Working Mumma

Understanding Matrescence - the transition to becoming a mother with Louise East

Have you heard of the term "Matrescence"?
I hadn't until recently.
In today’s episode of the Working Mumma podcast, I am joined by certified Mindset and Life Coach and Matrescence Facilitator, Louise East More to Mum. The focus of our chat is on Matrescence, the journey of becoming a mum.
I wasn’t too familiar with the term, Matrescence prior to speaking with Louise, but I’ve recently seen it referred to many times since. She gives a good overview and understanding of the term, it can give the journey into motherhood and the rollercoaster this can be much more clarity by knowing you aren’t alone and it is normal.
Louise also unpacks what it means to be a mum, the mental models, and societal expectations we place on mothers. We talk about what it's meant to be a “good mom” and with practical tips and advice to help you overcome this. Matrescence is about the journey of becoming a mum and it can last 18+ years, but I don't think we really ever stop being a mum do we?
Have you heard the term Matrescence?
Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app. I'd really appreciate it if you could leave a rating & review.
Continue the conversation and join the free Working Mumma Community on Facebook.
Connect with Louise East
* Instagram: @moretomum
* Website: www.moretomum.com.au
Connect with Working Mumma and Carina O'Brien
* Instagram: @workingmummacommunity
* Facebook: @workingmummaAU
* Website: www.workingmumma.com.au
* LinkedIn - Working Mumma or Carina O'Brien

Women’s health and postnatal recovery with physio Kath Baquie

We often don't talk about recovery after birth and how to prioritize time for looking after yourself with a new bub enough.
It takes ~9 months to have a baby and a similar time to recover. Our bodies are amazing, but we also need to let them heal after birth.
Building up to exercise is important. You don’t go from couch to completing a marathon in one run. You gradually build up to it over time. This is exactly the same as returning to exercise after you have had a baby.
Have you started to exercise again after bub and realised not everything felt as it should? In this episode, I speak with physio Kath Baquie and she explains, our pelvic floor is like a band that has been stretched and we need to allow it time to recover and strengthen again.
Kath and I talk about:
* How our bodies are impacted by pregnancy in ways we don't expect
* Why it is important to do pelvic floor rehabilitation
* Rehab process after vaginal and caesarian births and building up to exercising again
* Periods when you may experience pelvic floor issues and how to manage this
* Why you should have a postnatal assessment before returning to exercise after pregnancy
* Understand what is a pelvic floor assessment
* Tips to incorporate exercise into your everyday life with your children
Continue the conversation and join the free Working Mumma Community on Facebook.
Connect with Kath Baquie
* Instagram: @fitnestmama
* Website: www.fitnestmama.com
Connect with Working Mumma and Carina O'Brien
* Instagram: @workingmummacommunity
* Facebook: @workingmummaAU
* Website: www.workingmumma.com.au
* LinkedIn - Working Mumma or Carina O'Brien

5 tips for returning to work after maternity leave

Returning to work after maternity leave can be quite daunting and challenging after having a period of time away. In this episode, I share with you five tips for returning to work after maternity leave.
I like to think that returning to work after maternity leave is a transition. I don't believe you go to work one day, and you have returned after maternity leave. There are many mental and physical transitions that happen well before you open up the computer and log in again.
Enjoy these 5 tips with a special bonus at the end.
Resources mentioned in this episode
* Enroll today in the "Return with Confidence" 4-week program starting week commencing 8 November
* Download "3 steps to Sharing the Mental Load" including a mental load audit
Connect with Working Mumma and Carina O'Brien
* Continue the conversation and join the free Working Mumma Community on Facebook.
* Instagram: @workingmummacommunity
* Facebook: @workingmummaAU
* Website: www.workingmumma.com.au
* LinkedIn - Working Mumma or Carina O'Brien

The future of flexible working with Fiona Wilhelm

Lockdowns and working from home have benefited many working parents to allow more family time and reduce the office commute. As we enter the next phase of discovering our "new normal", in this episode I speak with Fiona Wilhelm, mother, an Innovation Coach for KPMG’s Australia’s Management Consulting Division, and the co-founder of a Future of Work employee support platform - 3two.
We chat about all things flexible work, how parents can navigate flexible work arrangements in the future work best for them and their families.
As Fiona highlighted people don't "go to work for the money, there's obviously, a base-level survival thing for some people. But at the end of the day, people want meaningful relationships in their lives, they want values alignment, they want to feel like they're making a difference. They want to feel like what they do make some impact. That underlines the approach to the future of work that is employee-driven and fostering the current war for talent.
The lines between work and home have been blurred and flexible work is here to stay. There is now the opportunity for the office space to be reimagined on how it is used and for what tasks. This is doesn't happen very often and should be acted upon to re-evaluate how we work and interact going forward.
Fiona had many great hints, tips, and observations during our chat. As she notes, no one has all the answers. But this episode will leave you thinking about how you want to work going forward and what are your non-negotiables.
Happy listening.
Continue the conversation and join the free Working Mumma Community on Facebook.
Connect with Fiona Wilhelm
* Instagram: @fiona.wilhelm
* LinkedIn: Fiona Wilhelm
Connect with Working Mumma and Carina O'Brien
* Instagram: @workingmummacommunity
* Facebook: @workingmummaAU
* Website: www.workingmumma.com.au
* LinkedIn - Working Mumma or Carina O'Brien

Combating Imposter Syndrome with Anne Koopmann-Schmidt [IGTV]

Welcome to Day 3 of the Working Mumma 3 Day Live Event Series. In this episode, I speak with Anne Koopmann-Schmidt and we talk about combating imposter syndrome.
We chat about:
* What is imposter syndrome
* Why we feel we need to know it all, but when we really don't
* Why do people experience imposter syndrome and situations where it appears
* Overcoming the thought "someone is going to find me out"
* Why confidence and mindset are important in overcoming and managing imposter syndrome
* Importance of knowing your strengths and doing inner work
* How you can turn imposter syndrome into a positive
Connect with Anne Koopmann-Schmidt
* Instagram: @annekoopmann_leadlikeyou
* Website: www.annekoopmann.com
Connect with Working Mumma and Carina O'Brien
* Instagram: @workingmummacommunity
* Facebook: @workingmummaAU
* Website: www.workingmumma.com.au
* LinkedIn - Working Mumma or Carina O'Brien

3 Steps to Sharing the Mental Load [IGTV]

Welcome to Day 2 of the Working Mumma 3 Day Live Event Series. In this episode, I share with you 3 Steps to Sharing the Mental Load.
The mental load is that feeling like we do everything, the organising, the present buying, planning, we remember everything & seem to bear the emotional labour for running the household and the family around you. Sadly the load isn’t always equal.
Why do women take this on? It might sound a little controversial but one thought is society & the expectations that have been passed down on what we “should” be doing as mothers. Traditionally women stayed at home to look after the family. But, in the 21st century with many women juggling career and motherhood, sadly some of the historical “norms” remain.
Does it have to be like this going forward?
No.
How can it change?
I’ve got strategies and a 3 step framework that I share with you in this episode to create better harmony in sharing the mental load.
DOWNLOAD your free copy of "3 Steps to Sharing the Mental Load" as I talk about in this episode.
Doors are now open to the Working Mumma Village membership. For more information and to join, click here.
Connect with Working Mumma/Carina O'Brien
* Instagram: @workingmummacommunity
* Facebook: @workingmummaAU
* Website: www.workingmumma.com.au
* LinkedIn - Working Mumma or Carina O'Brien

Balancing work and school holidays with Joyce Watts - IGTV

Each day this week I am doing an Instagram Live and uploading the recording as a podcast episode as I know it can be a little tricky listening to an IGTV.
This is the first IGTV and I spoke with Joyce Watts, a corporate lawyer turned serial entrepreneur. In the past ten years Joyce Watts has started four successful businesses with 2 kids in tow and she is passionate about empowering women to create businesses so that they have the flexibility and freedom to be their own boss while juggling the demands of family life.
We chat about:
* Tips about balancing work and managing the kids during school holidays (which is obviously different to remote learning)
* Outdoor & indoor activities for toddler & primary aged children
* How Joyce juggles work & her family life
* The importance of outsourcing as a business owner and working mum
* And much more!
Doors are now open to the Working Mumma Village membership. For more information and to join, click here.
Connect with Joyce Watts
Instagram: @tothotornot
Connect with Working Mumma/Carina O'Brien
* Instagram: @workingmummacommunity
* Facebook: @workingmummaAU
* Website: www.workingmumma.com.au
* LinkedIn - Working Mumma or Carina O'Brien

Career coach Mikhaila Warburton on mindset, confidence & imposter syndrome

My guest today is Mikhaila Warbuton - the owner of Work It Mumma, a Career Coaching business specially focused on supporting mum’s in the workforce.
When you speak with a like-minded person who is just as passionate as you about supporting working mum's in career and motherhood, the energy is sure to go next level. That is exactly what happened when I spoke with Mikhaila. There is so much packed into this episode and you might need a pen & paper to take notes.
During the episode we chat about:
* Mikhaila's experience of being made redundant 2 days before Christmas and how this was the push she needed to start her own business
* Key lessons from being made redundant
* Why it is important to identify your values, priorities, long term goals, and what brings you joy
* Power of mindset and overcoming mindset blocks
* How to overcome imposter syndrome
* How her priorities changed after becoming a mum
* Sets to identifying and working towards your career goals
* Strategies to have a career pivot
* Job application & interview tips as a working mum
* Power of LinkedIn
It was great to chat with Mikhaila and we covered a lot during this episode.
Doors will open in a few weeks to the Working Mumma Village - be sure to put your name on the waitlist. Click here.
Connect with Mikhaila Warburton
Website: workitmumma.com.au
Instagram: @mikhaila.warburton
Linkedin: Mikhaila Warburton
Connect with me
* Instagram: @workingmummacommunity
* Facebook: @workingmummaAU
* Website: www.workingmumma.com.au
* LinkedIn - Working Mumma or Carina O'Brien

Managing the transition from 1 to 2 children with Genevieve Muir

Are you pregnant and soon to bring another child into your family? Do you want to hear a fresh voice that dispells many of the "perfect" parenting approaches and you can be the "good enough" parent? Today's episode is jam packed with so many hints & tips relating to parenting you are going to want to grab a pen & paper to take notes.
In this episode, I chat with Genevieve Muir, an Obstetric Social Worker and Parent Educator at the Mater hospital in Sydney, and also a mother to four beautiful boys. Genevieve is passionate about helping families adapt to the modern parenting world and all its challenges and not only survive but thrive.
During this episode we cover many different parenting topics to help you ditch the "perfect"parenting approach.
* Tips and advice on how to manage the transition from one to two children
* Setting boundaries with children - It’s ok to say no
* Strategies for managing mum guilt & why you only need to be around 30% of the time
* Benefit of defining your values with your partner and what you are trying to create as a family to do what is best for you & your family
* Why the biggest thing that gets in our way with parenting is ourselves
* How we can provide good foundations for our children so they can feel supported, resilient and confident
As a generation of parents, we are trying so hard and we're trying to be so perfect, we're pushing ourselves too hard. If anything we need to dial down that pressure and know that 30% is how much our children need us to be connecting and setting boundaries and being with their emotions. Our kids don't need perfect parents.
Doors will open in a few weeks to the Working Mumma Village - be sure to put your name on the waitlist. Click here.
Connect with Genevieve Muir
Website: connectedparenting.com.au
Instagram: @connectedparentingau
Connect with Working Mumma/Carina O'Brien
* Instagram: @workingmummacommunity
* Facebook: @workingmummaAU
* Website: www.workingmumma.com.au
* LinkedIn - Working Mumma or Carina O'Brien

Sharing the four common themes from the first 50 episodes of the Working Mumma podcast

In today's episode, I am celebrating the 50th episode of the Working Mumma Podcast! Yes, crack the champagne mumma!
I little thought bubble I had almost 2 years ago turned into reality in January 2020! It’s been an amazing experience of learning, engaging, and growing through this platform. I have spoken to amazing people and enjoyed every single discussion I’ve had on the podcast.
Throughout all the episodes I've recorded there are 4 key themes that come up regularly. So, I thought for the 50th episode I’d share these 4 themes with you.
As a birthday present to you, I’ve created a new resource “3 steps to sharing the mental load”. Mums have taken on more of the load over the past 18 months with lockdowns, homeschooling & the rollercoaster of emotions. This resource includes an audit checklist for you & your partner to complete and review who is doing what, end may highlight the amount you are currently doing and things may need to be a little more balanced going forward. It’s available to download now.
Doors will open in a few weeks to the Working Mumma Village - be sure to put your name on the waitlist. Click here.
A big thank you again for your support, engagement & involvement with Working Mumma and the podcast. My dreams are big to support working mums be able to thrive in motherhood & career.
Connect with me
* Instagram: @workingmummacommunity
* Facebook: @workingmummaAU
* Website: www.workingmumma.com.au
* LinkedIn - Working Mumma or Carina O'Brien