Motherhood: Expectations vs Reality

Loading player...
New format. Same great storytelling.

Early in our marriage we spoke about having more than one child. And from time to time we revisit that conversation - each time with a refreshed perspective.
I've never asked Ruenda what it is like being a mom or if she has always wanted to mother a child. So that is what I did in this episode.

Long time listeners of this podcast know that our daughter has a complicated medical history. Expect raw responses to questions like "How do you prefer to tell strangers about Zoe?" and "How has your concept of motherhood changed?"

We also unpack;

a word to describe each year with Zoe,
the aspect of being a mom Rue would like more of,
and her thoughts on how can we best support moms everywhere.
To help me continue telling stories of vulnerability with beautifully messy, perfectly weird little humans, just like me, please subscribe to the podcast companion newsletter Something Shifted.

To celebrate the tenth episode of Some Assembly Required my friends at Stardust Adventure Coffee are offering you a 25% discount when you make an online purchase. Great coffee for a great journey.
Simply use the unique code SAR10 at checkout.

Happy Mother's Day.
11 May 2023 English South Africa Documentary · Personal Journals

Other recent episodes

"Some version of alright, eventually." | Losing a dream

Kojo Baffoe had a dream that shaped much of his life, until it didn’t. In this story, he reflects on what it means to lose something that once gave your life structure, meaning, and momentum. This episode explores loss, identity shifts, and the emotional process of letting go when the…
2 Jun 30 min

"As I walk through the darkness" | Faith and a stillbirth

Marilize De Clercq had prepared for a life she was about to meet. A nursery ready, a name chosen, a future imagined. Then everything changed. This is a deeply personal story about stillbirth, grief, and the emotional reality of losing a child before birth. It explores pregnancy loss, faith in…
19 May 21 min

"You've Always Just Been This Way." | Late autism diagnosis

Jess Hinds became a mother while quietly struggling with overwhelm she couldn’t explain. That was until an autism diagnosis reframed her entire life. This episode explores late autism diagnosis in adulthood, neurodivergence in mothers, and the grief that can come with finally understanding yourself. It’s a story about identity discovery,…
5 May 35 min