Gemma Dean Life Coaching

It took a relationship breakdown, burnout, and some very difficult years for me to realise something needed to change.

When I look at this smile, I see years of hard work. I see the courage it took to ask for help, working with a life coach, gaining my own life coach qualification, starting my business, and co-founding The Mindful Parent Hub. Most of all, I see the small steps I took every day to create a life that feels more aligned and fulfilling.

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from yourself right now, it won’t always feel this heavy.

The Restoring U Quiz is a great place to start. It can help you understand where you are right now and what you need most to move forward.

https://restoringyou.scoreapp.com

It took a breakdown for me to get to the starting point of my journey.

A relationship breakdown. A mental and physical breakdown. Years of parental burnout.

At the time, I was juggling work, school runs, three young children, and trying to navigate a new co-parenting relationship. Looking back now, much of it feels like a blur. I was surviving rather than living.

Today, when I look at this photo, I see so much more than a smile.

I see the courage it took to ask for help.

I see the support I received from my life coach, my family, my friends, and the people who stood beside me when I needed them most.

But I also see the work I put in.

The tears. The learning. The setbacks. The small daily choices. The moments when giving up would have been easier, but I kept going.

For that, I’m proud of myself.

That journey has shaped the woman I am today—a happier mother, a business owner, and someone who gets to support other parents through their own challenges.

Not only do I work one-to-one with parents, but I have also co-founded The Mindful Parent Hub, where we support parents every week with tools, guidance, and a safe space to explore what they need.

Because lasting change doesn’t usually come from one big moment.

It comes from small steps taken consistently.

I check in with my values.
I listen to my needs.
I honour what matters to me.

This smile didn’t happen by accident.

It was built through support, growth, self-awareness, and a commitment to myself.

And I’m still growing. 🌱

If you’re in a difficult place right now, please know that it won’t always feel this heavy. There is support out there, don’t hesitate to get in touch x.

Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that being a "good parent" meant putting everyone else's needs before our own. So when we do something that supports us, guilt often comes along for the ride.

For years, I found it difficult to take time for myself without feeling like I should be doing something more productive or putting someone else's needs first.

Since becoming a co-parent, something has shifted.

Of course, I miss my children when I drop them off. There are moments when the house feels quieter than I'd like, and I still look forward to having them back with me. But I've also learned to embrace the time when they're with their dad.

Those days aren't just empty spaces to fill. Yes, I work. Yes, I clean the house and get through the endless life admin. But I also give myself permission to enjoy my time.

I can meet a friend for coffee, go for a walk, read a book, work on my business, be creative, or simply rest. And for perhaps the first time in a long time, I do it without guilt.

Because I've realised that my identity isn't only "mum."

I'm still me.

And nurturing that part of myself matters.

Not just for my own wellbeing, but because when I reconnect with who I am outside of parenting, I return to my children feeling more grounded, more fulfilled, and more present.

Guilt doesn't always mean you're doing something wrong. Sometimes it's a sign that you're challenging old beliefs about what a good parent should be.

You are allowed to have needs.
You are allowed to enjoy your own company.
You are allowed to have a life that exists alongside parenting.

Looking after yourself isn't selfish—it's sustainable parenting. 💚

What helps you reconnect with yourself outside of being a parent?

Reading reviews like this honestly means so much to us 💛

Thank you to this lovely mum for taking the time to leave such kind words on my Google business page after joining one of our workshops last week.

At The Mindful Parent Hub, we want every parent to feel welcomed, supported and never alone in what they’re navigating. From calming breathing exercises to open, honest conversations — our workshops are designed to be a safe space for YOU.

Our new workshop series begins again on 10th June and we’d love to welcome more parents into our community 🌿

If you’ve been thinking about joining us, this is your sign

Visit https://www.artistsapothecary.co.uk/shop/events

Nervous system regulation isn’t just breathwork, meditation or journaling.

It’s so much more than that 🤍

It’s self-trust
Knowing you can handle what you feel

It’s safety
Feeling secure in your body and your environment

It’s sunlight
Getting outside and reconnecting with the world around you

It’s nourishing food
Actually supporting your body, not just pushing through

It’s movement
Releasing what your body is holding onto

It’s sleep
Giving your system the rest it needs to reset

It’s connection
Being with people who feel safe and supportive

It’s boundaries
Protecting your energy, even when it feels uncomfortable

Regulation isn’t one tool.
It’s a way of living that supports your whole system.

And it doesn’t have to be perfect—
just supportive, in the moment you’re in





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What people think overthinking is…
“Thinking too much”

But in parenting, it often looks like this:

Replaying how you spoke to your child…
Wondering if you got it wrong

Questioning every decision you made that day
Should I have handled that differently?

Overanalysing their emotions
Did I support them enough? Too much?

Trying to predict what might go wrong next
So you can be more prepared

Carrying the mental load of everyone’s needs
All the time

It’s not just “thinking too much”
It’s caring deeply… while holding a lot

But here’s the part we don’t talk about enough:

Overthinking doesn’t make us better parents
It just makes us more overwhelmed

There’s a difference between reflecting…
and getting stuck in the loop

Sometimes the most supportive thing we can do is gently remind ourselves:

“I’m doing my best with what I have right now”

And that gets to be enough 🤍





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She was raised one way…
but chose another

And if I’m honest, that choice doesn’t always feel easy.

Because what we were shown growing up becomes familiar.
It’s what we fall back on when we’re tired, overwhelmed, or unsure.

Choosing differently can feel uncomfortable.
Slower.
Less certain.

But it’s also where change begins.

In the pause before we react
In the softer response
In the moments we catch ourselves and try again

Not perfectly—just consciously.

That’s what breaking the cycle really looks like 🤍





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Sometimes I’m just too exhausted to hold the boundaries I’ve set with my kids.

And I know I’m not the only one.

There have been moments where I’ve been so tired…
I didn’t have the energy to argue, explain, or stay consistent —
so I gave in.

And honestly? That happens.

At that point, you’re not being a “bad parent”…
you’re protecting your own wellbeing in the only way you can in that moment.

But if it’s happening often, it’s usually a sign of something deeper:

You’re running on empty.

Because holding boundaries takes energy.
Patience.
Capacity.

And when you don’t have that… everything feels harder.

So instead of just pushing through or feeling guilty, try this:

Pause and check in.
What do you need right now?

More rest?
More support?
Lower expectations?

Because it’s not about being a perfect parent —
it’s about having enough in your cup to show up the way you want to.

You deserve support too 🤍

over again…”

If you’ve ever heard yourself say the same thing 10 times in a row, you’ll know how draining it can feel.

And it’s not just the words—it’s the energy it takes. The reminders, the negotiating, the frustration building underneath.

Here’s the shift: boundaries aren’t about control.
They’re about clarity… and protecting your energy.

When a boundary is unclear or inconsistent, we end up repeating ourselves more. Children aren’t trying to push us to breaking point—they’re often just responding to where the line keeps moving.

Clear, calm, consistent boundaries reduce the need to repeat, explain, and negotiate every time.

Less shouting.
Less chasing.
Less exhaustion.

In this week’s workshop, we explore how to:
✨ Set clear boundaries that your child understands
✨ Hold them without repeating yourself endlessly
✨ Preserve your energy while staying calm and connected

Because parenting shouldn’t feel like you’re running on empty 💛

Want to join us? There are a couple of spaces left for Wednesday at Good Shepherd Studios, Leytonstone.

https://www.artistsapothecary.co.uk/