Mother's Day Special: The Invisible Clutter We All Carry 🎙️
Whether you're celebrating or struggling this Mother's Day, my podcast interview with 'Lighten Up!' host Melanie Cohen offers clarity for your mental space
This week, I'm sharing an episode in honor of the mothers and want-to-be Moms out there. It's about clutter—but not that kind of clutter.
The moment I met Melanie Cohen, I knew I liked her. She exuded a calm confidence and had purple hair. I mean, how cool is a woman who can rock purple hair?
She introduced herself as a clutter coach, and immediately, my mind went to the pile of mail I kept ignoring and the clean laundry I knew was on my bed and needed to be put away once I got home. But Melanie wasn't talking about THAT kind of clutter, although she helps people with that too. She had introduced herself to me because she wanted to discuss mental clutter.
It's your inner voice that won't leave you alone. The nagging in your head—that is created by no one but you, yet often comes from societal expectations and guilt or shame.
I've been a want-to-be mother my entire life. I first became a different kind of mom, a stepmother to a beautiful 8-year-old. Being a stepmom was something I never imagined I would be, yet I had fallen in love with a man who was already a father, so I began redefining what my vision of family looked like. We shared Marianna with her mother; her Mom was a loving presence in her life. I would never be her Mom, but I'd always be there for her, love and support her. But when we got married, one thing Michael and I knew was that we wanted a child together.
We could never have imagined how challenging and tragic our path to meeting Carolina would be. The mental strain of infertility, loss, and now motherhood is overwhelming. As desperately as I wanted to be a mother and as in awe I am of my daughter and all the love and joys that come with motherhood, there's so much mental clutter that comes along with it.
If you'd like to learn more, I'd love for you to listen to my conversation with Melanie. You can listen to it on Apple Podcasts here or Spotify here.
In this episode, Melanie Cohen speaks with Lia De Feo, Fertility and Surrogacy Activist about her journey through fertility, motherhood, and the mental clutter associated with these experiences. Lia shares her personal story of loss, the challenges of infertility, and the emotional burden of pregnancy loss. They discuss the societal expectations placed on women regarding motherhood and the importance of supporting those who are struggling with infertility. The conversation also touches on the impact of age on parenting, the significance of honoring lost children, and the need for open communication about these topics. Lia emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and finding support during difficult times, while also addressing the mental clutter that can arise from birth plans and societal pressures.
Words of the Week
“Be good to yourself today.” —Lia De Feo
Photo of the Week
My two girls, Marianna and Carolina, a few years ago in red. Marianna was on her way to the Prom. Carolina was so excited to see her sister all dressed up. My third girl, Basil, makes me a fur mamma. Our dog is missing from this photo, and I wouldn't want to cheat you of seeing her. So, here she is at my husband Michael's studio. I'm wearing my sister-in-law, Yuni Buffa's, shoes—my favorite loafers!
Happy Mother’s Day to you, Lia!
Happy Belated Mother’s Day to the one and only, incomparable Lia💕💕💕💕