The Motherhood Metamorphosis

Brittany Meng

They say that when a baby is born, so is a mother. But while you are there to help your baby grow into the person he or she is meant to be, who is there to help you? Many women feel lost and alone when they become mothers, wondering “who AM I now?”
Sometimes it feels like transformation from woman to mother is as radical as a caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly.
Did you know that inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar literally turns into goop before it rearranges itself into a butterfly? This podcast is about the goop, what soul transformation looks like as you transition from being a woman to a mom.
Your baby’s growth matters. But yours does too. You’re not alone. I’m your host, Brittany Meng.
Welcome to the Motherhood Metamorphosis.

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Top 10 The Motherhood Metamorphosis Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Motherhood Metamorphosis episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Motherhood Metamorphosis for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Motherhood Metamorphosis episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Valli Gideons: Navigating life’s challenges while raising kids with hearing loss

The Motherhood Metamorphosis

05/16/22 • 35 min

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With a degree in journalism, Valli Gideons' work has reached millions of people across multiple platforms. Her engaged community made up of parents and leaders in the field of the deaf and hard of hearing, she is passionate about her role as advocate and champion of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Valli opens her story about raising two children with hearing loss by saying simply, "My baby was the first deaf person I ever met."
Our conversation explores her amazing and unique journey of motherhood (and being a military spouse!) and how both the hardships and joys of her life have shaped her into the woman she is today, and inspired her to share her story in her new book, Through the Fog: Navigating life’s challenges while raising kids with hearing loss .
References:
The Price of Admission by Liz Patrone
Through the Fog: Navigating life’s challenges while raising kids with hearing loss by Valli Vida Gideons

You can follow more of her family’s journey here: www.mybattlecall.com. and on Facebook/IG @MyBattleCall

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Mary's Story: A Birth Story (Part 1)

The Motherhood Metamorphosis

12/13/21 • 17 min

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Welcome to this special episode of the Motherhood Metamorphosis. This week, I’ll be reading my fictional account of what I think the first Christmas may have looked like, if Mary had written down her birth story for all of us to read.

I wrote this 3 part story in 2017, though it had been in my mind since my youngest son Elijah was born in 2014. His birthday is just 2 days before Christmas and while I was pregnant with him, I just couldn’t help but think about Mary, about what it must have been like for her—as a woman—to give birth to Jesus. What did she feel? How did the birth go? Did she really give birth in a dark, cold barn, surrounded by animal with only Joseph to assist?

This is a work of fiction but it is based on the Biblical accounts in Mathew and Luke, as well as a lot of research I did on ancient middle eastern culture and hospitality practices and really came up with a different narrative than the one that we’re so used to seeing in our modern Christmas culture, where Mary is this pristine, clean, unruffled person dressed in blue and white, with no hint of a belly with her arms crossed over her chest kneeling beside a wooden manger.

So this is quite a different Christmas story than you may have heard before, or that has been portrayed in our culture through paintings, Christmas songs, and nativity scenes. But I hope that this un-sanitized, real, and authentic birth story will inspire you to view not only Mary in a new way, but your own motherhood as well as you move through your own metamorphosis and spiritual journey.

So welcome to Part 1 of Mary’s Story
By Brittany Meng
(If you just can't wait for the next installment, you can read the rest of the story here)
Have a happy holiday, everyone! Regular episodes will resume on January 3, 2022

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Jessika Sanders: having a NICU baby changed me

The Motherhood Metamorphosis

08/01/22 • 45 min

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Jessika Sanders is the Founder and President of Praying Through ministries, a nonprofit organization that emboldens and equips families with Biblical Truth and encouragement as they journey through the difficult seasons of the NICU, PICU, and Child Loss.
In this episode, Jessika and I talk about the roller coaster that is having a baby in the NICU and the emotional hurdles that come with this often unexpected journey.
She shares about her precious son and his long stay in the hospital and how she used her experience to provide solace and support for parents who are also going through the NICU, PICU or child loss.
The NICU can shape a woman as a mother and Jessika's story is one of compassion, honesty, and hope.
Find Jessika here: www.prayingthroughministries.org
Resources: Swaddle Baby Dolls

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Erin Eileen Leigh: Navigating postpartum and self-care

The Motherhood Metamorphosis

02/20/23 • 35 min

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Erin Eileen Leigh is married to her college sweetheart, and she is the proud mother of three sons and one daughter. She practiced health care law for over ten years before becoming a stay at home mom. She published her first book earlier this year: Navigating the Newborn Months and Beyond: A Mother's Guide to Routine, Sleep, Fussiness and Self-Care and is also a contributing writer for Her View From Home, Motherly, and Motherzing magazine.
Erin and I talk all things postpartum in this episode, the period directly after you have a baby, and what a transformative and often challenging period that can be.
We share our stories, difficulties, what boosted and shattered our confidence, and our best advice for new moms in navigating postpartum life.
Find Erin's book here!

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Jillian Benfield: Down Syndrome, Bravery, and The Gift of the Unexpected

The Motherhood Metamorphosis

02/06/23 • 42 min

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Jillian Benfield is a former news anchor and reporter with a broadcast journalism degree from the University of Georgia. She and her husband got the surprise of their life when they found out their unborn son was rockin' an extra chromosome- also known as Down syndrome. Jillian's writings about living an unexpected life have been featured on Good Morning American, The Today Show and Her View From Home.
We dive deep into Jillian's story of the Unexpected: losing her career in TV after a military move; a surprise pregnancy and Down Syndrome diagnosis for her son, Anderson; and other unexpected left turns in her story of motherhood.
During our conversation, she shares her wisdom and faith with honesty, thoughtfulness, and authenticity. Jillian shares how she felt bitter and stuck and how she found her light and hope again in life. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I enjoyed speaking to her!
Find Jillian here:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Buy here book here

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Caitlin Voebel: Navigating grief after my mom died

The Motherhood Metamorphosis

01/22/24 • 44 min

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Caitlin Voebel is a 33 year old mom of 4. Her husband of nearly 14 years is Air Force and she spent all of her adulthood traveling and moving where the military sends them, creating life and connections in each place.
While she has worked as a caregiver, dance instructor, and childcare provider, her real and true calling is to be home with her children. She’s not a professional writer (yet) but after her mother’s passing she created @griefgraceandwaffles on Instagram as an outlet for processing grief, motherhood and things in between.
Caitlin and I explore her unique journey of grief when her mom died unexpectedly at the age of 48 when Caitlin was 6 weeks postpartum with her 3rd child and living overseas.
She shares how she's learning to show up as herself in her own grief and as a mom to her kids, how she discarded platitudes that people say to try and comfort, and how she's figuring out how to navigate grief on her own terms.
Link to Caitlin's Shop: I know you're tired, but stay on fire

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Alisha Meador: Divorce, Co-parenting, and holding onto joy

The Motherhood Metamorphosis

04/08/24 • 34 min

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Alisha and I explore her narrative about separation, divorce, and co-parenting her two boys. She relates the hard and challenges things she’s experiences and also shares how she’s growing, changing and finding new ways of being herself in an unexpected story.
This episode will encourage anyone who has gone through a big life transition and is now seeking new ways of being themselves and finding joy.

Follow Alisha’s writing on Substack here: alishameador.substack.com

BIO: Alisha Meador is a divorced, single mom of 2 boys living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of VA. She’s passionate about community, friendships and authenticity. When she’s not working her job in local government, you can find her either somewhere outdoors, playing darts, hanging with friends at a local restaurant, watching British television or planning her next adventure - preferably one that involves England. Or attempting to navigate the world of online dating (someone please help!)

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Brittany Meng: When you can't embrace it

The Motherhood Metamorphosis

01/30/23 • 5 min

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Got 5 minutes? This is the perfect "I see you" moment for your Monday morning.
This chapter, When you can't embrace it, is an excerpt from my audiobook Unexpected: Learning to love your unpredictable story. For this month, anyone who signs up to be a $3 patron on Patreon will received a free Audible download of the whole book. If you become a $5 patron, I will send you a signed hard copy of the book.

Thanks for listening! If you’d like to receive an audio version of my book or a hardcopy, please visit patreon.com/themotherhoodmetamorphosis

About Unexpected: Learning to love your unpredictable story
Are you going through the unexpected right now, this very moment?

I've been there too: From an unexpected twin pregnancy; Autism and ADHD diagnoses for my sons; a devastating miscarriage; the loss of my career; dealing with depression and anxiety; being a military wife, and so much more. With honesty and compassion, I explores themes such as grief, anger, rest, waiting, community, patience, supporting others through difficult circumstances, and loving others when it is hard.

Each chapter contains a brief reading, scripture to meditate on, and challenge questions to ponder, pray over, journal about, or discuss in a group. My hope and prayer is that as you are going through this unexpected season, my story will encourage you and provide comfort and support as you bravely walk this unfamiliar path.

NOTE: I write about my faith so this book may not speak to you in your personal journey. However, I strive to be inclusive and encouraging (and NOT preachy) and women who are not Christians have enjoyed reading it as well.

Thanks for listening! If you’d like to receive an audio version of my book or a hardcopy, please visit patreon.com/themotherhoodmetamorphosis

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Brittany Meng: Becoming a Cycle Breaker (Sneak Peek!)

The Motherhood Metamorphosis

06/27/22 • 7 min

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In this solo episode, I talk about what being a cycle breaker means to me. Sometimes we break cycles from our own childhoods, or generational cycles of dysfunction. Sometime we break cycles that we have created in our own families too that are not working for us anymore or are causing harm.
For me, cycle breaking is about our inner work not just providing a different path for our children. I want to break cycles of fear, shame, deprivation, dysfunction, and trauma. I want to provide paths of healing, wholeness, delight, health, and love.
So how do we start? In this episode, I share 3 truths I've realized and 4 steps I've taken, along with specific stories, to help change the narrative for my kids and break toxic cycles.
It’s not too late to say, “I’ve been doing things one way and I want to do things another way.”
If you'd like to listen to this full episode, please go to patreon.com/themotherhoodmetamorphosis and choose the Butterfly Tier.

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Lauren Flake: Losing my mom to Alzheimer's as a young mom

The Motherhood Metamorphosis

01/17/22 • 33 min

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Lauren Flake is a wife, mom to two girls, watercolor artist, seventh-generation Texan, and early-onset Alzheimer's daughter. She is the author and illustrator of two award-winning children's books for grieving preschoolers, Where Did My Sweet Grandma Go? and Where Did My Sweet Grandpa Go?, and a devotional for women, Though I Walk through the Valley.
Lauren's mom was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease in 2013 when Lauren graduated from college and then sadly passed away when Lauren was a young mother. Our conversation recounts the intense difficulties of caring for a declining parent when you still need your mom so much and the grief Lauren experienced and still experiences in her life.
Quotable Quotes:
“My grandparents died in their early 90s. I had them for a long time and they had a full life and I grieved the relationship we had that was lost. But then with my mom, I grieved that but I also grieved all these things that she’s missing.

“We’re so naive about grief. You’re never done with grief. You always grieve. Don’t tell me to stop grieving; that’s like telling me to stop loving. Grief is just the other side of love.”

We also talked about how Lauren has transformed her experiences into resources for others who are walking the same path.
She hosts a caregivers support page called Daughters of Dementia
Her books for preschoolers:
Where did my sweet Grandma go?
Where did my sweet Grandpa go?
A devotional for grieving women:
Though I walk through the valley
Find Lauren here:
@loveofdixie on Facebook and Instagram
LaurenFlake.com

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FAQ

How many episodes does The Motherhood Metamorphosis have?

The Motherhood Metamorphosis currently has 102 episodes available.

What topics does The Motherhood Metamorphosis cover?

The podcast is about Mom, Personal Growth, Parenting, Female Empowerment, Kids & Family, Women, Motherhood, Podcasts, Self-Improvement and Education.

What is the most popular episode on The Motherhood Metamorphosis?

The episode title 'Erin Eileen Leigh: Navigating postpartum and self-care' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on The Motherhood Metamorphosis?

The average episode length on The Motherhood Metamorphosis is 35 minutes.

How often are episodes of The Motherhood Metamorphosis released?

Episodes of The Motherhood Metamorphosis are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of The Motherhood Metamorphosis?

The first episode of The Motherhood Metamorphosis was released on Oct 1, 2021.

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The Motherhood Metamorphosis

Brittany Meng

Top 10 The Motherhood Metamorphosis Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does The Motherhood Metamorphosis have?

What topics does The Motherhood Metamorphosis cover?

What is the most popular episode on The Motherhood Metamorphosis?

What is the average episode length on The Motherhood Metamorphosis?

How often are episodes of The Motherhood Metamorphosis released?

When was the first episode of The Motherhood Metamorphosis?

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