By 
Shortly after the birth of my second child, I felt lost. Having my first child at 27, just as my career was beginning to gain traction, I had taken a 10-month maternity leave before returning to my role as a writer and editor for a national newspaper’s weekend magazine. Despite this, I found myself overwhelmed.
When my husband pointed out that I held a part-time position allowing quality time with our daughter and opportunities for freelance work, I couldn’t shake the feeling of stagnation. Watching friends advancing in their careers, traveling freely, and seemingly leading a more fulfilled life left me feeling disconnected. I adored being a mother but struggled with the feeling of being stuck. So, when a news reporting job opened up at the newspaper, I applied, eager for a role that felt meaningful and challenging. However, the demands of the position soon wore me down. Commuting across London and missing irreplaceable moments with my child, I found myself questioning the path I was on.
After my second child, I decided to leave the company and try something different, rallying support from my partner and friends. The high cost of childcare made traditional office work feel out of reach. Recognizing the lack of smart, honest media for mothers, I wondered why there wasn’t more space for women who, while loving motherhood, also sought engaging content beyond parenting.
A few gin and tonics later, I realized that if anyone could make this work, it was mothers. With the help of some generous friends and investment from Protein, an online magazine, Motherland, was born in August 2014.
Since its launch, Motherland has expanded, adding an online store and hosting creative events. Running a business alone, even with my husband’s and friends’ support, has been exhausting, to the point where I only took two days of maternity leave after my third child. Balancing the demands of business, motherhood, and freelance work has been challenging.
Yet, I’m keenly aware of how fortunate I am. Starting a business has been a challenging yet rewarding journey, allowing me the flexibility to be present for my children and participate in a supportive community of entrepreneurial mothers. The experience has been enriching and opened doors I hadn’t anticipated, as well as introduced me to a network of inspiring women working to redefine business culture for future generations.
