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In this honest and energizing conversation, Chelsea is joined by Sarah Johnston: entrepreneur, infertility warrior, and proud parent of a rainbow-loving toddler. Sarah shares her winding path to motherhood through infertility and IVF, the mental toll of a complicated pregnancy, and the terrifying postpartum OCD symptoms that followed.
Together, they unpack everything from generational perfectionism and reparenting, to toddler meltdowns and the joy of rainbow birthday parties. This episode is an ode to vulnerability, community, and the radical act of showing up as your full self in parenting, even when you're still figuring it out.
To learn more about Sarah, visit her Instagram or Website!
🔑 Key Takeaways:
- Parenthood often brings unexpected challenges that don’t align with our expectations—and that’s normal.
- Infertility and pregnancy loss are emotionally devastating, especially when the cause is “unexplained.”
- Intrusive thoughts (especially postpartum) are common, and seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.
- Reparenting ourselves is part of parenting our children—especially for those raised in perfectionist or emotionally repressed environments.
- Community and connection, even with “internet strangers,” can be lifelines in times of isolation.
- Empowering children with emotional language and autonomy helps build resilience and mutual respect.
- There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting—each child is unique and deserves a responsive, not a rigid parent.
🔊 Soundbites:
- “Connection is powerful—and you are not alone.”
- “My intrusive thoughts were terrifying. I thought, ‘What’s wrong with me?’ But the truth is, they’re common—and treatable.”
- “Motherhood made me undo a lifetime of perfectionism.”
- “My brain goes: ‘Throw him down the stairs.’ It’s not what I want—it’s my brain screaming ‘DANGER!’”
- “I asked my three-year-old what kind of birthday party he wanted. He said, ‘Rainbow. All the colors.’ And that’s exactly what we did.”
- “You can be deeply grateful and still really struggle. Both can be true.”
- “Parenting is common and unique. It’s hard, and it’s beautiful. It’s both.”
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Special Thanks to Steve Audy for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection
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