54 | The Motherwhelm with Michelle | Miscarriage, Surrender & Intentional Parenting

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Michelle to talk about miscarriage, motherhood after loss, surrender, and the unexpected lessons motherhood teaches us about letting go.Michelle reflects on becoming a mother after three miscarriages, navigating an emergency caesarean birth, and discovering that babies cannot be managed like projects. Together, we explore the tension between ambition and stillness, the pressure to parent perfectly, and the profound shift from living only for yourself to making decisions for your family.Michelle shares how pregnancy loss shaped her gratitude for motherhood, why community and mothers' groups became essential during the postpartum period, and the lessons she inherited from both her mother and grandmother. We also discuss raising an only child, parenting through the teenage years, creating meaningful family rituals after loss, and why surrender may be one of motherhood's greatest teachers.Motherhood also inspired Michelle to build Stella Says, a business that has grown from a thoughtfully developed head lice product into a mobile head lice removal service supporting families across Melbourne and Geelong. Her entrepreneurial journey is another reminder that motherhood can open unexpected doors, allowing women to combine purpose, creativity, and practical support for other families.This is a thoughtful conversation about grief, intentional parenting, community, and learning that motherhood isn't something we master through control - it unfolds through presence, surrender, and the courage to grow alongside our children.If you've experienced miscarriage, motherhood after loss, or you're learning to let go of perfection and embrace a more intentional way of parenting, I hope Michelle's story leaves you feeling encouraged and deeply understood.Resources mentionedMeshel Laurie (@meshel_laurie)Stella Says – stellasays.com.auTopics discussed: miscarriage, pregnancy loss, motherhood after loss, surrender, intentional parenting, family rituals, grief, emergency caesarean, career and motherhood, entrepreneurship, community, motherhood identity.