What happens when your life course is turned upside down? When everything you thought you understood about your present and your future is irrevocably altered?

Joanne Goughan, a resilient working mother of five, shares her journey of unexpected motherhood and the challenges and beauty of raising a child with Down Syndrome in a raw and inspiring conversation about prioritizing what truly matters.

None of us have any guarantees of what the future is going to hold for them or with them. We sign up to become parents, we roll the dice of what life is going to throw at us. - Joanne Goughan

When Joanne Goughan found out she was expecting her fifth child at 41, she never imagined the emotional rollercoaster that was about to unfold. As she welcomed baby Charlie into the world, she was blindsided by the news that her little girl had Down Syndrome. Struggling to come to terms with this new reality, Joanne experienced deep grief and a sense of loss for the life she had anticipated. However, she began to see the incredible strength and love that her daughter brought into their lives, and slowly embraced her new role as a mother to a child with special needs. Joanne's story is a powerful reminder that sometimes life's most challenging moments can lead to our greatest growth and understanding.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• To celebrate your own extraordinary journey and stop comparing yourself to others
• What it's like to immerse yourself in the experience of unforeseen motherhood and cope with a child's unexpected diagnosis.
• The crucial role of promoting awareness and advocating for individuals with disabilities and their family members.
• How parenting while running a business help you be better at both
• How to prioritize time effectively and concentrate on what holds the most importance.

Learn more about Joanne here:
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Music credit: Limitless by Bells