A makeup page that hid “the mum” inside its name, a holiday spent apart, and the quiet sentence that changed everything: “You can always come home.” We sit down with makeup artist and creator of The Makeup Mentor, Tracy Lorie, to unpack how a private person found the courage to speak publicly about prenatal depression, OCD spirals, and the messy, necessary work of co‑parenting with grace.

Tracy walks us through the day‑to‑day realities that don’t make the grid: matching cutlery to soothe panic, crying in the car between bridal bookings, and finally saying yes when a GP asked, “Are you okay?” She shares the practical tools that helped—boxing to reset her nervous system, family backing that made space for healing, and boundaries that kept outsiders’ opinions out of decisions made for Tilly. We trace the legal maze without legalese, the emotions behind letting a child spend Christmas away, and the unexpected trust built with her ex’s partner—complete with photo updates and crafts that made two houses feel like one childhood.

There’s tender honesty here about choosing no more pregnancies after trauma, naming guilt without letting it define you, and remembering that a child’s “fun house” time doesn’t erase a mother’s place. COVID raised the stakes—months apart, nasal swabs, six weeks away—but it also revealed a resilient system: clear communication, child‑first choices, and a willingness to do the hard thing for the right reason. Along the way, we talk small business in a pandemic—73 weddings moved and the grit it takes to keep a creative career alive.

If you’ve ever felt alone packing a bag, unsure whether you’re allowed to start again, Tracy’s story offers both compass and permission. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a review telling us the moment that stayed with you. Your words help more parents find the support they deserve.

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