Becoming a Mum Can Make Your Whole Identity Collapse

Ashlee Coyles is a Perth mum of two little girls who runs a business with her husband. After the birth of her first daughter, she felt her whole identity collapse. In this honest conversation, she reflects on losing her confidence, stepping away from the business she helped build, feeling lonely and resentful when family and work life pulled apart, and learning to block out the constant noise of other people's opinions. In this episode of M.other with Audrey Isautier, Audrey and Ashlee talk about the realities that so many mothers experience but rarely say out loud. Ashlee shares how she woke up one day, around nine or ten months in, feeling like herself again, why asking for help is so hard when you do not yet know what you need, and how moving the family business back home made life feel whole again. Audrey also opens up about her own experience and about matrescence, the huge transition of becoming a mother that mirrors adolescence. They also discuss why all judgement is really self-judgement, the guilt that comes with paying for help, the generational pressure to do it all, and why grace and presence matter more than perfection. If you've ever questioned yourself as a mother, felt isolated, or believed everyone else had it figured out, this conversation is for you. Follow M.other with Audrey Isautier: Instagram:   / m.other.co   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17qP9M... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033L9BW... Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Connect with Audrey: Linktree: https://beacons.ai/m.other.co Chapters 0:00 Cold open and welcome to M.other 2:24 Meeting Alila and Havana and the quiet moments that make motherhood special 6:22 Losing confidence and the noise of everyone's opinions 8:52 Second-guessing every little thing 11:03 Feeling like yourself again 16:25 When your whole identity collapses and you step back from work 22:14 Loneliness, resentment and the day work moved back home 28:29 Family support and learning how to ask for help 33:00 Survival mode, raging hormones and giving yourself grace 36:15 Matrescence and the pressure to have it all figured out 40:42 Mum judgement and daycare guilt 46:56 What being a good mother really means and filling your own cup 55:05 Generational patterns, paying for help and the guilt of having support 1:06:18 Advice for new mum Ashlee and why everything is temporary Produced by Podwave Studios: www.podwavestudios.au This podcast shares personal experiences of motherhood. The views expressed are those of the individuals involved and are intended for conversation and support. They are not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. If this conversation brings up difficult feelings, support is available through Lifeline on 13 11 14, PANDA on 1300 726 306, or 000 in an emergency. #mother #motherhood #audreyisautier #podcast #podwavestudios #perth #motherhoodunfiltered #matrescence #newmum #mumlife #postpartum #identityshift #mentalload #mumguilt #mumjudgement #perthmums #mumsinbusiness #selfcompassion