode

– The power of stopping asking

– The importance of intentionally dropping the ball

– Why mums must come first in their own households

This is not about bubble baths.

This is about autonomy.

This is about reclaiming your nervous system, your identity, and your worth.

If you have ever felt burnt out, invisible, resentful, or like you are shrinking inside motherhood, this episode is for you.

You deserve to be number one. Not in a cute way. In a fundamental, biological, human needs way.

Let the laundry sit.

Go fill your cup.

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In this deeply personal episode, I share the fears I have around growing our family and why the decision feels heavier than I expected. From postpartum body image struggles and identity loss to mental health concerns, sleep deprivation, and the emotional toll of motherhood, I unpack what is really sitting underneath the surface.

Three years after my last baby, I am still navigating the changes motherhood brought to my body, my mind, and my sense of self. The thought of going back to newborn life brings up fear, guilt, grief, and confusion. I know I am not the only mum who feels this tension between wanting another baby and wanting to protect the version of herself she has fought hard to rebuild.

If you are wrestling with the decision to have another child, feeling overwhelmed by mum life, or questioning how much more you can give without losing yourself again, this episode will remind you that your fears are valid and you are not alone.

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For many women, becoming a mother brings an unexpected loss of self after baby. You might find yourself asking, who am I after becoming a mum? or wondering why you feel disconnected, invisible, or lost in this season. This episode explores why new mum identity shifts so dramatically, and why losing yourself after having a baby is not a personal failure, but a normal part of matrescence.

We talk about how identity change after becoming a mother is closely linked to the loss of time, autonomy, and social connection. When women feel invisible as a mum, experience loneliness in motherhood, or struggle with the mental load and invisible labour of mothers, their sense of self can quietly erode. This is why so many women describe motherhood and sense of self as one of the hardest postpartum emotional changes.

In this conversation, we unpack:

• Why new mums feel lost
• Why motherhood can trigger an identity crisis
• How postpartum emotional changes affect confidence and self worth
• The connection between motherhood mental health, burnout, and identity
• Why becoming a mum creates an identity shift, not a failure
• How to begin reclaiming identity after baby without guilt

If you’re an overwhelmed new mum, feeling lonely in motherhood, navigating motherhood burnout, or trying to understand why you no longer recognise yourself, this episode is for you. This is an honest motherhood conversation about becoming a mum without losing yourself, and about finding yourself in motherhood again in a way that feels realistic and compassionate.

This episode is especially for women searching for support around postpartum identity loss, motherhood mental health, and the emotional reality of early motherhood. It’s part of a broader conversation about real mum life, honest motherhood, and creating space for women to feel seen during one of the biggest identity shifts of their lives.

Topics include identity loss in motherhood, postpartum identity loss, motherhood identity crisis, new mum identity, matrescence, loss of self after baby, motherhood burnout, invisible labour of mothers, mental load of motherhood, motherhood and sense of self, reclaiming identity after baby, finding yourself in motherhood, and navigating motherhood without losing yourself.

You are not broken.

You are becoming.

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I share why postpartum support should focus less on advice and more on practical help, emotional safety, and being truly seen. From feeding the mum and protecting her rest, to believing her experience and easing her mental load, this episode is for partners, friends, family members, and anyone who wants to show up better during the fourth trimester.

This episode is also a reminder that postpartum recovery does not end at six weeks. It is a season of becoming physically, emotionally, and in identity. How a woman is supported during this time can shape her wellbeing for years to come. If you are a new mum feeling unseen, or someone wanting to support a postpartum woman without getting it wrong, this episode is for you.

In this episode I cover:

• What postpartum women really need from friends and family
• Why “let me know if you need anything” often is not helpful
• How to support a new mum without giving unsolicited advice
• The importance of practical help during the fourth trimester
• Why postpartum recovery is longer than six weeks
• How partners, family, and friends can reduce the mental load
• Supporting maternal mental health with care instead of comparison

Who this episode is for?

• New mums in the postpartum period
• Partners supporting a postpartum woman
• Friends and family visiting after birth
• Anyone wanting to understand the fourth trimester
• People building a supportive village around new mothers

postpartum support, fourth trimester, postpartum recovery, supporting new mums, postpartum mental health, life after birth, new mum support, motherhood podcast, real motherhood, maternal wellbeing, postpartum care, village support, motherhood without filters

If this episode resonated, please share it with someone who is supporting a postpartum woman. And if you are in this season yourself, you are not weak, behind, or failing. You are becoming.

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I unpack the emotional impact of constantly comparing our real, messy motherhood to curated highlight reels, and why scrolling perfect homes, happy families, and “doing-it-all” mums can quietly lead to mum guilt, comparison, burnout, and self-doubt. This episode breaks down the truth behind social media perfection and reminds you that what you see online is never the full story.

Most importantly, this conversation offers practical mindset shifts to help mums protect their mental health while using social media, including learning to treat highlight reels as inspiration, not instruction, and letting go of the pressure to live up to unrealistic standards of motherhood.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re failing as a mum because your life doesn’t look good on Instagram, this episode is your reminder that real motherhood isn’t aesthetic. It’s honest, imperfect, and deeply valuable.

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In this episode, we go beyond the overused self-care clichés and unpack the deeper truth: women are conditioned to self-abandon in the name of harmony, care, and love. Long before motherhood, many women are taught to absorb emotional labour, smooth things over, and prioritise everyone else, often at the cost of their own intuition, autonomy, and identity.

We explore:

Why women are socialised to be the emotional shock absorbers

How chronic depletion disconnects women from their intuition

Why exhaustion quietly limits choice and keeps women stuck

What it actually means to put your life vest on first, without guilt

This conversation isn’t about bubble baths or productivity.

It’s about self-trust, agency, and refusing to disappear.

If you’ve ever felt burned out, lost, resentful, or unsure of what you even want anymore — this episode will put language to something you’ve felt but maybe couldn’t explain.

✨ Putting your life vest on first isn’t selfish. It’s how women stay connected to themselves.

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Mums are judged for parenting choices, do I breastfeed? Do I formula feed? Do I go back to work as soon as I have a baby? Can I afford time off work to spend with my baby? Do we do carrier naps? Are dummies ok? All the this we have to consider with great difficulty.

Mums are judged for thier lifestyle choices? Career? SAHM? Spend too much? spend too little? Dress nice? How can I dress nice as a mum? How can I take some time for myself as a mum? What is the home like? how to the children behave? What school are they going to? how many extra curricular activities is enough? how many is too many ..... GASP

There are more people in this world who will always have something to say!!! they just dont know how to stay in thier lane!

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A village isn’t just extra hands or babysitters. It’s a way of living and raising children that centres shared responsibility, collective wisdom, emotional support, and belonging.

Today, mums are often expected to do it all: recover physically, regulate emotionally, parent intentionally, contribute financially, and somehow still feel grateful... largely on their own. This isolation isn’t a personal failure; it’s a structural one.

This episode dives into:

• Why village-style wisdom exists (and why it’s often missing now)
• How knowledge used to be shared through lived experience, not perfection
• Why collective support benefits everyone, not just mums

Most importantly, we talk about how we can rebuild elements of the village in modern life by intentionally creating connection, shared care, and honest conversation now.

Because mums don’t need to be stronger.

This episode is a reminder that motherhood was never meant to be done alone...and that craving a village doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re human.

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I talk about the damage of highlight-reel culture, especially in postpartum. Seeing influencers bounce back with abs at six weeks made me believe I should be able to do the same, without understanding the reality of having a baby in my arms 24/7, a mind in turmoil, a house in chaos, and zero capacity for self-care.

So is relatable mum content the answer? Or are we creating new and lower standards for women?

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Why do we feel the need to compare? Why do we want to show who is struggling more? is it to show who really has it harder? Or is it to satisfy our own need for validation. Was it really that hard for us? Or were we the ones who just couldn't cope as well as others?

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Inspired by becoming a “cunty” (cousin-aunty) to twin nephews and by watching my cousin step into motherhood with such strength I thought I would ask the big question: How did you know you wanted to have a baby?

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We’re constantly surrounded by messages, comparisons and highlight reels showing what “perfect motherhood” looks like. But who actually decides what perfect means?

In this episode, I unpack where our ideas of the “perfect mum” come from... our own upbringings, social media, and the invisible standards we hold ourselves to. I’ll share why those expectations are often impossible (and unfair), and how to redefine what perfect truly means for you.

By the end of this episode, you’ll see that being the perfect mum isn’t about doing everything right, it’s about doing the best you can with what you have. And that, by definition, is perfect.

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We’ll talk about what the fourth trimester really is, why your recovery matters just as much as your baby’s, and why it’s completely normal to feel emotions you never expected. You’ll also hear how, in these early months, you’re learning just as much as your baby is, because motherhood is a journey of growth for both of you.

This isn’t about perfect houses, bouncing back, or highlight reels of unreachable standards. This is about giving you a real sense of mum life — raw, messy, beautiful, and human. 

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I’d love to hear your take too! Slide into my DMs on Instagram at @thepoochpodcast and let’s make this a conversation.

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On this episode I talk about the reasons mums find it sooooo much easier to get things done alone BUT why this is a long term problem.

What can we do about it?? welllll I try to offer a solution but let's see if you find it helpful. This is a podcast about not feeling alone and understanding that what you are going through as a mum or a new mum.. is very normal. I am certainly no expert in relationships or parenting so any suggestions I give are things that either I have tried myself or that I have searched for an answer for from those who know best!

I hope you find this episode helpful and are being kind to your pooch!

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Join me today while I talk you step by step through how to be on top of it all, at all times.. hint.. its not possible!

If you have been lead to believe you can have your shit together at all times, I am truly sorry. It is not humanly possible and somehow mums have ended up at the receiving end of this lie!

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Let's talk about where your expectations are and what you are doing with your self care!

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In this episode I mention two books:

1. The subtle art of not giving a F*ck - by Mark Manson
2. Atomic Habits by James Clear

Enjoy x

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*this is not a parenting podcast... I have NFI what I am actually supposed to be doing! I am just doing what I think makes sense.

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Trigger Warning: I do talk about binge eating and food/ body image issues. Please be warned as I am currently working through somethings that I want to share with mums on he same journey as mine but I don't want to cause any distress to anyone listening.

I promise my next episode will be a little more chipper! x

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Very exciting times!

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enjoy!

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if all else fails, let your pooch out! wooohooo

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Also, on this episode my psycho self is telling you to get up earlier!

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Let's talk about how to be kind to yourself and love the skin (albeit stretched...) that you are in!

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