62. The motherhood I imagined vs the one I’m living

Before becoming a mum, you might imagine how you want motherhood to feel. But what happens when the life you’re actually living looks completely different?

A year after sharing that I wanted my motherhood to feel fun and easeful, I return to those words and ask whether they still fit. In that year, my son moved further into toddlerhood, I returned to employed work and my ten-year relationship ended. Inevitably, my experience of motherhood changed too.

In this personal update, I talk about:

• why we can only imagine the future using what we already know

• choosing the path of least resistance with a fiercely independent toddler

• integrating my son into my life rather than putting everything else on hold

• why creating fun can be difficult when work and household tasks fill the day

• how relationship turmoil affected the way motherhood felt

• what nervous-system regulation has taught me about my capacity as a mum

• why stability has now joined fun and ease as something I want for us

This episode isn’t about achieving a perfect vision of motherhood. It’s about pausing long enough to notice what has changed, what feels heavier or easier than expected, and whether the version of motherhood you once imagined still reflects what you need now.

What did you want your motherhood to feel like, and does that still feel right for the life you’re living today?

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