8. Trusting Yourself as a Parent with Henny McMahon

Summary

In this episode, Shaun Tucker interviews Henny McMahon, a mother of two who migrated to Australia from Germany. Henny shares her experiences of motherhood, including the challenges she faced as a young mother without family support and the judgment she received for her parenting choices. She emphasizes the importance of trusting oneself and making decisions that are right for you and your child, despite societal expectations. Henny also discusses the unique challenges of co-parenting and balancing different parenting styles between households. The principal themes of the conversation are trust, evolving relationships, meeting children on their level, supporting their passions, and enjoying the journey of parenthood. The subtopics discussed include the influence parents have on their children, earning trust, supporting children's interests, letting go and allowing them to experience life, and finding joy in the ups and downs of parenting.
 
Takeaways

• Motherhood can be a lonely journey, especially for young mothers without family support.
• It is important to trust yourself and make decisions that are right for you and your child, even if they go against societal expectations.
• Co-parenting can present unique challenges, especially when there are different parenting styles and expectations between households.
• Balancing the environment and influences on your child is crucial for their well-being and development. Parents have a significant influence on their children when they are young, but as they grow older and enter social structures, the influence diminishes.
• To maintain a strong relationship with their children, parents should find ways to meet them on their level and support their interests.
• Supporting children's passions and being actively involved in their activities can bring parents and children closer together.
• Parenting requires trust, both in the child and in oneself as a parent. Trust is earned over time through consistent actions and communication.
• Letting go and allowing children to experience life is essential for their growth and independence.
• Finding joy in the journey of parenthood, including the highs and lows, is important for overall happiness and fulfillment.

Sound Bites

• "I'm gonna do what's right for me and for my baby"
• "There's always going to be people watching, there's always going to be people judging you"
• "We've got to find a way to meet our children on their level."
• "It's not a dictatorship, right? It's more democratic as they get older."
• "You're holding them in your arms, basically."

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
04:42 The Challenges of Young Motherhood and Immigration
09:34 Trusting Yourself as a Parent
13:28 Navigating Postnatal Depression and Support Networks
18:22 The Dynamics of Co-Parenting
21:09 Balancing Different Parenting Styles
22:50 Introduction and Children's Resilience
24:51 Meeting Children on Their Level 
27:29 The Evolving Relationship Between Parents and Children
31:06 Youth Led, Adult Supported 
34:41 Supporting Children's Passions 
39:11 Letting Go and Trusting 
42:31 Reflecting on the Journey of Parenthood 
44:11 Connecting with Henny McMahon

Connect with Henny
hennyqconsulting.com.au 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/henny-mcmahon
Instagram @hennyque502