Redefining Motherhood as a Relationship and Caregiving as a Job with Hannah Olson Artwork

The Sparkle Project

The version of motherhood we're sold looks nothing like the one we're actually living. That's by design.

The Sparkle Project is for the moms who are done pretending otherwise, and ready to reclaim the parts of themselves that got lost along the way. Hosted by Emily MacDonald, a single mom, feminist, and late-diagnosed ADHDer, each episode digs into the identity shifts, invisible labor, and systemic failures that make motherhood so hard. You'll hear from the experts, advocates, and real women who are finding their way back to themselves, so you can feel less alone in the hard parts and more like yourself in all the rest.

Somewhere between the mental load and the mom guilt, your shine is still there. The Sparkle Project is your space to find it.

(Formerly Worthy Mother Podcast)

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The Sparkle Project

Redefining Motherhood as a Relationship and Caregiving as a Job with Hannah Olson

May 21, 2024 • Episode 98

0:00 | 49:50

Hannah Olson is redefining motherhood, and while her take may be hard to wrap your head around at first, it's actually quite simple. What she's saying is that motherhood is a relationship, and caregiving is a job - all those messages we get about laundry, vacuuming, even changing diapers and driving the kids to practice being "mom tasks," it's B.S. Yes, many moms are the primary caregiver to their children, and that is amazing! But motherhood is about the relationship we share with our children, and that is the big difference.

In this episode, Hannah and I talk about:

Separating the relationship of motherhood from the job of caregiving
How equating motherhood to caregiving work leads to mom guilt
Seeing motherhood as more than 18 years of caregiving
The value of caregiving, monetary and otherwise
Why moms deserve to have a conversation about working out of the home, even if it means paying more for childcare

A little about our guest:
Hannah Olson loves creating, coaching, and connecting. She spends her time attempting to master sourdough, forgetting to water $30 Ikea plants, mishearing song lyrics, and hanging out with her husband and six children. Hannah founded Redefining Motherhood in 2021 to help women reduce mom guilt and experience more joy, by coaching them to see the difference between the job of caregiving and the relationship of motherhood. She is also the host of a (sometimes) weekly podcast, Rantish, where she discusses topics she feels strongly about like Pretzel Jello Salad, Physical Therapy for pelvic floor, and current Instagram trends. She also loves to have guests on the show and hopes to foster a community of belonging and connection for lonely women everywhere.

To connect with Hannah, follow her on Instagram @freckledhan or TikTok @therealfreckledhan. You can also visit her website www.freckledhan.com. Check out Hannah's podcast RANTISH wherever you like to listen.

If you found this episode valuable, share it with other moms in your life. Follow along with The Worthy Mother Podcast on Instagram @emily.rose.hardy and @worthymotherpodcast, and don’t forget to subscribe wherever you listen!

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