Understanding Matrescence

“Work-life-balance”… does this phrase make you feel crazy??

One of my main aims is to help women identify what this means FOR THEM.

So many women I speak to (I myself used to be like this too) find themselves continuously pushing.

Pushing 😵‍💫

Pushing themselves to achieve it all…

Pushing with no clear definition of what the end goal is.

Can you relate?

Not feeling 100% there as a mum

Not feeling in check with your work

Dropping balls all over the shop

Cancelling with friends

Forgetting birthday cards

Being too knackered to go to the gym

(don’t get me started about having energy to be intimate with your partner).

IT’s A LOT.

So this I’m calling BS on it.

… and hosting a free masterclass.

The hope is, we’ll get a small but mighty group of mamas together to shake things up!

Shake things up and do mum-life differently!!!

I am here to tell you, you don’t need to feel so swamped.

there are things we can do to make change.

The link is in my bio👆
Are you going to join us?

💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥
3 ways to stop feeling so swamped in motherhood:

💥ditch the BS superwoman-cape, and get clear on your priorities

💥learn how to define what work-life-balance means to you

💥make practical steps to make this your new reality

Tag a mum friend who need to read this.

In it together mama 😘

LOVE getting smartly-dressed for early morning meetings or HATE missing school drop off?

Thing is… it’s often not a black or white feeling, is it?!

That feeling of push-pull…👇

wanting to be there as ‘mummy’ but also gagging for the opportunity to switch on your brain.

To have space.

To feel a sense of achievement.

To feel like you again.

Being in employment and also having kiddos can be a tail of two halves.

I’d love to hear your experience of it.

I’m offering up a wee thank you gift to all who spare a few mins to complete my survey 🎁

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc_9so0Rq9_xeIWFxKp93cqNqvtwzZRu5HZGRLK8AvbuJfIFg/viewform

Please and THANK YOU to all who can…

xx Gemma

I was screaming at the telly…. 🥹

“There’s a word. A reason!! ….A bloody HUGE significant life transition that needs supporting”

Have you watched Maternal yet???
I finally caught up last night.

The scene where Maz the incredible says,

“I feel like I can’t remember the doctor I was before I had children. Like all of the pieces of me are thrown up in the air and I am still waiting for them to land back down.”

Oh my goodness… ❤️

It’s called matrescence.

And somehow we NEED to find a way of making everyone aware (-check out if you haven’t already)

👉There’s a reason mothers feel this way.

What a cracking description ITV.

If only there is a way of getting this word, this explanation out there….!

Did you feel this way when returning back to work from may leave????

Let me know your experience below👇👇👇

MATRESCENCE = YOUR NEW LENS for considering the ‘person’ behind the
‘parent’

How much preparation did you do for the physical arrival of baby? …A lot! Right.

But then, ask yourself… how much consideration did you make towards how the new baby will impact the lives and identity of it’s parents? (YOU!)

Not much consideration… hmmm

How will it impact your social life?
ambition?
finances?
relationship roles and responsibilities?

Then take those changes and apply them to the workplace.

New deadlines.
New pressures.
New sleep deprivation.
New ambiguity.
New competing devotions.
New anxieties.
New. New. New… (you get the point 😂)

How much consideration did your employer make towards helping you prepare or settle back in?

What conversations could have been had that would have encouraged you to feel more confident?

More valued? More understood?

Far too many mothers are leaving the workplace in the early years of motherhood, because they do not feel they are able to manage it all.

Employers lose great talent with little warning.. all because these conversations are not being had.

It makes me crazy mad. This could be helped. Your corporate identity needn’t take such a nose dive… your family finances… your marital roles could be more equal. All because basic conversations are not being had.

Places of work might have great ‘family friendly policies’ in place.. but if they’re not having the conversations to drive change.. there’s still a huge part missing.

A huge part that YOU NEED if you’re to be enabled to thrive.

I can help you with exactly this!

DM to have a free convo about ways to talk to your employer about implementing this. Help me, help you make change 💥

Please share or comment below to help me spread the word 🗣️ thank you!

PS. Photo for no reason other than I thought it was funny. Bear doing an impression of me apparently 😂🤔🥰)

Why doesn’t every playground serve coffee!!?

Happy half term all! 👋

22. My year in review!

“The year I finally realised what slowing down actually means, not just looks like”

(those who know me know this👆doesn’t come easy for me!!!)

- learned more about myself than ever before!

- turned 40 and’ve finally started to feel comfortable in my own skin

- discovered my adhd 💥💥💥

- learned to celebrate my 🧠 and all its qwirks (difficulties, brilliances and everything in between)

- became mindful of my boundaries

- made big progress with my social anxiety, and became more comfortable saying no to things that don’t feel right

- had the best time in NYC with girl friends

-cut back on booze and redefined my relationship with alcohol (first NY’s day in forever with no hangover 🙌!)

- enjoyed our first family ski hol

- celebrated my biz success by taking kids to Disneyland

- moved into next ‘mum-phase’ as a mum of 2 school kids (whilst witnessing 🐻 smash stating reception)

- gave myself grace as we figured out various parenting highs and lows

- committed to my fitness 🏋️

- discovered 🎶

- attended a live class in nyc ✔️

- helped 23 amazing mamas with my 1:1 and group coaching

- completed my 2nd coaching qualification 🥂

- felt incredibly proud to be invited to become a programme ambassador for (if you want to know more about this incredible life changing training, do send me a dm!)

- gained clarity, confidence and direction on where I’m meant to move next and started putting wheels in motion for getting there 🤩

…as I write this list, I realise I could go on! Celebrating myself in the past has never come easy. So today, I’m seeing the growth and feeling incredibly grateful.

22 treated us well and I’m running into 23 feeling stronger and more aligned because of it.

It’s true what they say… it’s not just about the destination… it’s how you feel getting there that really matters.

I’m excited about what 23’s going to bring. I feel ready…

💥 here’s to you and yours too 😘

How’s your 22 been? How you feeling about what’s to come next?

Signing out for while 👋 whilst kindelings are off school. Just a wee note to say:

❤️ Thanks to all who have supported me and -It’s been a blast!!!!

The year’s topping out sending me and in a new direction which I would never have done without the support from clients, friends and all who shared my work.

💥 2023 will be a year of new direction, bringing matrescence into the workplace.

If you’re an employer or anyone invested in workplace wellbeing / improving support in biz for working mothers do follow along - 🙌

For those navigating mum life yourself, stick here… 👇

I’m still offering 1:1 coaching to help busy mums use the insights of matrescence to regain confidence, clarity and control.

Love to all my amazing clients, you’ve rocked it 🕺 …A massive THANK YOU for believing in me and allowing me to be part of your story.

Happy Christmas everyone…

Here’s to a happy and healthy 2023 🥂
Much love, Gemma x

What do you wish your pre-mum self had known??

I have so much compassion for the Gemma in this photo, taken 7 years ago to the day…

So many things I’d love for her to have known.

What do you know now that you wish your pre-mum-self had the chance to understand?

Suprise you much? It shows how men and women spend their time just before and in the 12 months after the birth of their first born.

Research also indicates that this gap continues, once women return to employment.

Domestic load imbalance is something that impacts many working women, ‘the juggle’ being the source of much overwhelm and fatigue.

Also a contributor towards why many women choose to stand down, take lesser roles or lean away from promotion - another huge contributing factor in the gender pay gap.

I highlight this, not to man-bash.

For sure, there are many men, husbands, partners out there who go out of there way to help in the household (yes Lee you’re included in this 😉)

…but as a generalisation, it’s easy to see why many women are burning out.

Trying to ‘do it all’, as if there’s not tiny humans added into the mix.

Yes, this data is taken from an Australian source, but experience in the UK is similar.

Domestic load imbalance is a contributing factor towards workforce progression imbalance.

What’s your experience?
I’d love to know your thoughts? 👇x

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/more-paid-parental-leave-even-at-minimum-wage-is-step-in-right-direction-20221104-p5bvnj.html

Does life feel like you’re running on a hamster-wheel?! 🐹

Running from one day to the next…
knackered…
doing all the things…

…never quite getting everything done??

👉What if I could help you get off!

Would you like me to help you get your sh*t together in 2023? 😅

I'm taking bookings now for coaching starting in Jan...

Personalised sessions, designed to get you off the 'hamster wheel' so you can reduce the amount you lose your s**t (and get back in the driving seat of life)!

DM me the word ‘hamster’ to learn more 🐹