Mums F**king Matter

Markella Kaplani is a Psychologist and Mother who lives in Athens, Greece.

With a Master’s degree in Clinical & Counselling Psychology and over 15 years of experience in psychotherapy and education, Markella has developed a deep understanding of the complexities of human relationships and the systems that shape our lives.

Becoming a mother herself inspired Markella to focus her work on supporting mothers and couples as they navigate the profound transitions of parenthood. Driven by a passion for empowering parents, Markella offers compassionate guidance to help them reconnect with themselves, their partners, their children, and their dreams.

In this episode we speak about:

• Markella's background and training that led her to the work she does today
• psychology and education; in working with children with special educational needs
• how parents can be blamed for so much
• the factors that affect our varying capacity to consume/read
• matrescence, patrescence and how these rites of passage can affect a relationship
• the trouble when fathers feel sidelined and the conflict(s) that can arise
• relationship to the SELF first and foremost
• the unique (and brilliant!) way Markella works with couples to help everyone in the family
• the huge (and sometimes uncomfortable) spiritual growth that can come from motherhood

Themes: psychology, parenting, relationships, matrescence, patrescence, neurodivergence, trauma, healing

At the end, I share some words from Khalil Gibran, from his book 'Sand and Foam'.

You can find out more about Markella here on her website and/or find Markella on Instagram.

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I would really appreciate it if you could please leave a review on the platform that you listen.

For more insights and to contact me you can find me on Instagram, and at www.lucywyldecoaching.com.

To continue a little more on last week's episode with psychologist Suzy Reading, the theme of ADVOCACY came up. And because advocacy is such a hugely important topic I wanted to do a solo episode on it.

In this episode, I speak on:

• being an advocate for things and people that matter to you
• navigating conflict in relationships
• being open to receiving more
• over-apologising and rushing
• why knowing ourselves makes a difference
• listening to the body
• connecting to yourself/others via music

Themes: advocacy, nervous system, yoga, interoception, music

At the end, I share a poem written by Liezel Graham.

I mention Suzy Reading, Kate Northrup, Glennon Doyle, Brené Brown and Episode #14 of my podcast 'The Magic of Music'.

For more insights, you can follow me on Instagram, and don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter at www.lucywyldecoaching.com.

After following Suzy's brilliant work for years, it was great to chat and record this episode. In fact, when I thought I had to give up my coaching business late last year Suzy kindly encouraged me to keep going which warmed my heart so...

Suzy is a mother of two, an author, Chartered Psychologist and Coach. She specialises in self-advocacy, helping people manage their stress, emotions, and energetic bank balance. It was her life experience of motherhood colliding with the terminal illness of her father that sparked her passion for self-care which she now teaches to her clients, young and old, to cope during periods of stress, loss and change and to boost their resilience in the face of future challenges.

In this episode we speak about:

• Suzy's work and why it makes a difference to truly look after ourselves
• experiencing matrescence and grief simultaneously
• giving ourselves permission to receive and being an ADVOCATE for ourselves
• how children (just like we do) need to feel heard
• Suzy's energetic bankruptcy and her beautiful recovery from that
• stress response(s) and the power of the breath
• grief and loss
• postnatal healing, matrescence and wishing we knew the word sooner
• not feeling at home in our body and being told we 'should' be grateful(!)
• the need to share our lived experience and not 'muzzle' ourselves

Themes: self-care, self-advocacy, parenting, grief, matrescence

At the end, I share a poem written by Rumi.

You can find out more about Suzy here.

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I would really appreciate it if you could please leave a review on the platform that you listen.

For more insights and to contact me you can find me on Instagram, and at www.lucywyldecoaching.com.

For the first time I talk very openly (as always!) about life as a solo Mum and let me begin my sharing this quote which sums up a little of what I share in this episode:

"Be grateful for what you have AND demand what you deserve." Abby Wambach

I'm surprised I've not talked about this topic on my own (as opposed to with guests) before now but it felt good to speak on this topic as so many parents can feel alone — whether they are in a relationship or not — and it's high time I spoke about the reality that many people like myself experience.

In this episode I wish to share my solidarity for solo parents. Of course, no two families are the same but I wanted my fellow solo parents to feel seen and heard and to share my personal experiences of the downs and the ups.

In this episode, I speak on:

• society's view on solo/single parents and having grace for ourselves
• the need for a true village to raise families
• the feeling of being on my own with certain things and decisions
• my grief over not having another baby
• making time for ourselves, on our own
• empty nest 'syndrome' and potential ways to prevent or reduce it
• navigating life with our child(ren) and the transitions we have, in all their beauty and messiness
• alloparenting
• the power in validating our own experiences

Themes: parenting, solo parenting, matrescence, perimenopause, the sociology of motherhood

At the end, I share a poem written by Hollie McNish.

I mention Rebecca Cox and our conversation from Episode #51, my conversation with Rosanna Jahangard (Episode #70), a quote from Dr Tara Swart, Lucy Jones and her book 'Matrescence', the Barbie movie and a quote from Abby Wambach's book 'Wolfpack'.

For more insights, you can follow me on Instagram, and don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter at www.lucywyldecoaching.com.

Judy Claughton is a dear friend of mine and the founder of her own business, BalanceTime. She teaches mindfulness meditation and also offers Reiki and Shamanic Healing. Based in Theale, Berkshire (UK), Judy is also a proud mum to a 14-year-old son.

Please Note: We recorded this episode in January so Judy speaks a bit about events that have passed, but I felt it valuable to leave the information she shares around these celebrations and rituals.

TRIGGER WARNING: At 49 minutes to 51 minutes 20 seconds Judy speaks about her birth experience which some may find upsetting. I then speak about her share, and give my perspective — for others who had a traumatic birth experience.

At 1h 4m 18s to 1h 07m 15s we speak about miscarriage (also known as early pregnancy loss*).

In this episode we speak about:

• a bit about Judy and her work
• the impact of subtle changes and the 1%
• learning from nature
• Judy's experience and what led her to where she is
• how meditation unlocked something
• using the Celtic wheel
• the art of holding space (and silence)
• healing through shamanic practices, reiki and women's circles
• the weight and responsibility involved in parenting today
• matrescence

Themes: nature's cycles, parenting, dance, burnout, meditation, healing, trauma, matrescence, early pregnancy loss

At the end, I share a poem written by Becky Hemsley.

You can find out more about Judy at balancetime.co.uk or here on Instagram.

We mention Francis Weller, Mark Groves, and Jane Hardwicke-Collings*. Jane Hardwicke-Collings speaks beautifully about women and women being in their power and she speak about swapping miscarriage for early pregnancy loss because the former implies a fault with the mother.

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I would really appreciate it if you could please leave a review on the platform that you listen.

For more insights and to contact me you can find me on Instagram, and at www.lucywyldecoaching.com.

This episode may make you giggle. — But I'm semi-serious about wishing these questions were banned(!). I also suggest some wiser, better phrased and less loaded/triggering options to perhaps ask an expecting couple or new parents.

In this episode, I speak on:

• having healthy boundaries with intrusive characters and questions
• the blame parents can get for a child's behaviour
• how tragic it is that many Mums feel invisible after pregnancy
• the need for a village to raise a child/family
• how deeply inappropriate certain questions (and society's expectations) can be
• speaking up and advocating for yourself

Themes: motherhood, maternal mental health, boundaries, birth trauma

At the end, I share a poem written by me.

For more insights, you can follow me on Instagram, and don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter at www.lucywyldecoaching.com.

Kelley is a Registered Psychologist with over 9 years of experience in both private and corporate sectors. Kelley is based in Victoria, Australia and is also a Mother of two children.

As a certified Mama Rising (Matrescence) Coach, Kelley specialises in guiding women through the antenatal and postnatal phases, offering comprehensive support for the transition into motherhood.

As a mother herself, she deeply understands the emotional complexities of this life stage and provides a nurturing environment for clients to explore their experiences.

TRIGGER WARNING: At 35 minutes to 38 minutes 20 seconds we talk about Kelley's experience with cancer in pregnancy

In this episode we speak about:

• a bit about Kelley, her family and where she lives
• growing up spending time in the great outdoors
• the sociology of motherhood and the systems we face
• the comparisons we can make to the detriment of our self-worth
• a cancer scare and treatment during pregnancy
• being a woman with a life as well as being a Mother (in pregnancy and beyond)
• how different matrescence can be with each child
• mum rage
• listening to our deep and true yearnings
• tuning into the body with menstrual cycle awareness
• realising we're not alone in our feelings on motherhood

Themes: parenting, matrescence, motherhood sociology, nature, cancer during pregnancy, menstual cycle awareness,

At the end, I share a poem written by Liezel Graham.

We mention Zoe Blaskey and her book.

You can find out more about Kelley and her work here at Kokoro Health.

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I would really appreciate it if you could please leave a review on the platform that you listen.

For more insights and to contact me you can find me on Instagram, and at www.lucywyldecoaching.com.

I'm back for another solo episode that I recorded last week. I felt it necessary to openly share a bit more about why I am not giving up my work in coaching and working with women and mothers.

In this episode, I speak on:

• my feelings about social media right now and my plans for the future
• a bit about the grief I experienced when deciding to stop what I do
• matrescence and patrescence
• the process of 'breaking' to then build back up again
• the language of movement
• looking for work as a solo Mum and the very real juggle of it all
• fuelling and not stifling our soul fire
• supporting small businesses in the simplest of ways

Themes: women's health, maternal mental health, matrescence,

At the end, I share some words from Rainer Maria Rilke.

I mention Julia Jones of Newborn Mothers, Alex Lloyd-Hunter of The Dad Shift, Amy Taylor-Kabbaz and her Matrescence teaching, the brilliant work of Beth Berry.

For more insights, you can follow me on Instagram, and don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter at www.lucywyldecoaching.com.

Lisa Bedlow is a beautiful soul and highly experienced educator who is passionate about supporting children and families.

Lisa's career journey began as a live-in nanny in her teens, and over the years her expertise has taken her to many wonderful roles and experiences. In 2014 Lisa founded 'Gabriels Wellbeing and Education', which offers outdoor learning, supports home-educated children, and runs one-to-one programs in schools.

Lisa is also a co-founder of 'Parenting with Passion' which you'll hear more about in the podcast. With a lifelong commitment to learning and growth, Lisa continues to expand her knowledge to better serve others.

Trigger Warnings! At 48 minutes 25 seconds to 49 minutes Lisa speaks briefly about childhood sexual abuse. And at 50 minutes 40 seconds to 53 minutes we speak about birth trauma.

In this episode we speak about:

• a bit about Lisa and her experience as a Mother and Grandmother
• Lisa's process of recovery after birth and what her body was saying
• her training in childcare and a bit about her background
• the evolution of Lisa's work and skills; most recently creating 'Parenting with Passion'
• the deep and complex work of parenting (plus the BS judgement)
• following your instincts as a Mother
• how utterly exhausting the morning before nursery or school can be (and why this stuff needs to be seen and heard!)
• at 44 minutes and 25 seconds I share an amazing quote about parenting from Dr Nicole LePera
• surviving, growing and thriving after abuse and being a cycle breaker
• birth trauma — and the ridiculous 'hierarchy' that still does the rounds in many new Mother circles and causes such upset
• the misconceptions about birth and parenthood we're led to believe
• when your kids 'fly the nest'

Themes: parenting, healing, matrescence, motherhood, neurodiversity, domestic abuse, spirituality, intergenerational healing, birth trauma

At the end, I share a poem written by Kahlil Gibran.

We mention Dr Gabor Maté, Dr Nicole LePera and my episode on birth trauma which is Episode #2.

You can find out more about Lisa and her work with Parenting with Passion here.

Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I would really appreciate it if you could please leave a review on the platform that you listen.

For more insights and to contact me you can find me on Instagram, and at www.lucywyldecoaching.com.

This is a rerelease of one my favourite episodes of the podcast, from November 2023!

(Some of my early episodes are so juicy, with such passionate and important shares I feel it is important to rerelease for new listeners or those who didn't get to listen first time around. — The powerful poem at the end by Liezel Graham is worth a listen again on it's own!)

***

Mothers returning to exercise — whether it's weeks, months, or years after childbirth — often lack the right support and education that they truly deserve.

We need to recognise that issues like incontinence and chronic back pain are not things to simply endure.

Your body requires a unique approach, along with increased reverence and respect post-pregnancy and birth.

This applies not only to biological mothers but also to those who have adopted; considering factors like sleep deprivation and the physical demands of parenting.

In this episode, I discuss:

• the importance of selecting a specialist or someone experienced in postnatal fitness and motherhood
• how your preferences matter — your feelings are valid!
• why excessive pressure isn't always beneficial
• the right balance between pushing yourself and knowing when to go gently
• the subtle yet significant aspects that contribute to growth and progress
• hints on training methods that won't exhaust you or make exercise feel like a chore
• recognising the signs of a healthy coaching relationship and understanding the prevalence of gaslighting and judgment
• how the language, manner, and energy of a coach can make a significant difference
• the importance of being challenged in a safe way, both for the body and the nervous system
• taking relaxin into account with postnatal exercises
• and it's okay to say "f**k the 'shoulds' "

Themes: women's health, postnatal fitness, maternal mental health, boundaries

At the end, I share a poem by Liezel Graham.

For more insights, you can follow me on Instagram, and don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter at www.lucywyldecoaching.com.