Rebecca Black

Name: Rebecca Black

Age: 30

Where you are from: Melbourne, Australia

Where you live: Melbourne

The more juicy ones:

1. This is who I am in the world….

I am a mother to two beautiful daughters, Stevie (3) and Aubrey (1).

I am a wife to my wonderful husband, Shaun.

I am a Psychologist, HypnoBirthing Practitioner and founder/director of The Mindful Birth Movement. 

Motherhood changed me so profoundly, and it wasn't until I discovered the word matrescence that I truly understood what I was going through. I felt lost, confused and alone in this huge transformation and I didn't know who I was anymore. Motherhood is HARD. I mean, it is amazing and rewarding, but so challenging and confronting at the same time. 

Matrescence is the complete transformation and identity shift of a woman as she moves through motherhood - physical, psychological, emotional, social, economic, cultural and spiritual.

I often struggled with the push and pull between who I used to be, and who I was as a mother. I went from being a professional, career driven, independent woman, to being consumed by the role of being a mum. Things started to shift for me when Stevie was 9-months old, and I had a dream to start my own business. I was beginning to figure out who I was as a woman AND a mother, and it was like I started to create this new version of myself - a stronger, more connected & inspired version of me.

So who I am in this world, is a mother and a woman who feels driven and passionate about supporting other women on their pregnancy, birth and motherhood journey. To help them experience the beauty and strength of a natural, positive birth experience, and to nurture them as they navigate matrescence. I am also a devoted mother, who only wants the best for my daughters - and in order to be an amazing role model for them, I need to re-write what it means to be a mother and a woman.

2. This is the story that I want rewritten for women…..

I want the story of how a woman transitions into motherhood to change. Women deserve to be supported, nurtured and held as they navigate the early stages of motherhood. When a baby is born, so too is a mother, and when we nurture the mother we can change the world. When we honour a woman and support her as she navigates the intensity of matrescence and early motherhood, she can rest, heal and RISE into the best version of herself. And when women find their strength, their courage and their voice, BIG things can happen. 

I want my daughters to know that it's okay to rest, that they deserve to put themselves first and meet their own needs, that they shouldn't sacrifice themselves for others, that it's okay to be angry and to set boundaries. I want them to know that it is okay to struggle and that they are not alone. I want them to know that they are worthy exactly as they are. I want them to know that they don't have to do it all, but to tune into what matters most to them and live in line with their values. This is what I want for all women.

3. This is the story that I next want to write for myself….

I want to step into my role as a leader and change maker in the space of motherhood. I want to grow my business so I can support as many women as possible to live their life free of the unrealistic expectations placed on mother's, knowing that they are worthy and valued, and that their needs matter. And most importantly, I plan to create a beautiful, abundant life for my family - where my children know they are loved, valued and supported, with a mother who not only loves them but also loves herself.