Let's Be Real - Mama Journeys - Episode 161 W/Emily Markley

Emily Markley is a Clinical Psychologist, a nonprofit Executive Director and a mama of 3.  Her nonprofit, Ardent Grove is a partner of YANA's and is doing amazing work in our community. As a mama of three littles, she started having her babies at the age of 32 after struggling with fertility for 2 years. She always knew she wanted to be a mom and the rest of her goals and path came after that as secondary priorities. Being a mom was always her first priority.  Her second and third pregnancies didn't need fertility intervention. The day of our podcast was her oldest son's first day of Kindergarten! This milestone was a huge step for her. One of her biggest challenges as a mama was the fantasy that when she became a mom that everything else would be on hold but as the world continues to spin, nothing stops. All of the drains of mind, body and the inability to be present with any one thing is really hard. Being a parent exposes so many things in a positive way but also fills old wounds with salt. The heartbreak of not feeling "enough" is probably the hardest part of motherhood. Her biggest supporter has always been her partner. He is her rock and a phenomenal human.  Her best mama moments with happy chaos in her home and can look at her husband and smile and say, "how's that working for you?"  Worst mama moments come when she gets in her own head and her feelings of ineffectiveness get in her way. When she feels like she isn't "enough" she gets in a repetitive, negative space is the hardest part of being a mama. Being a clinical psychologist at Ardent Grove has been a huge blessing to help other people hold space for what they are going through.