The Good Enough Mother

Latest Episodes:

90. Getting to know our new babies, and our new selves with Julianne Boutaleb Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

This episode takes sections from podcast episode 32 with Julianne Boutaleb – a consultant perinatal psychologist and Director of Parenthood in Mind. Julianne speaks about the processes of attachment between a mother and her baby, the early attachment needs of a baby, self regulation and co-regulation between carers and babies, and changes that happen in a woman’s brain when she becomes a mother. Julianne offers advice about how we can move through these experiences with a sense of forgiveness, compassion, and gentleness, in order to use this time as an opportunity to settle into a new ‘maternal rhythm’. You can connect further with Julianne on Instagram @parenthoodinmind or through www.parenthoodinmind.co.uk/

89. Moving Beyond The Perfect Mother Myth – what next? (re-release) Jan 26, 2023

Show notes

There is a piecing-back-together that we are called to do after we go through a journey of pulling apart the version of motherhood we've been sold. To ask: well, what DO I want for my motherhood? If I understand the perfect mother myth, and how we're 'swimming' within a culture that sets us up for a certain experience of motherhood, what are the next steps I can take after unpacking these realizations? I speak to these types of questions in this episode and reflect on the process of what it means to go on the journey of unpacking how we have internalised the ‘perfect mother myth’ and have been socialized into the expectations of what it means to be a ‘Mother’. The birth of a new awareness, and (re)creation of a new identity can feel alluring, exciting, liberating, and/or empowering. But it can also feel really unsettling, especially at first. This episode speaks to this experience and on how we can build new models of what it means to be a mother. I consider a model of ‘integrated’ motherhood, and invite you to reflect on some questions about your own sense of self and identity. . . . Enrol in The Sociology of Motherhood Starter Bundle of 3 of my most popular self-study courses. I've converted these courses into a private podcast and you can receive 40% off until January 31st 2023 by entering the coupon code NEWYEARS at checkout. https://drsophiebrock.com/starterbundle

88. How culture 'creates' Motherhood and why it matters (The Fish Tank Model) Jan 08, 2023

Show notes

This episode is a training Sophie delivered, translating the predominant theoretical finding from her PhD research - the 'fish tank of motherhood' model. This model offers us a way of understanding what the 'social construction of Motherhood' actually is, how it shapes our experience as mothers, and what it really takes to claim and create opportunities for mothers to step into their power and be acknowledged for their importance. You'll hear a description of the 'rule book' of good motherhood, what happens when we don't fit within the rules, what maternal thinking is, and the exciting opportunity we currently have as mothers and motherhood-support professionals to make a difference. To see the fish-tank graphic referred to during the training head here: https://drsophiebrock.com/fishtanktraining If you work with mothers as a therapist, healthcare practitioner, in postpartum care, coaching, or any role where you support mothers or you're looking to transition into this field, join the waitlist to find out more about enroling in The Motherhood Studies Certification training - https://drsophiebrock.com/motherhoodstudies/ with the next round beginning May 22nd 2023.

87. For Mothers During The Festive Season (re-release) Dec 24, 2022

Show notes

In this solo re-released episode I reflect on the ways the festive season brings with it an amplification of the perfect mother myth. I explain how and why the festive season and other celebrations intensify the pressures mothers face, and give voice to the often-invisible load that women carry at this time and the expectations on mothers, children, and the ‘family’ unit to ‘perform’. I reflect on the mental load, but also on some of the challenges in having the only solutions suggested as ‘stepping back’ or ‘delegating’. I pose questions to consider about the extent to which mothers are expected to sacrifice their wellbeing to facilitate the enjoyment of others, how we have been conditioned to want to ‘please’ others, but also the complex dynamics involved when it comes to wanting to ‘give’ to our children. This leads to a consideration of how our worthiness is measured, and purpose is defined. Ultimately, cultivating connection with ourselves as Mothers offers a precious gift of ‘presence’ to ourselves and our family.

86. Reclaiming our Motherhood from the ‘shoulds’ this holiday season with Anna Mathur Dec 21, 2022

Show notes

Today’s conversation is with author, psychotherapist, speaker, and Mum of three, Anna Mathur. Anna and I dive into reflecting on the complexities of motherhood over the holiday season, and consider how we can prepare ourselves for the increase in emotional and mental labour that can come with this busy time. Anna shares her perspective on how to enjoy a magical yet simple Christmas, dealing with disappointment, tips on how to say ‘no’ without feeling like we are letting people down, setting boundaries and more. Tune in to invite a sense of reflection, lightness and self-compassion for yourself during this holiday season. Listen to Anna's podcast The Therapy Edit Purchase Anna's most recent book The Little Book of Calm for New Mums Find links and more details about Anna and the episode on the show notes website here: https://drsophiebrock.com/podcast86

85. Somatic Tools for Congruent Parenting with Yara Heary Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

This conversation is with psychologist and motherhood coach Yara Heary. Yara shares ways to come home to our bodies in those moments when mothering can bring up hard feelings, using somatic tools for nervous system regulation which can help to connect with ourselves and our children in a way that fosters intimacy and trust. We look at the process of repairing with our children after a rupture, what this feels like for children and for us as adults who may or may not have received repair as children ourselves. Read more show notes and key quotes here - https://drsophiebrock.com/podcast85 Connect with Yara - lifeafterbirthpsychology instagram.com/lifeafterbirthpsychology

Ep 84. Mothering ourselves through shame and perfectionism with Catherine Counihan Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

This conversation on shame and perfectionism is with mother and psychotherapist, Catherine Counihan. Catherine and Sophie both share from their own personal stories of mothering their daughters to look at some lived examples of how the perfect mother myth, shame and perfectionism can play out in the day-to-day of mothering, and model a pathway through which we as mothers can interrogate our guilt, honour our values, release ‘shoulds’, and offer self-compassion. You’ll learn about the connection between perfectionism and shame, and how shame is created through stories of the ‘good girl’ we experience as children. Catherine shares her approach of working with clients to gain an embodied sense of being good enough in their mothering, helping to shift dysfunctional patterns in our families. . . . Follow Catherine: @psychotherapy_mum www.psychotherapymum.com Listen to the Grow Yourself Up podcast Read episode show notes page: https://drsophiebrock.com/podcast84 . . . EARLY enrolment for Sophie's course The Motherhood Studies Practitioner Certification 2023 ends Wednesday 23rd November. Early enrolment includes bonus masterclass and group calls, and capacity to join course on a 12 month payment plan. More information - https://drsophiebrock.com/motherhoodstudies/

Our movement towards Motherhood Liberation... can we 'jump out' of the tank? Nov 07, 2022

Show notes

In this short episode I share some of my reflections about the creation of my latest program The Liberating Motherhood Experience. This is a program that I've been thinking about for many months but it's been within the space of a week that the program structure has landed with me (while listening to the audiobook of Gabor Maté's latest book, which I reference in the program). In this episode I share what WOULD be an 'easy' and 'appealing' selling point when it comes to the liberation of motherhood, but one that I believe is not actually possible.... I then share where I think our place of agency and power is in what we CAN do in the working towards the liberation of motherhood. Within this episode I walk you through the narrative arc of The Liberating Motherhood Experience and what you can expect from the program. Join The Liberating Motherhood Experience for $50AUD and joining before Saturday 12th November, 2022 gives you access to a live 90min group call + replay, where we come together in connection and reflection on how we witness/experience motherhood and what it means to ENACT a practice of liberation. Join here: https://drsophiebrock.com/liberatingmotherhood Watch fishtank animation here: https://drsophiebrock.com/thefishtankofmotherhood

83. Creative Community Making for Mothers with Rachael Rose Nov 06, 2022

Show notes

Today I speak with doula, mentor and women’s circle facilitator Rachael Rose. Rachael works to build community around motherhood, and is driven by a desire for mothers to feel less alone as they journey through rites of passage such as pregnancy, birth, postpartum, launching and running a business, and navigating the complexities of mothering in the modern world. She is a strong advocate for community making and re-villaging in ways that are practical, honest and simple. She's also very frank about the need for mothers to actively pursue and maintain relationships, and that community takes effort, time and a little discomfort. We discuss what she's learned from being a circle facilitator and mentor, and what she feels mothers are needing most right now. She shares her own experiences with mothering and business, and what she has learned since the birth of her first child. Rachael Rose is a mother of two, a pregnancy and postpartum doula and women’s circle facilitator. Rachael wants mothers to be seen and celebrated, to feel loved and less alone. She is utterly obsessed with creating spaces of connection for women, through her circle work. Rachael has recently released Together, her online Women’s Circle Facilitator Training and over 130 women from all over the world have joined. She would love to offer listeners a $50 discount off Together, with the coupon code GOODENOUGH, for the first 20 enrolments. https://www.rachaelrose.com.au/together?coupon=GOODENOUGH That brings the price to $349AUD. https://drsophiebrock.com/podcast83

82. Identity shifts in motherhood with Jessie Harrold Oct 24, 2022

Show notes

Today I talk with doula, coach and mother, Jessie Harrold. Jessie is passionate about navigating the transition into motherhood with trust and confidence. Jessie talks to the experience of both losing and finding ourselves in motherhood, and how bounce-back culture overlooks the hard work of navigating huge identity shifts. She shares what happens after the first 40 days of motherhood, how to reorient our lives around newly defined values and priorities as parents, and ways to make sense of pivotal moments. We dive into the shifts that occur in our relationships, and how we can take responsibility for creating our place of belonging in our communities. Jessie shares her work supporting mothers to lean into the liminal nature of postpartum, understanding it as a slow yet profound process of stepping into our motherhood identity, with all the meaning, joy and grief that comes along with it. She encourages new mothers to ask themselves, at many points along the journey ‘who am I now’? And to continue asking questions of ourselves as we become, and continue to evolve, as mothers. Follow Jessie at @jessie.es.harrold and head to the show notes for episode highlights and links to Jessie's quiz and programs https://drsophiebrock.com/podcast82

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