Wearing Too Many Hats — And Forgetting Ourselves....
Life is busy. Too busy. We wear so many hats—mother, partner, professional, friend, caretaker—that sometimes we forget who we truly are. We smile, we push through, we fake it when needed. And all too often, we hide from our fears instead of facing them head-on.
One of my biggest fears was losing my childcare and not being able to do what I truly love. I adore being a mum. There’s nothing in this world more important to me than my son—my wild, wonderful, four-year-old, always talking, always keeping me on my toes. But I also love teaching my Sunday yoga class - now not so mine anymore as Sarah's is back bringing her new mum's magic in. I am sure I am not only taking from my own heart but now Sarah's too - It’s my sanctuary, my passion, my connection to something bigger, my connection to 'ME'. And I rely on childcare to make it happen...
So, when the new year rolled in and my childcare suddenly disappeared, I was faced with a terrifying choice: cancel the class, or find a way to be fully present—for my son, for myself, for my students.
The Heavy Weight of Mum Guilt
If you’re a mum, you know there’s no guilt quite like mum guilt. The moment you choose something for yourself, the moment you say “I need this,” the weight crashes down. Shouldn’t I be putting him first? Shouldn’t I be the one holding space, providing, loving, sheltering?
I felt it all. That sickening rock in my throat. The panic rising in my chest. The overwhelming urge to just cancel. To hide. To run away from this impossible situation.
My husband, who was travelling at the time, suggested something that had always been a dream buried deep in my heart—bringing my son to my yoga class.
But in my head, fear painted a very different picture. I saw him running wild, demanding my attention, screaming, kicking, disrupting the class, and me—mortified—apologising, cancelling, refunding.
Still, despite every fear screaming at me to back down, I chose to trust. I chose to have faith in my son, in myself, in my yoga community.
Facing the Fear: The Moment of Truth
So, we talked. As much as a mum and a four-year-old can. I explained why I do what I do—how yoga heals, how people come to recharge, how important it was to stay quiet for those 60 minutes. And then I did what every mum does before facing the unknown: I packed snacks, charged the headphones, queued up Paw Patrol, and took a deep breath.
As we walked into the studio, my mind raced with apologies. Would my students be upset? Would they feel like their sacred space was invaded? Would they see me as unprofessional, as struggling, as failing?
And then—magic happened.
My beautiful yoga community embraced it. They welcomed my son with open hearts. They saw me, really saw me, trying to do my best for both them and my family. And my little one? He stood at the door, beaming, welcoming every single student with, “Welcome to yoga.”
Now wait for it - the biggest disaster?
My heart was pounding as I started the class. I braced myself for the inevitable meltdown, the tantrum, the moment of chaos.
And guess WHAT? …..nothing happened.
They greatest dissasters only happen in our heads. The rest is just life unfolding, one courageous step at a time.
He sat, happily watching his show, lost in his own little world. Forty-five minutes in, he took off his headphones, looked up at the entire class, and announced, “I’m done now!”
The whole class burst out laughing. And then he waited, patiently, for the last fifteen minutes as I finished.
When I finally closed the class, I was shaking. Not from fear, but from pure, unfiltered joy. One of my deepest desires—having my son present while doing what I love—had happened. And it happened so much sooner than I ever imagined, simply because....
..... I chose to face my fear.
Your Invitation: What Fear Will You Overcome?
This year, let’s stop hiding. Let’s stop letting fear write our stories. Take your power back!
Feel the fear. Do it anyway. See what happens.
Fall. Get up again. And live your most true, authentic life.
What fear are you ready to overcome this year?
This was so lovely to read :) proud of Magnus!