EP 002: Losing Yourself After Kids: Identity, Sleep Deprivation & Motherhood
Hot Messes, Big VisionsShow Notes
In this episode, Nikki & Soph discuss their experiences at a recent conference, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity for parents. They explore the challenges of balancing motherhood with personal identity, the realities of sleep deprivation, and the mental health struggles that come with parenting. The conversation is filled with humor and relatable messy moments, highlighting the ups and downs of raising children.
Takeaways
Inclusivity at conferences can attract a more diverse audience. Having childcare options at events can enhance participation. Motherhood often leads to a conflict between personal identity and parenting responsibilities. Sleep deprivation is a common struggle for parents, affecting mental clarity. Parenting is a journey filled with both love and challenges. Social media can create unrealistic expectations for mothers. It's normal to feel a loss of self after having children. Every parent has their own messy moments and struggles. The journey of parenting is ongoing and doesn't have a clear finish line. Humour is essential in navigating the chaos of family life.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Conference Experience 05:16 The Role of Children in Conferences 09:16 Balancing Motherhood and Personal Identity 12:58 Postnatal Mental Health and Sleep Deprivation 17:51 The Challenges of Parenting and Expectations 22:10 Messy Moments and Parenting Realities 29:48 The Importance of Self-Care
Find your village at: TheVillageCo.nz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Hot Messes, Big Visions
We finally got Jacqlin Richards on the pod and she did not hold back. Parenting Alchemist. Award-winning educator. Author of the best book title we have ever heard: F*ck Up Your Kids with Grace & Humour. Jacqlin used to be the fun police, the sugar police, the screen police. Blow-drying her hair before a run. Holding it all together while falling apart behind closed doors. Now she actually enjoys her kids, and in this episode she tells us exactly what changed. We talk about: ✨ the perfection trap and why it keeps mums isolated ✨ the love languages exercise her whole family did (steal this one) ✨ why losing your sh*t isn't the problem, the repair is what counts ✨ screens, fear, and getting your kids' buy-in instead of policing them Her book hits Amazon on 28 July and there are a handful of signed pre-order copies left. Pre-order also gets you free access to her live workshop series. Link in bio, or head to jacqlinrichards.com/preorder. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Then share it with your village 💛 @jacqlinrichards #HotMessesBigVisions #ParentingPodcast #NZPodcast #RealParenting #MumLife #TheVillageCo Find your village at: TheVillageCo.nz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we're joined by Nicole Retter, founder of PAM (Personal Admin Manager), one of New Zealand's top-ranked apps and a product built entirely from lived chaos.
What would you actually do if your baby choked right now?
Nobody talks about the bit in between. Not the exciting launch, not the "we made it" moment. Just the long, unglamorous stretch where you're building something real while running on broken sleep and blind faith. That's where Nikki and Sophia are right now, and this episode they're not pretending otherwise.
Renata Wiles is the founder of ROAM with Kids, an app that helps NZ parents find places to go with their kids, complete with parent reviews, age-based filters, and local events.