Building Your Village as a Mother (Beth Berry)

#214 — Beth Berry became a mother for the first time at 17, but it wasn’t until she got married that she understood the injustices around motherhood. That’s when she realized the system was rigged, and it wasn’t in her favor.

In this episode of the Startup Parent podcast, Sarah K Peck interviews author and change maker Beth Berry about her experiences in motherhood. Today she’s the mom of four kids, ages 16, 18, 22 and 28 at the time of this interview. Through decades of motherhood, Beth learned the difference between raising kids with the support of a village — as compared to doing it in a more conventional single family household. Being in traditional marriage with kids was far, far more challenging. That’s why Beth is so vocal about the importance of being in community with other people.

Sarah and Beth talk about how external systems perpetuate loneliness, and why feeling like you never do “enough” as a mother is something that so many women experience. But it isn’t a personal failing: there is no way to be everything to your child. That’s the work of a village, not an individual. They also dig into why it’s so difficult to find support, how to practice vulnerability in new relationships, and how to show up for others in a genuine way so that you can build the community you need.

Sarah and Beth talk about:

• The ideals we have going into motherhood, and the compromises we have to make.
• The myth of rugged individualism, and how community belonging benefits everybody.
• How vulnerability, courage, and honestly communicating boundaries help us to foster healthy connection with each other.
• Understanding how our longings connect us to our needs.
• The power of space, personal agency, and trusting others in our parenting journey.
• Embracing the seasonality of each relationship and phase of life.
• Exploring your identity beyond the role of mother, and rebuilding the village you need.

This conversation is honest and insightful, and if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by motherhood, it might be exactly what you need to hear.

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Motherwhelmed: Challenging Norms, Untangling Truths, and Restoring Our Worth to the World
• Beth’s website Revolution from Home
• @RevolutionFromHome on Instagram
• MotherWorthy
• Work with Beth

SHOW NOTES

Full show notes at startupparent.com/214