Can You Love Motherhood and Still Want More? Finding Yourself Beyond Being 'Just Mum'

Is it possible to absolutely love being a mum... and still feel like something is missing? For so many women, motherhood brings immense joy—but it can also bring an unexpected sense of loss. The loss of confidence, identity, ambition or simply remembering who you were before everyone needed a piece of you. In this deeply honest conversation, I sit down with author, speaker and coach Benita Bensch to talk about the parts of motherhood we don't often say out loud. Benita shares her journey through raising four boys on the land, experiencing two significant periods of burnout she describes as "the black hole," and the long road back to reconnecting with herself. Together, we explore why so many mothers feel invisible, how our inner stories can keep us stuck, and why asking for what you need isn't selfish—it's essential. If you've ever wondered, "Who am I outside of being Mum?" this episode is for you. In this episode we discuss: Why it's possible to love motherhood and still crave more for yourself Feeling invisible after becoming a mum The identity shift that comes with motherhood Benita's experience of burnout, anxiety and finding herself again Why reconnecting with your creativity matters Letting go of guilt around wanting something for yourself The power of boundaries, self-awareness and asking for help Practical ways to reconnect with yourself when life feels overwhelming If this conversation resonated with you, I'd love for you to share it with another mum who needs to hear that she's not alone. Do you feel like you have to choose between being a good mum and having a meaningful career? Carina speaks with clinical psychologist and executive coach Dr. Anne Welsh, a mum of four who specialises in maternal mental health and works with women in leadership and working mothers navigating exactly this tension. We talk about why the "escalation of modern motherhood" means today's mums are being asked to do more, emotionally, logistically, and professionally, than any generation before them, and why that's not a personal failing, it's a systemic shift. Anne shares the research behind why quality time with your kids matters more than quantity, why the mental load is so much heavier than a to-do list, and a simple exercise to help you work out who you are now that you're a mother - not just who you were told to be. If you've ever felt the ground shift under your identity after having kids, or wondered whether ambition and motherhood can actually coexist, this episode is your permission slip to stop choosing and start figuring out what you actually want. In this episode we cover: Why ambition and motherhood have historically been treated as opposites The "escalation of modern motherhood" and why the mental load keeps growing The research on quality vs. quantity of time with your kids A simple exercise to reconnect with your identity after becoming a mum Why naming what you want is one of the most powerful things you can do How to give yourself permission to focus on what matters to you, not what you "should" be doing Connect with Benita Bensch Instagram: @benitabensch  Website: benitabensch.com Book: Seen Again: Light on Matrescence  Connect with Carina and Working Mumma  Follow on Instagram  Follow Working Mumma podcast on Instagram Connect with Carina on LinkedIn Subscribe to the newsletter