The MOMents Podcast For Working Moms | Work-life Balance | Ambition | Identity

When we become mothers, everyone talks about the baby. The feeding. The sleep. The milestones.But almost nobody talks about what happens to us.The identity shift. The grief for the life we once had. The guilt of wanting space while loving our children deeply. The feeling that somewhere along the way, we've lost ourselves.Meg Faure, parenting expert, author and founder of Parent Sense, joins Madge for a powerful conversation about matrescence – the profound psychological, emotional and neurological transformation that takes place when a woman becomes a mother.This conversation is a reminder that if motherhood has changed you, you're not doing it wrong. You're becoming someone new.In this episode you'll learn:- What matrescence is and why so few mothers have heard of it- How motherhood physically changes the brain and how long those changes last- Why grief and love often coexist during the transition to motherhood- Why returning to work after having a baby can feel so disorientating- Which mothers are most vulnerable to losing their sense of identity- Five practical anchors to help you stay connected to yourself- What co-regulation is and why it matters when you're running on empty- Why perfect parenting isn't the goal, repair is⏱️ CHAPTERS:[00:00] Why nobody prepares women for matrescence[03:15] What happens to a mother's brain after birth[07:42] The hidden grief of becoming a mother[12:38] Why we lose ourselves in motherhood[16:54] Returning to work and rebuilding identity[21:47] The village we've lost and why connection matters[25:30] Five anchors for navigating matrescence[29:18] Co-regulation, repair and realistic parenting[32:10] Meg's message for every mom who feels lost🎙️ ABOUT THE GUEST:Meg Faure is one of South Africa's most trusted voices in early childhood development. She is the author of eight parenting books, including the bestselling Baby Sense series and the founder of Parent Sense, a parenting platform that supports families through every stage of early childhood.🔗 Follow Meg:Instagram: @megfaure.senseLinkedIn | Parent Sense🎧 ABOUT THE MOMents PODCAST:The MOMents Podcast is for ambitious working moms building a life that works for both family AND career. Hosted by Madge Booth, we have honest conversations about motherhood, work, identity and everything in between.FOLLOW US:Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn
https://www.momentsmedia.co.za#matrescence #motherhood #workingmoms #megfaure #postpartummentalhealth #momguilt #workingmotherhood #identityaftermotherhood #parentingpodcast #momentspodcast

As working moms, the constant pressure from work, home and our children's schools can feel like a high-data usage app running in the background.
And it doesn't only affect our mental health, how we manage pressure, has an impact on our kids too. They're picking up on every rushed morning and every stressed-out homework session.

Rolanda Marais, renowned actress and mom of two, joins Madge for an honest conversation about breaking the cycle of pressure, taking a look at our parenting and how to foster emotional resilience.

This conversation won't give you another thing to add to your list. It'll give you permission to take things off it.

In this episode you'll learn:

Why the language you use every day could be quietly increasing your child's anxiety
How to trust your child's individual journey (even when it's uncomfortable)
The one thing Rolanda does at the bottom of her to-do list that will stop you in your tracks
How to set boundaries with schools and teachers and why it's okay to skip non-essential homework
How to model calm and resilience even when you're running on empty
Why connection always matters more than perfection

⏱️ CHAPTERS:
[00:00] The pressure working moms carry every single day
[03:01] Recognising early signs your child is feeling the squeeze
[07:31] Managing homework stress without damaging your relationship
[09:46] How your language shapes your child's anxiety
[15:40] When the pressure is coming from us and why self-care matters
[25:18] Trusting your instincts and choosing connection over performance
[28:23] A gentle reminder: focus on joy, not perfection

🎙️ ABOUT THE GUEST:
Rolanda Marais is a South African actress and mom of two who speaks openly about the realities of modern motherhood. Her personal journey navigating pressure, connection and balance makes her a voice every mom needs to hear.
🔗 Follow Rolanda on Instagram: https://t.ly/hVURu

🎧 ABOUT THE MOMENTS PODCAST:
The MOMents Podcast is for ambitious working moms building a life that works for both family AND career. Hosted by Madge Booth, we talk honestly about the challenges and triumphs of motherhood, without the filters.

FOLLOW US:
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Website

#workingmoms #parentingpressure #childrensmentalhealth #workingmomlife #parentingtips #momguilt #raisingkids #schoolpressure #parentingpodcast #momentspodcast

Is your medical aid actually working for your family or just draining your bank account?
Most families are overpaying for cover they don't understand, missing benefits they're entitled to, and making costly mistakes that add up fast.
In this episode, healthcare and financial specialist Liz Coetzee breaks down exactly what you need to know to protect your family without wasting a single rand.

In this episode we cover:
The #1 sign you're on the wrong plan
Why "more cover" doesn't always mean better cover
How to use your benefits strategically from January
Cash vs. claiming and when each makes sense

Chapters: The 7 Tips
00:00 Navigating Medical Aid: The Basics
01:46 Understanding Coverage Needs
07:42 Reviewing Your Medical Aid Plan
09:43 Strategic Use of Medical Aid
12:39 Maximising Savings Benefits
15:41 Cash vs. Claiming: Making Smart Choices
17:46 Downgrading Plans: When and How
19:54 Choosing the Right Plan for Families

This is the medical aid conversation every parent needs to have.
🎙️ ABOUT THE GUEST:
Liz Coetzee is a healthcare and financial specialist who assists families to pick the best medical aid or hospital plan for their needs and budget. Reach out to Liz: https://t.ly/OYQoB

🎧 ABOUT THE MOMENTS PODCAST:
The MOMents Podcast is for ambitious working moms building a life that works for both family AND career. Hosted by Madge Booth, we talk honestly about the challenges and triumphs of motherhood, without the filters.

📲 FOLLOW US:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moments_omnimedia/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572218987263
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moments-omnimedia
Website: https://www.momentsmedia.co.za/

#MedicalAid #MedicalAidSouthAfrica #HealthcarePlanning #FamilyHealth #SouthAfricanMoms #SaveMoney #HealthInsurance #MomFinances #KnowYourBenefits

If that sentence sums up your motherhood experience, this podcast was made for you.
MOMents is the parenting podcast for ambitious working moms who are done pretending they have it all figured out. We talk honestly about the love, the joy, the mom guilt, mental load, burnout and the mad expectations of what it really means to be a modern mom.
Follow for real conversations. New episodes every other week. 🎙️

#workingmoms #momlife #mompodcast #parentingpodcast #momguilt #mentalload #workingmom #modernmom #ambitiousmom #podcastformoms #workingmother

What happens after the excitement of starting a business fades and the real work begins? In this episode, Madge sits down with business coach Amantle Kanyuchi to talk honestly about the messy middle, that uncomfortable in-between space where you're no longer a beginner but you're not yet where you want to be.

Amantle shares practical wisdom and hard-won insights on navigating self-doubt, slow growth and the unique challenges moms face when building something of their own.

In this episode we cover:

The harsh realities moms need to understand before starting a business

Whether entrepreneurship is actually harder than staying employed

Is it selfish to build something big while your kids are still small?

The biggest internal and external challenges in year one

What success really looks like before the big wins arrive

How to use data and reflection to move forward when you feel stuck

How to know when to keep going, or when to walk away

The one piece of advice for moms deciding between a 9-to-5 and their own business

Chapters

00:00 Navigating the Messy Middle of Entrepreneurship
01:32 Realities of Motherhood and Business
05:47 The Challenge of Balancing Time and Ambition
10:16 Overcoming Internal and External Challenges
14:11 Defining Success in the Messy Middle
18:16 Facing Fears and Self-Doubt
20:33 Knowing When to Persevere or Pivot
23:06 Advice for Moms: 9 to 5 vs. Entrepreneurship

🎙️ ABOUT THE GUEST:
Amantle Kanyuchi is a business coach helping women navigate the real-life challenges of entrepreneurship. Find out more about Coach Amantle: www.coachamantle.com and subscribe to her newsletter: https://t.ly/TP8W-

🎧 ABOUT THE MOMENTS PODCAST:
The MOMents Podcast is for ambitious working moms building a life that works for both family AND career. Hosted by Madge Booth, we talk honestly about the challenges and triumphs of motherhood, without the filters.

📲 FOLLOW US:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moments_omnimedia/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572218987263
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moments-omnimedia
Website: https://www.momentsmedia.co.za/

#mompreneur #mombusiness #momguilt #workingmom #momEntrepreneur #startingabusiness #momlife #parentingpodcast