#40 - The Top 10 Things About Motherhood That Shocked The Hell Outta Me

Join Cara Viana on this episode of the Playful Spirituality Podcast as she returns from a maternity leave hiatus to candidly share her experiences as a new mom. This episode is a raw and honest reflection on the unexpected challenges, joys, and surprises that come with giving birth and raising a newborn, including sudden vision loss, intense insecurity, social awkwardness, and finding unexpected pleasure in some seemingly mundane (even gross) and intense moments.  Cara gives uncommon insights into the physical and emotional transformations people undergo during pregnancy and in motherhood, and the absolute necessity of learning to receive and care for yourself too. She also acknowledges the importance of motherhood in society, recognizes societal undervaluation of the role, and shares how her experiences have turned her into something she never thought would be.  She demonstrates how she is truly cherishing every moment with her personalized view on parenting. Tune in for an infusion of playful spirituality that might surprise and comfort you if you're a parent, ever considered becoming one, or know people in your life who have gone through this journey.  00:00 Introduction to the Playful Spirituality Podcast 01:20 Returning from Maternity Leave: A Personal Journey 02:29 The Challenges of Pregnancy and Preparing for Motherhood 04:54 The Unexpected Joys of Motherhood 09:45 The Reality of Motherhood: A Bootcamp Comparison 17:11 The Slow Pace of Motherhood 23:52 The Importance of Support Systems in Motherhood 25:02 Motherhood: The Most Important Job in the World 27:37 The Vulnerability of Motherhood 28:43 The Struggles of Postpartum 29:34 Society's Lack of Support for New Parents 30:25 The Unexpected Joys of Parenthood 33:20 The Reality of Parenting and Time Management 34:44 The Bliss of Being a Parent 35:29 The Insecurity of Motherhood 39:52 The Social Awkwardness of New Parenthood 43:01 The Shock of Losing Vision 45:22 The Unexpected Baby Craze 49:06 Wrapping Up and Looking Forward ___________________________________________ Connect with Cara! Website - https://www.caraviana.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cara_viana/ Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/caraviana YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/caraviana