What the Mum!

Announcement: This is the final episode of What The Mum! and it’s packed with lots of great advice.

Whether becoming a mum was planned or a surprise, it is a big responsibility. You have been given the gift of raising a human being. The way you choose to parent your child will determine the path they choose to follow and this all starts with the relationship you have with yourself.

Intrigued?

Then sit back, relax and listen to find out.

On this episode, I’m joined by Clare Downham who saw her responsibility as raising adults. 

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A bit about Clare

Clare Downham calls herself a Soulful Success Coach and Mentor. She loves to guide high-achieving Gen X women on a unique journey from stress, overwhelm, and burnout to authentic self-expression, aligned action, and soulful success.

What surprised me about being a mum?

The thing that comes to mind is nothing really as I don’t think even back then, I had many expectations.

Tell us you’re a mum without telling us you’re a mum

I have unconditionally loved two beautiful humans from being babies to adults in their twenties.

The best thing about being a mum.

The changing relationship between me and my children. Loving every part of the journey.

Connect with Clare

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@claredownhamcoach

Insight Timer

https://insig.ht/VjSXDzxqAMb?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=live_stream_share

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-downham-coach/

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If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Everyone’s experience of motherhood is different. Some women get pregnant straight away. Some women sail through their pregnancy. Some women’s babies behave according to the textbook. The truth is, motherhood is a mix of highs and lows. The trick is to just be in the moment because this too will pass.

Intrigued?

Then sit back, relax and listen to find out.

On this episode, I’m joined by Amy Goodall who found herself thinking that she might have missed the boat only to be blessed with a beautiful daughter.

If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe. 

A bit about Amy

This is Amy Goodall, the Branding Alchemist.

Her life’s purpose (aside from Mumming) is designing the most ‘perfect-for-you’ visual love language for ambitious female brand founders. The insane result of this is internal validation to be your most absolute free, authentic self and it allows you to show up in the way that lights you up the most. The right people will start to easily find you, and will pounce on every new thing you launch, making work feel the best that it ever has.

The thing that has surprised her the most about being a Mum is the sheer, messy, complexity of it all; and how little control she would have over so many situations. It’s taught her a huge lesson in humility, and most importantly to choose her battles wisely. She also had no idea she’d spend so much money on snacks.

Tell us you’re a Mum without telling us you’re a Mum: the insane amount of snacks in the cupboard. And the generally un-groomed appearance of her hair for the last 9 years!

The best thing about being a Mum is one day, you realise you have a new best mate who will open your eyes in ways you never knew were possible. It’s mad-magical!

Connect with Amy

Website: ⁠https://www.madaboutthebrand.co.uk/

Instagram: @madaboutthebrand

If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe. 

If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

I never thought I couldn’t conceive. I assumed I just could. We take it for granted until we’re told it’s not going to happen. That’s when the tough decisions have to be made and you can start to feel vulnerable. That’s when you have to be honest and decide what’s next.

Intrigued?

Then sit back, relax and listen to find out.

On this episode, I’m joined by Suzy Stanton who shares with me that just because you can’t get pregnant doesn’t mean you can't be a parent or a mum.

If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe. 

A bit about Suzy

Suzy is a freelance writer, creator and editor of We Made a Wish, a digital adoption and parenting magazine.

She created the magazine after becoming a mum via adoption to raise awareness about the process and provide a platform for anyone involved in adoption to share their experiences.

She is mum to two beautiful sisters who crept into her heart four years apart. She lives with her family in the North East of England.

As a copywriter, she has two sides to her business. The magazine is her passion and helps her to raise awareness around adoption and support adopters in particular to find out what the process is really like, with information and articles written by experts about parenting children who have experienced early life trauma.  

She uses the skills she's learnt from running the magazine to help small business owners stop feeling overwhelmed by SEO and take action with simple steps that help them to get seen online by the people they want to do business with. 

The thing that has surprised her about being a mum is how much admin there is, particularly once they're at school. She's always the parent who gets the non-uniform days wrong or forgets the bake sale because there's just so much "stuff" to keep on top of! 

You can tell she's a mum by looking at the contents of her handbag and coat pockets, which generally contain a half-eaten snack, at least two hair bobbles/clips, a random note from one of her kids or a toy, until quite recently, kids (clean) knickers, wet wipes and some kind of stone/shell/bit from a tree. 

The best thing about being a mum is seeing her children grow. It's a huge privilege and one she'll never take for granted. Their hugs and hearing them laugh always makes her heart burst.

Connect with Suzy

Website: https://wemadeawish.co.uk/

Instagram: @wemadeawishadoptionmagazine / @wishwriting1

If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe. 

If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Not everyone is like me. Not everyone knows that they want to be a mum. It’s okay to think you don’t want children and then change your mind. 

How would you feel if you did change your mind, knowing that you can’t have children?

Intrigued?

Then sit back, relax and listen to find out.

On this episode, I’m joined by Juliet Owen-Nuttall who thought motherhood wasn’t for her. It wasn’t until the doctors told her she couldn’t that she started to realise that maybe she did want to be a mum.

If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe. 

A bit about Juliet

Juliet Owen-Nuttall, former firefighter turned fertility well-being practitioner, is the co-founder of “the noninvasive method, helping women feel fabulous fertile over 40”

She is a trained Shiatsu & NLP practitioner and creates a protocol based on the person’s fertility personality. Working predominately with people pleasers who override their intuition, where there is a deep connection between their behaviours and hormonal imbalances.

Juliet uses a combination of healing techniques and DBT for emotional regulation that can track hidden subconscious beliefs in the brain that can prevent women from conceiving. 

Juliet is writing a book about her journey from being told she would never have children at 41 to getting pregnant naturally at 44. It includes what steps she took and that infertility is not just physical it's a mind, body soul issue.

Connect with Juliet

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenoninvasivemethod

If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe. 

If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

No one can tell you what motherhood is going to be like. They will tell you about their experience and so what to expect. However, whatever you expect will probably be different from the reality you end up living.

Instead, have no expectations. Just know that life will be very different and be ready to deal with whatever comes your way.

Intrigued?

Then sit back, relax and listen to find out.

On this episode, I’m joined by Erin Buck whose experience of motherhood has left her clinging on and she is not ready to let go, yet.

If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe. 

A bit about Erin

She is a virtual assistant who helps freelancers run their businesses by doing tasks that weigh them down and take them away from the work they are good at and enjoy. 

What surprised her about being a mum was that it didn't come naturally. She had wanted children for so long that when she had them, her depression got in the way, and she struggled. She had believed she would feel connected the minute she touched her child. 

Here are a few ways she can tell you she's a mum without telling you she's a mum:

1) living on kids leftover food because you are hungry and tired. 

2) walking into the bathroom to find a pile of clothes NEXT to the washing basket and most of the bath water on the floor and not in the bath.

3) Going for a biscuit and the empty packet is still there but no biscuit.

4) Not seeing a shower or washing your hair in a week because of a newborn.

5) Being able to strip down a kid and redress them in record time because you are going to miss the bus if you don't.

The best thing about being a mum is watching her boys laughing and smiling at her. 

Connect with Erin

Website: https://www.bizzybeebolly.com/

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/bizzybeebolly/

LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bizzybeebolly

If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe. 

If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Becoming a mum isn’t your cue to give up on yourself as an individual. It’s your opportunity to use your uniqueness to raise your child the best way you can. 

After all, we’re all unique, which includes our babies, and the only one who actually knows how to raise your baby is you.

You don’t have to lose your individuality.

Intrigued?

Then sit back, relax and listen to find out.

On this episode, I am joined by the hilarious Angie Belcher whose experience of mothering happened later in life and she’s very much enjoying giving her son the silliest and most fun childhood she can.

A bit about Angie

Angie Belcher is a comedy pioneer, whose career has evolved from stand up, acting and performing to award-winning work as a coach and trainer, teaching comedy to CEO’s and staff at major organisations and delivering ground-breaking workshops through the NHS.

A proud graduate of The Institute for the Development of Human Potential, she holds a post-graduate diploma in Humanistic Psychology for Leadership, Facilitation and Coaching. Angie is course leader for stand -up comedy on Circomedia’s BA course in Contemporary Performing Arts, Writer in Residence for First Story, Associate Lecturer in Comedy Writing at the University of Worcester and Comedian in Academic Residence at the University of Bristol.

The Hague awarded her World Comedian of Emancipation 2022 and in 2024 she was awarded a Gold HSJ Award for best mental health partnership with the NHS, for her work providing therapeutic comedy courses.

Connect with Angie

Website: https://angiebelcher.wordpress.com/

Aftermirth: http://www.aftermirthcomedy.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angiebelcher1

If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe. 

If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Giving birth is one of the most frightening things I’ve ever done. You know the baby has got to come out and you’re just hoping that all will be okay.

Now, how would you cope if the birth didn't go according to plan? Could you stay calm and make the decisions that are right for you or would you just go with the flow because that is easier?

Intrigued to know what it's like, then sit back, relax and listen to find out.

On this episode, I am joined by the wonderful Elle Hack whose experience of mothering was slow to start and she very much used her voice to decide what was best for her and her baby.

A bit about Elle

As an expert speaker, trainer and coach, Elle helps Canine Professionals ( typically Vet Physios) get more joy, fulfilment and profit from their business. Removing stress and allowing them the freedom to do what they do best, caring for dogs. 

My business is called Canine Care Hub.

What surprised her about being a mum was the amount one human can take over your mind, heart and soul.

She now regularly leaves the house for walks without having brushed my hair.  

The best thing about being a mum is the joy and laughter her son brings to her, he is genuinely hilarious and she feels so lucky that he’s hers.

Connect with Elle

Website: https://elizabethhack.co.uk/

Canine Hub: https://caninecarehub.com/

Other links: https://linktr.ee/caninecarehub_elizabethhack

If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe. 

If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

When I first became a mum, I remember feeling safe and secure in the knowledge that there were many people around me whom I could turn to for help.

The best thing was that my mum and sister, who already had two children, were just down the road.

What if that isn’t the case?

What if you have no one around you? You’re alone and your only connection is via a landline phone.

How would you cope?

Intrigued to know what it's like, then sit back, relax and listen to find out.

On this episode, I am joined by the wonderful Lucy Barrett whose experience of mothering started the moment her baby was placed in her hands in Hong Kong.

A bit about Lucy

Lucy has many roles as a Style Coach, wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. She has lived, worked and raised a family in Hong Kong, Japan and the UK. 

She helps professional women and female business owners use the transformational power of the way they dress to feel confident in themselves and express who they are in every aspect of their life. Now and as they evolve through the transitions of life. 

Styling from the inside out, Lucy collaborates with women to explore and discover their own unique style, their most flattering colours and styles and align their clothes with their life. 

She understands that life is busy and our roles are varied. She helps women who want to open their wardrobe every morning and see clothes that reflect who they are now, give them inner confidence and provide what they need. 

One role that has been really important in her life is being a mum to three. Something that surprised her about being a mum was how much confidence it has given her in herself, especially living miles away from family and not always being able to speak the language. At times being a mum can be challenging and yet one of the best things, apart from the love of course, is watching these helpless, but surprisingly loud, little humans go through all the phases and grow into full grown, adventurous adults.

Connect with Lucy

FaceBook @lucybarrettstylecoach

LinkedIn @lucy-barrett-style-coach/

Website www.lucybarrettstylecoach.co.uk/

If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe. 

If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Just because you're a woman, it doesn't mean that you automatically know whether you want to be a mum.

Just because you're a woman, it doesn't mean you're maternal from the moment you take your first breath. 

Sometimes it just takes time, being with the right person and being in the right place.

What do you think?

Intrigued to know what it's like, then sit back, relax and listen to find out.

On this episode, I am joined by the wonderful Louise Lawton whose experience of mothering started before she had her first child.

A bit about Louise

Most people call her Lou. She works as an interventional radiographer in the NHS while also running her own business as a personal stylist. 

She's married to Benny and has a son who's 7 and a stepson who's 16. She's Irish and moved to the UK when she was 18 and never left! She's been in Bristol for over 20 years now.

She decided to train as a personal stylist when she was 40 having had a few sessions with a life coach. She realised that she wanted more from life. She always loved clothes and style and wanted to tap into the creative side of her personality. 

She loves to help women find or rediscover their confidence through their style and look. Many of her clients have come out of a big "life event" such as recovering from an illness and given her other job, she can often have quite open conversations with these ladies. 

She helps her clients refine their style and find what works for them via colour analyses, wardrobe restyles and of course by hitting the shops together! Her motto is "life is too short" to not feel happy in your own skin.

The thing that has surprised her the most about being a mum is what that mother-child bond can feel like and how strong that love is.

Nowadays, she happily sacrifices things because it's not just about her anymore! When you have kids you realise you can't be so selfish anymore. Even if it's just sharing food. If her son has his eye on her dinner she'll happily share with him.

The best thing about being a mum is the laughter, silliness and the permission to just do fun things.

Connect with Louise

Instragram @stylegalorewithlou

Website www.stylegalore.co.uk/

If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe. 

If you want to find out more about how I can help you then check out my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

No two births are the same. 

We know that. 

After all, every individual is different and therefore their entry into the world is going to be different.

What if the difference is having your first baby at 25 weeks old and starting life in the Neonatal intensive care unit and your second goes to full term?

How would you cope?

Intrigued to know what it's like, then sit back, relax and listen to find out.

On this episode, I am joined by the wonderful Hazel Weyman whose experience of giving birth to her daughters was completely different.

A bit about Hazel

She's a country girl, who loves the peace and space of the countryside and spending time with her horses. She is also a mum of 2 girls and a virtual assistant who helps fellow business mums maintain their business visibility despite all the challenges life throws at them by helping with their content, whether that’s creation, setting up tech or just scheduling so that it actually gets out into the world.

Before her eldest was born, she was a Veterinary Nurse, A career she was enjoying but when her daughter was born extremely early, the minute she entered that NICU room, being a vet nurse didn’t hold any meaning to her anymore compared to the work the amazing people were doing. It’s something that she didn’t expect and very personal to her but that association with nursing just shifted and she hasn’t gone back to that industry since!

She certainly didn’t expect to have a complete career change because she was a parent but it was definitely meant to be.

These days she never gets to eat her dinner whilst it’s still piping hot!

The best bit about being a mum is watching them achieve something they didn’t expect and seeing the pure joy on their faces.

Connect with Hazel

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/busykeys.co.uk

Instagram @busyskeysvirtual_hazelweyman

If you enjoyed this podcast then please like, share and subscribe.