The Mama Circle: Why Motherhood Feels Like This

Natalie K. Martin

You can love your kids and still hate what modern motherhood asks of you. The invisible labour, financial squeeze, relationship strain, overwhelm and the feeling that somehow, you’re the problem. There’s a name for everything motherhood quietly costs women: The Motherhood Debt. And this is where we say it out loud.

Each episode puts words to the parts of motherhood you’ve felt but couldn’t explain. More honesty, less pressure, and space to find your way towards a motherhood that feels supportive, joyful and sustainable for you, as a woman and a mum.

Hosted by Natalie K. Martin.

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September 16 · 1 min
A request and a short season break
After 95 episodes, The Mama Circle is taking a short season break. The full archive is still here while I step out of weekly production for a few weeks and give some intentional thought to how the podcast grows and what comes next. The next new episode will be released around the middle of October. Make sure to follow The Mama Circle so it appears in your podcast app when it’s ready. Listener Survey: I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts on the podcast and it takes just a few short minutes: https://tally.so/r/RGNEQK Instagram: @natalie.kmartin TikTok: @nataliek.martin
#95
September 9 · 32 min
95. The money questions every couple should ask before having kids
Most couples ask, “Can we afford to have a baby?” But that conversation often focuses on nappies, childcare and maternity leave, rather than what becoming parents could mean for each person’s financial future. In this episode, I’m sharing the money conversations I think couples should have before having children, during pregnancy or even after becoming parents. We talk about career goals, parental leave, part-time work, pensions, savings, financial independence, childcare, family planning and what happens when life doesn’t go according to plan. This isn’t financial advice, and there is no perfect way to organise money after children. It’s about making the invisible financial cost of care visible, so that one person doesn’t quietly absorb a family decision alone. 🫂 Craving support from other mums who get it? Join IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days. It's A Lot is my private WhatsApp community for mums who want an honest space to share motherhood without judgement, criticism or unsolicited advice. Try it free for three months, then it's €10 per month. Join here: ⁠⁠⁠www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠👭FREE GUIDE - The Five Villages Every Mum Needs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If this conversation resonated, download my free audio guide, The 5 Villages Every Mum Needs, where I explore the different kinds of support modern mothers need and why so many of us feel like we’re doing it alone. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 15% off Mother's Earth I've been using Mother's Earth laundry sheets for the last couple of months and genuinely love them. Use code NAT for 15% off your first order here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mothersearth.de/NAT ⁠⁠⁠ Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️ Support The Mama Circle Podcast: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.
#94
September 2 · 27 min
94. How do you make time for sex after having kids? with Alice Jackson
How do you make time for sex after having kids when you’re exhausted, touched out and barely have time to speak to your partner? In Part 2 of my conversation with somatic intimacy coach and embodiment teacher Alice Jackson, we talk about what intimacy can realistically look like after becoming parents and why having less time doesn’t have to mean losing your connection completely. We talk about: Making intimacy a priority without turning it into another obligation Why scheduling sex doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with your relationship Focusing on quality rather than how often you have sex Feeling too tired, overwhelmed or overstimulated to be touched Communicating what you need before resentment builds Expanding intimacy beyond penetrative sex Simple ways to reconnect when one partner has less desire Dating, boundaries and sexuality as a single mum Holding onto your relationship as a couple after becoming parents Sex after children may be different from what came before. Your desire can expand, contract and change through different seasons of motherhood, and that doesn’t mean it has disappeared forever. About Alice Alice Jackson is a Somatic Intimacy Coach and Embodiment Teacher with over a decade of experience helping women reconnect with their bodies, desires and sense of self. Through her somatic intimacy work, she supports women to rebuild trust in their bodies and create more fulfilling relationships with themselves and others. Get in touch with Alice at: ⁠https://www.alicejackson.life/⁠ https://www.instagram.com/alice.e.jackson/ I've been using Mother's Earth laundry sheets for the last couple of months and genuinely love them. Use code NAT for 15% off your first order here: ⁠⁠https://www.mothersearth.de/NAT ⁠⁠ Missed Part 1? Go back and listen to Episode 93: Why don't I feel sexy since becoming a mum?, where Alice and I explore how motherhood can change our relationship with our bodies, sexuality, pleasure and desire. 🫂 Craving support from other mums who get it? Join IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days. It's A Lot is my private WhatsApp community for mums who want an honest space to share motherhood without judgement, criticism or unsolicited advice. Try it free for three months, then it's €10 per month. Join here: ⁠⁠www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠ ⁠⁠👭FREE GUIDE - The Five Villages Every Mum Needs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If this conversation resonated, download my free audio guide, The 5 Villages Every Mum Needs, where I explore the different kinds of support modern mothers need and why so many of us feel like we’re doing it alone. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️ Support The Mama Circle Podcast: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.
#93
August 26 · 39 min
93. Why don't I feel sexy since becoming a mum? with Alice Jackson
Why don’t I feel sexy since becoming a mum? If your desire has disappeared, your body no longer feels like your own or being touched is sometimes the last thing you want, there may be very good reasons. In this episode, I’m joined by somatic intimacy coach and embodiment teacher Alice Jackson for an honest conversation about sex, desire and reconnecting with your body after becoming a mum. We talk about: Why pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding can change your relationship with your body Feeling touched out, overstimulated and too overwhelmed for intimacy Why libido can change across different seasons of motherhood Broadening our definition of sex beyond penetration Whether scheduling sex can actually help you reconnect Finding intimacy when tiredness, childcare and everyday life keep getting in the way How trying to conceive and IVF can turn sex from connection into pressure Rebuilding desire without forcing yourself to feel something you don’t This isn’t about adding sex to your already overflowing to-do list. It’s about understanding what your body may be communicating and finding your way back to intimacy, desire and yourself without shame or pressure. And this conversation isn’t over. Next week, Alice and I move from our relationship with our own sexuality to sex and intimacy with somebody else: making time for sex after kids, mismatched desire, communication, and dating as a single mum. About Alice Alice Jackson is a Somatic Intimacy Coach and Embodiment Teacher with over a decade of experience helping women reconnect with their bodies, desires and sense of self. Through her somatic intimacy work, she supports women to rebuild trust in their bodies and create more fulfilling relationships with themselves and others. Get in touch with Alice at: https://www.alicejackson.life/ https://www.instagram.com/alice.e.jackson/ I've been using Mother's Earth laundry sheets for the last couple of months and genuinely love them. Use code NAT for 15% off your first order here: ⁠https://www.mothersearth.de/NAT ⁠ 🫂 Craving support from other mums who get it? Join IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days. It's A Lot is my private WhatsApp community for mums who want an honest space to share motherhood without judgement, criticism or unsolicited advice. Try it free for three months, then it's €10 per month. Join here: ⁠www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠ ⁠👭FREE GUIDE - The Five Villages Every Mum Needs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If this conversation resonated, download my free audio guide, The 5 Villages Every Mum Needs, where I explore the different kinds of support modern mothers need and why so many of us feel like we’re doing it alone. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️ Support The Mama Circle Podcast: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.
#92
August 19 · 16 min
92. What if my child prefers the other parent?
What if your child prefers being at their other parent's house? It's a fear that caught me completely off guard when my son was away with his dad. Not because I thought he might love his dad more, but because their household can afford experiences that I sometimes can't. As a single mum parenting on a tighter budget, what happens when one house can say yes to festivals, meals out and more days out, while the other is packing snacks for the playground? In this episode, I'm talking about co-parenting after separation, comparing yourself with the other parent's household, the financial reality of single motherhood, and the fear of becoming the "boring" parent. The fear that your child might prefer the other parent Comparing two households after separation How money gives parents more options, not necessarily more love The pressure to spend money to make childhood experiences "count" Being the parent who has to say no more often Why ordinary childhood memories still matter Remembering that your household has value that isn't financial Because after separation, it isn't only your finances that change. Your child's life splits into two versions, and suddenly there's another household you can measure your own against. I've been using Mother's Earth laundry sheets for the last couple of months and genuinely love them. Use code NAT for 15% off your first order here: https://www.mothersearth.de/NAT 🫂 Craving support from other mums who get it? Join IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days. It's A Lot is my private WhatsApp community for mums who want an honest space to share motherhood without judgement, criticism or unsolicited advice. Try it free for three months, then it's €10 per month. Join here: www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle 👭FREE GUIDE - The Five Villages Every Mum Needs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If this conversation resonated, download my free audio guide, The 5 Villages Every Mum Needs, where I explore the different kinds of support modern mothers need and why so many of us feel like we’re doing it alone. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️ Support The Mama Circle Podcast: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.
#91
August 12 · 16 min
91. You can love your kids AND love time away from them
I'm 3 days into a child-free week and I'm REALLY enjoying it. In this episode, we're talking about mum guilt, the mental load of motherhood, and why enjoying time away from your child doesn't make you a bad mum. What happens when your brain finally has space to think? And does loving your own freedom mean you love your child any less? • Mum guilt and time away from your child • The mental load of motherhood • Motherhood identity and remembering who you are beyond "Mum" • Missing your child while enjoying your own space Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💬 It's A Lot — My initimate WhatsApp group for mums who want to share what's actually going on, unfiltered, with no judgement and no well-meant advice unless you ask for it. Try it free for 30 days, followed by just €10/month. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠👭 The Five Villages Every Mum Needs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If this conversation resonated, download my free audio guide, The 5 Villages Every Mum Needs, where I explore the different kinds of support modern mothers need and why so many of us feel like we’re doing it alone. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🌱 Mother's Earth — this episode's sponsor. Plastic-free, organic laundry sheets that genuinely got the nursery mud out. 15% off your first order with code NAT at checkout: https://mothersearth.de/?snowball=NAT⁠ and lastly, please subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.
#90
August 5 · 15 min
90. We can’t build a village while tearing other mums down
We say mums need a village. But we cannot build one while publicly humiliating the women we disagree with. After Nara Smith appeared on Call Her Daddy to discuss the trad wife label, motherhood and her daughter’s cancer treatment, social media filled with reactions. Some offered thoughtful criticism of the unrealistic image of motherhood she has helped to create. Others became parody, personal attacks and thousands of comments tearing another woman down. This episode isn’t a defence of Nara Smith or the trad wife movement. It’s a conversation about what happens when valid criticism crosses into cruelty, and what that teaches other mums about whether it is safe to be visible, vulnerable or honest. I explore: the difference between challenging someone’s ideas and humiliating them why disagreement doesn’t require dehumanising another woman what online pile-ons teach mums about sharing their real lives the mistrust and competition sometimes described as the “sister wound” why mums filter themselves, hide their struggles and become afraid to ask for help how social media can make motherhood feel less safe why wanting a village also requires learning how to be part of one If we want motherhood to feel less lonely, we need spaces where women can disagree without shaming one another for being imperfect, different or visible. We cannot keep saying that mums need more honesty, support and community while participating in the behaviour that makes other mums afraid to speak. This episode is sponsored by Mother's Earth. Use code NAT for 15% off: https://mothersearth.de/?snowball=NAT ⁠⁠👭 The Five Villages Every Mum Needs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If this conversation resonated, download my free audio guide, The 5 Villages Every Mum Needs, where I explore the different kinds of support modern mothers need and why so many of us feel like we’re doing it alone. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days. We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️ Support The Mama Circle Podcast: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.
#89
July 29 · 23 min
89. I can't be honest with my friends since becoming a mum
Where do mums go with the thoughts they can't say out loud? We all filter ourselves depending on who we're with. That's normal. But what happens when there is nowhere we can tell the whole truth? In this episode, Natalie explores why every mum needs at least one place where she can speak honestly without judgement, interruption or advice. From therapy and Mama Circles to It's A Lot, this conversation explores why safe containers matter—and why sometimes the greatest gift another mother can give us isn't advice, but recognition. 🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days. We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👭 The Five Villages Every Mum Needs⁠⁠⁠⁠ If this conversation resonated, download my free audio guide, The 5 Villages Every Mum Needs, where I explore the different kinds of support modern mothers need and why so many of us feel like we’re doing it alone. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.
#88
July 22 · 30 min
88. Can you really afford to have kids?
Most women prepare for pregnancy. Far fewer prepare for what motherhood does to their long-term finances. In this episode, Nat explores the motherhood penalty, why women's earnings often fall after having children while men's continue to rise, and why the biggest financial cost of motherhood isn't nappies or childcare, but the change to your entire financial trajectory. If you're already a mum, or you're thinking about becoming one, this is a conversation every family should have. 👭 The Five Villages Every Mum Needs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this FREE audio guide will walk you through the different levels of support mums need, and how to build them. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🫂 Need a safe space to share how you REALLY feel? Join IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days. We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.
#87
July 15 · 20 min
87. Sometimes I don't like my child
Sometimes the hardest part of parenting isn't loving your child. It's feeling like you just don't click. In this episode, Nat explores a Reddit post that asks a question many parents are too afraid to admit out loud. Could it be that some parents and children are simply less naturally compatible? Together, we unpack why our children aren't "mini us", why personality matters more than we realise, and how curiosity can transform even the most challenging relationships. If you've ever wondered why one child feels easy while another leaves you feeling exhausted or disconnected, this episode is for you. 🫂 Need a safe space to share how you REALLY feel? Join IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days. We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👭 The Five Villages Every Mum Needs⁠⁠⁠ this FREE audio guide will walk you through the different levels of support mums need, and how to build them. ⁠⁠⁠Get it here.⁠⁠⁠ Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.
#86
July 8 · 32 min
86: We split everything 50/50. So why am I still the default parent?
We split the parenting and household tasks 50/50. So why am I still the one noticing, remembering, planning and making sure everything gets done? Equal parenting is often described as dividing everything down the middle: night feeds, nappies, nursery runs, cooking and housework. But completing half the visible tasks isn’t necessarily the same as carrying half the responsibility. In this episode, I explore: why splitting tasks equally doesn’t automatically remove the default parent the difference between doing something and taking full ownership of it how “just tell me what to do” leaves the mental load with one person why noticing, remembering and thinking ahead are part of the work how scorekeeping begins when one or both partners feel unseen why arguments about bins, washing and dinner are often about something deeper how family needs change through illness, pregnancy, work pressure and different seasons of life what fair parenting can look like when an exact 50/50 split isn’t possible A partner might cook dinner, do bath time and take out the bins while you remain responsible for knowing what needs to happen, when it needs to happen and what will go wrong if it doesn’t. The task has moved, but the mental load hasn’t. Fair parenting doesn’t mean that both people must always do exactly the same amount. Life changes, capacity changes and sometimes one partner will need to carry more. But both people should feel seen, supported and responsible for the family they are building together. The goal isn’t perfect maths. It’s no longer having one parent act as the family’s manager while the other waits to be assigned a task. 👭 The Five Villages Every Mum Needs⁠⁠⁠ If this conversation resonated, download my free audio guide, The 5 Villages Every Mum Needs, where I explore the different kinds of support modern mothers need and why so many of us feel like we’re doing it alone. ⁠⁠⁠Get it here.⁠⁠⁠ 🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days. We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.
#85
June 30 · 38 min
85. You've just yelled at your kid. Now what?
Have you become the shouty mum you always said you'd never be? This week, I'm talking about something so many mums experience but so few feel able to admit: anger. I explore why mum rage is rarely just about the moment itself, what might be sitting underneath it, and how the realities of modern motherhood can leave us carrying more than any one person was ever meant to. I also talk about the guilt we feel and why children don't need perfect parents, they need repair. If you've ever finished shouting and been left feeling overwhelmed by guilt, this episode is for you. 👭 The Five Villages Every Mum Needs⁠⁠ this FREE audio guide will walk you through the different levels of support mums need, and how to build them. ⁠⁠Get it here.⁠⁠ 🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days. We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.
#84
June 25 · 34 min
84: Why is my kid always the wild one?
Why is my kid always the one running off, climbing everything, touching everything or having the enormous public meltdown while everyone else’s child seems so calm? After travelling with my almost three-year-old, I found myself watching children his age quietly walking beside their parents or sitting peacefully through a flight and thinking, “Why can’t it be that easy for me?” I love my son fiercely and wouldn’t change who he is. He is funny, adventurous, imaginative, strong-willed, sensory-seeking and emotionally intense. He loves big and lives big. But that also means I have to parent big, and sometimes it is completely exhausting. In this episode, I talk honestly about: the shame of wondering why your child seems harder to parent comparing a wild or strong-willed child with calmer children questioning whether their behaviour is somehow your fault how a child’s temperament shapes their mum’s experience why the same parenting advice won’t work for every child the different demands of anxious, highly sensitive, neurodivergent or medically complex children how your child’s needs can affect work, relationships, friendships and mental health wishing motherhood felt easier without wishing for a different child There is no perfect temperament. Every child brings their own gifts and challenges, and every mum is parenting a different human inside a different family structure. Loving your child and finding them difficult to parent are not opposites. Sometimes the child doesn’t need to become less. The mum needs more capacity, recovery and support to hold everything they bring. 👭 The Five Villages Every Mum Needs⁠ this FREE audio guide will walk you through the different levels of support mums need, and how to build them. ⁠Get it here.⁠ 🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days. We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.
#83
June 16 · 24 min
83. Why millennial mums want a 90s childhood for their kids
Why are so many millennial mums trying to recreate the 90s childhood we remember for our own children? We want them playing outside, getting bored, spending less time on screens and making simple memories that don’t need to be photographed or posted. But the childhood we’re nostalgic for wasn’t created solely by parents making better choices. It existed inside a completely different social structure. In this episode, I explore: why millennial parents feel so nostalgic for a simpler childhood the pressure to recreate our memories for our own children how less surveillance and fewer frightening news stories gave children more freedom the role of neighbours, social housing, youth clubs and local community why sending children outside to play was often necessity rather than intentional parenting how work, childcare costs and school holidays make unstructured time difficult to create the pressure to manufacture magical childhood memories why technology is part of the change, but not the whole explanation Our parents weren’t necessarily more present or intentional. They had phones, television and their own distractions too. But they were parenting within a world where children had greater independence and families often had more informal community around them. There are valuable things we can carry forwards from a 90s childhood: less screen time, more outdoor play, ordinary family life and room for boredom. But we shouldn’t turn nostalgia into another impossible standard for modern mums. The childhood we remember wasn’t created by one endlessly present mother. It was supported by the world around her. 👭 The Five Villages Every Mum Needs this FREE audio guide will walk you through the different levels of support mums need, and how to build them. Get it here. 🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days. We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.
#82
June 9 · 25 min
82. Why more sleep isn’t fixing your exhaustion as a mum
What happens when you’re getting more sleep but still waking up completely exhausted? After separation, moving house, working, parenting and months of pushing through without properly recovering, I reached a point where my body and brain began to feel like they had nothing left. I was sleeping, but I was still waking up groggy, foggy and physically depleted. In this episode, I explore the difference between ordinary tiredness, rest and the deeper recovery many mums are missing. We talk about: maternal exhaustion that doesn’t disappear after a few early nights brain fog, forgetfulness, heavy limbs and feeling as though you’re functioning behind glass why time away from your children often becomes time for housework and life admin the difference between briefly stopping and feeling genuinely replenished how mums can continue functioning while running almost entirely on empty why chronic depletion has become normalised as part of modern motherhood identifying the places, practices and experiences that actually restore you Sleep matters, but motherhood can make uninterrupted recovery almost impossible. Even when you’re technically resting, part of you may remain responsible, alert and available to everyone else. This is an honest reflection on reaching the edge of my own resilience and recognising that recovery cannot consist solely of occasional naps, coffee dates or tiny pockets of time between responsibilities. Mums need consistent space to replenish, not just enough energy to keep functioning. Persistent or worsening exhaustion can also have physical or mental health causes. This episode shares my personal experience and isn’t a substitute for medical advice. 🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days. We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.
#81
June 2 · 33 min
81. How I’m keeping my culture alive while raising my mixed-heritage son abroad
How do you keep your culture alive for your child when they’re growing up somewhere else? My son is British and German, with Jamaican heritage, and is growing up in southern Germany. As he gets older, I’m realising that raising a mixed-heritage child abroad involves far more than teaching him two languages. It means making deliberate choices about the stories, traditions and parts of myself I want him to carry with him. In this episode, I talk about: passing on British books, nursery rhymes, celebrations and childhood memories keeping English alive when I’m now the only person regularly speaking it with him helping him feel connected to his Jamaican heritage when there is very little local representation watching him develop roots in a place that may never feel quite the same to me raising a mixed-race child in a predominantly white environment why “I don’t see colour” isn’t enough when the world will see your child differently navigating education, belonging and cultural identity in another country the beauty and pressure of giving a child more than one culture and sense of home There is so much richness in raising a child across cultures. But there can also be grief in realising that the traditions they absorb naturally may not be yours, while parts of their heritage could disappear unless you intentionally keep them alive. This is an honest reflection on language, race, identity and the responsibility I feel to help my son know all the different parts of who he is. 🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days. We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.
#80
May 26 · 1 min
80. Taking permission to chill
It has been a BIG week (or two), and sometimes you need to be given permission to take a break. 🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days. We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.
#79
May 19 · 19 min
79. Starting over after a breakup with kids
Starting over after a breakup with kids isn’t just heartbreak. It’s boxes everywhere. Admin. Bills. Furniture. Childcare. Internet that still doesn’t work. Trying to build stability for your child while your entire life is being rebuilt around them. In this episode, I’m talking honestly about the practical and emotional reality of separating with children, moving into my new apartment, rebuilding life from scratch and the hidden labour nobody really prepares mothers for. This is for the mums carrying grief, logistics, parenting and survival all at the same time. 🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days. We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.
#78
May 13 · 37 min
78. Child maintenance: what it actually covers, what it doesn’t, and how to talk about it
Separation with kids changes your finances overnight. In this episode, we’re talking about money after a breakup, and what child maintenance actually covers, and what it doesn’t. Because this is where a lot of the confusion and conflict starts. We cover: what child maintenance is really for why it often doesn’t stretch as far as expected the hidden financial load many mums are already carrying why money conversations after separation feel so charged If you’re navigating separation, or you might be one day, this will help you understand what’s really going on. 🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days. We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.
#77
May 5 · 19 min
77. Breaking up when you have kids: why there is no clean break
When you have children together, a breakup is rarely one clean exit. The relationship ends, but the shared life doesn’t. You can’t simply cut contact, disappear to heal or make decisions based only on what you need. You’re still parenting, coordinating and trying to remain civil while processing the loss of your relationship, your imagined family life and the future you thought you were building. In this episode, I talk honestly about what makes breaking up when you have kids so different, including: grieving while continuing to show up for your children living together after separation because money or housing makes an immediate move impossible disentangling routines, finances, family relationships and shared responsibilities deciding how childcare, holidays and handovers will work losing not only the relationship but the future and family structure you imagined trying to protect your children without suppressing everything you feel separating abroad when your support network and home country are elsewhere A breakup with children is both emotional and structural. You may be dealing with anger, grief, guilt and self-doubt while also searching for housing, arranging child maintenance, completing paperwork and working out a new co-parenting rhythm. If you’re going through this and wondering why you can’t simply move on, it isn’t because you’re handling the breakup badly. You’re trying to heal while remaining connected to the person and life you’re separating from. That is complicated, messy and deserving of far more understanding than it usually receives. 🎧 mentioned in this episode: 👉🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The 5 Villages Every Mum Needs ⁠ a free audio guide for mothers who feel like they were never meant to do this alone. 🫂 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days. We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to share your thoughts on this episode? TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliek.martin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@nataliekmartin.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes every Wednesday🎧 Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a quick review — it really helps other mums find the show.

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