Feeling Lost in Motherhood? How to Reconnect With Your True Self with Rachael Smith 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

Feeling Lost in Motherhood? How to Reconnect With Your True Self with Rachael Smith

June 24, 2025 • Episode 154

0:00 | 30:24

Motherhood can be beautiful — and also deeply disorienting. So many moms experience a sense of loss of self in the transition into motherhood and struggle to reconnect with who they are in this new season of life. This week, licensed professional counselor Rachael Smith joins Emily for an empowering conversation on how moms can reconnect with themselves after having kids.

In the episode, they talk about:

Why so many moms feel lost or disconnected from themselves postpartum
The myth of "bouncing back" and what true healing looks like
What it really means to rediscover your authentic self as a mom
How self-awareness can be a catalyst for reclaiming joy and purpose
Why short-term and long-term self-care both matter (and how to actually make time for them!)

Whether you're deep in the newborn fog or several years into parenting, this episode will remind you that you're not alone — and that it's not only okay, but necessary, to take up space for yourself.

🔗 Connect with Rachael:

Instagram: @_aftertheglow_
Website: www.aftertheglowcounseling.com

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose
Follow the podcast on TikTok → @worthymotherpodcast

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