- Why she considered a hysterectomy at age 18
- Getting pregnant at 19 and her decision to have her son
- How tough it was being a wife and mother while in college
- Having the support of friends and family
- How motherhood changed her
- Her podcast, Going There with Jen Vertanen and talking about the messiness of life
- What she wanted to do differently with her kids versus what she experienced as a child
- If motherhood was what she expected it to be
- Treating herself the way she would want to treat her kids: self mothering
- Getting out of your head and putting yourself in someone else’s shoes
Listen below or subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play!
Jen talks motherhood…
What would you tell an expecting mom about the experience of being a mother?
Whatever you do…DO NOT lose your own identity or your relationship with your spouse/partner/what have you. It’s not worth it. Your children are oh so important but you are even more important. Your health is their health. Your happiness is their happiness. Your emotions are their emotions. Love your children to the moon and back but love yourself even more so that you CAN be the mom you want your children to have.
What is the hardest part about being a mom?
Each child can be SO DIFFERENT which is half the fun…and half the battle. What works for one will be the opposite for another and so on. Knowing/realizing this sooner would have saved me some sleepless nights for sure
What is your favorite part about being a mom? What makes all the hard stuff worth it?
See above :). Each of my three are so very different and I’ve enjoyed getting to know each of them individually and as siblings.
About Jen…
Jen Vertanen is a coach, mentor, speaker, and writer encouraging people to share the hard to tell stories and start to heal the places that hurt.
Jen knows the power of telling your story (hers stems from an emotionally abusive childhood) so often that the shame starts to fade away. She is also the creator and host of the podcast Going There with Jen Vertanen where she shares intimate conversations with people working to heal the places that hurt. She reminds people that we are never alone even though it oftentimes feels like it.
Known for her candor, willingness to go there (especially when it’s uncomfortable), humor, and openness, Jen is often thanked for asking the hard to answer questions and exploring the dark bits – even when it’s awkward.
Hey there! I'm Carrie Rubin, the Boss Lady & CMO (Chief Mom Officer) here at The Modern Mom Society. I'm a wife and mom of 2 living in Chicago. I love hearing people's stories... click here to hear mine!