The Gap Between Expectations and Reality in Motherhood with Shanti Hollis Artwork

The Sparkle Project

(Formerly Worthy Mother Podcast)

The Sparkle Project is a feminist podcast for moms who are done carrying the weight of motherhood alone and are ready to connect with who they truly are - their sparkle, if you will.

So many of us feel overwhelmed not because we’re failing, but because we’re mothering inside a patriarchal system that expects us to give endlessly, stay quiet, and lose ourselves in the process. This space challenges those outdated expectations and embraces a more empowered, more supported, more self-honoring version of motherhood.

Hosted by Emily Rose MacDonald, a divorced mom of two on her own journey to shine a little brighter, each episode explores the realities of modern motherhood through a feminist lens that values equity, autonomy, mental health, and the humanity of moms.

You’ll hear conversations about identity, mental health, self-care, healing, and the many ways we can reclaim ourselves in a world that often overlooks the needs of mothers.

If you’re a mom who believes we deserve more than survival, and that our culture has to evolve for moms to truly thrive, you’re in the right place.

Welcome to The Sparkle Project.

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The Sparkle Project

The Gap Between Expectations and Reality in Motherhood with Shanti Hollis

July 23, 2024 • Episode 107

Most of us had some expectation of what motherhood would look like - and more often than not that expectation differs quite a bit from the reality. Mental Health Counselor Shanti Hollis is joining Worthy Mother Podcast to discuss how differences in our expectations versus reality can impact our mental health, and how we can navigate the unexpected in this season of our lives.

In the episode, Shanti and I talk about:

Becoming a mother
Shanti's own experience with loss early in her motherhood journey
Where we get our expectations of motherhood from
Exercises to understand what we actually want in our motherhood experiences
How EMDR therapy can be used to support mothers

A little about our guest:
Shanti Hollis is a mental health counselor with a heart dedicated to supporting moms. Two years ago, she embarked on her own journey into motherhood, which ignited a passion for guiding fellow mothers through the ups and downs of motherhood. Shanti understands firsthand the transformative nature of becoming a mother. Despite meticulous planning, she found herself facing unexpected challenges after conception and post-delivery. Driven by her own experiences, Shanti has established Motherhood with Shanti—a nurturing community for moms who are learning how to navigate uncomfortable and unexpected emotions about motherhood. Whether it's cherishing the beautiful moments or tackling the frustrating hurdles, all are embraced within this supportive space.

To connect with Shanti, follow her on Instagram @motherhoodwithshanti.

If you found this episode valuable, share it with other moms in your life. Follow along with The Worthy Mother Podcast on Instagram @emily.rose.hardy and @worthymotherpodcast, and don’t forget to subscribe wherever you listen!

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