Since beginning my journey as a mother 5 years ago, I have gone through emotional highs and lows. I have gone through periods of absolute elation and being in love with my babies, but I have also had a really difficult time mourning my “old life.” Two weeks ago I was struck with a deep longing for the past. And what was it that I was longing for? I was longing for Sundays the way they were while I was earning my Undergrad in residence at Wilfrid Laurier– Which was waking up and just studying all day. Taking a few breaks to eat and hang out with my roommates, but really spending the majority of my day reading and just absorbing knowledge and learning.<\/p>\n

So simple, yet so impossibly out of reach.<\/h2>\n

And so are many of the things that I want from time to time because my current reality just doesn’t have space for those things, and sometimes it’s really difficult to accept that and maintain a positive mindset.<\/p>\n

Do you know what helped me feel better that day? Being able to say those words out loud. Being able to talk to someone who could empathize with me without judgment and just let those feelings out. Once I said them, I was amazed at how much lighter I felt. I was able to move on with my day and enjoy my children because the feelings weren’t eating me up inside anymore. That day it was my husband who I had to talk to, but I am also lucky to have a sister, my parents (also entrepreneurs) and some great friends I can call too.<\/p>\n

When it comes to life as an entrepreneur, it can also be a really lonely place.<\/h2>\n

When I had a traditional job, I went to work, I performed my assigned tasks, and then I received my salary and some other great benefits along with it. I worked for a very big corporation, and so I had many colleagues to connect with, share the challenges of my day, brainstorm and generally unpack anything work related and get great feedback and suggestions.<\/p>\n

But, pursuing my purpose of doula work had been pulling on my heart for many years, and when I finally found my way back to it and made the decision to resign my job, the weight of the world (and my family’s financial responsibilities) came crashing down on me and it was a really scary place to be. Being an entrepreneur, you are everything- you are marketing, you are networking, you are finance, customer service, sales,\u00a0everything<\/em> and that is a big role to fill.<\/p>\n

Kate was all of these things too. She built a multi-million dollar company world-wide, and yet the deep crushing unhappiness of her life was simply too much for her to bear any longer. These are often taboo feelings and topics and it’s really time to break the silence on maternal mental health.<\/p>\n

I know many other mothers who are entrepreneurs, and we all share many of the same struggles including the loneliness and that feeling that we are not enough.<\/p>\n

Sadly in motherhood and in the world of self-employment, mental health is not something talked about often. We will hear more about it now for sure, but it will be brief, and our culture will go back to placing the weight of the world on women’s shoulders.<\/p>\n