“I believe that Matrescence and Motherhood can be an incredibly powerful catalyst to propel us into our heart and soul work and yet sometimes this can feel daunting, incredibly uncomfortable and very tender at times.”
Lauren Barber
Hello loves,
This week we have our fourth community GUEST post… we are so excited to share this with you.
We’ve had several people complete the short Google Form invitation. It’s the same 3 questions you’ll find here below.
We are gently working through them and will post the responses in order of their arrival!
We’d love to invite you to write for us too. We are keen to encourage a diverse range of mothers and experiences here and have made it very easy for you to contribute. If you would like to write a guest post for us here at head here to answer just three simple questions.
If you’d like to write us a longer piece on the topic of being, balance and/ or business in motherhood, record audio or a video you can email us on companyoftwouk@gmail.com
‘Company of Two and You’ with Lauren Barber
Lauren Barber is a Mother, Coach, Branding & Web Designer, Writer, Podcaster and Creator who specialises in supporting those navigating the paths of Matrescence and Heart and Soul-Lead Business.
Her offerings combine earthy, grounded and practical tools and techniques with a sprinkling of magic and mysticism.
Lauren is a multi-faceted human devoted to sharing the messy truth of life and creating safe spaces for others to show up in their wholeness.
When did you become a mum, how long have you had a company of one and what do you do within it?
I was birthed into Motherhood in September 2019 with the arrival of my daughter Sophia. I was birthed again as a Mother in December 2022 with the arrival of my second daughter Vesper.
My company of one began nearly twenty years ago when I left my role in journalism to run my own PR & Marketing agency specialising in supporting brands in the equestrian industry.
Over the years it has evolved drastically and has taken many different iterations - all with an underpinning of truth, communication and visibility.
Having studied many different holistic modalities myself - including Yoga, Meditation, Yoga Nidra and Human Design, currently my company of one supports others in the healing arts and creative world to build a visual identity and online home for their own heart and soul work.
Alongside this is my work to support those going through Matrescence as they rebirth themselves AND find themselves with a desire to birth a business that aligns with the version of themselves they meet when they begin walking the undulating path of Motherhood.
I believe that Matrescence and Motherhood can be an incredibly powerful catalyst to propel us into our heart and soul work and yet sometimes this can feel daunting, incredibly uncomfortable and very tender at times.
My intention is to hold a safe and sacred space for the remembering, the unfolding and the emerging so that more Mothers feel nourished and fully able to express themselves while Mothering in a way that reflects their own individual values.
The work I do is rooted in nervous system support, embodied and grounding practices and sacred structures, and a loving, nurturing energy to nourish and hold them through the process.
How has having children impacted your work flow, creativity, your inspiration and your ability to manage your work?
Becoming a Mother has simultaneously challenged and enhanced creativity.
A drastically reduced amount of time and spaciousness to create has prompted a refinement process in my business and allowed me to get extremely clear on the what, the why and the how in my work.
There is simply not time for procrastination or for embarking on projects that are not fully aligned to my values - one of which is that if I am doing work instead of being with my children then it HAS to light me up. I am extremely fortunate that I have been able to spend some time in the early years of Motherhood (thanks primarily to lockdown) to experiment and play in my business to establish what was a big soul YES and a big soul NO. I have found it frustrating at times - when I have to stop my flow midway because a nap hasn't lasted as long as it 'should' have, or because when I am creating time escapes and before I know it I have to pick up my eldest from pre school.
However - on the flip side I have also been forced to have time away from the 'doing' of my work to contemplate what I really, really want to do. My children are true mirrors and have highlighted to me what I need to witness and see in order to clear away all of the 'gunk' that had previously prevented me from confidently pursuing the path I wanted to. I feel like they have gifted me with clarity and a confidence I didn't have before.
I rely heavily on paid childcare support in order to be able to show up for clients - and I acknowledge this is a great privilege -
but I am a far more present, grounded, patient and playful Mother when I have enough space and time in my weeks/days to also tend to my creative work.
What advice would you give to a mum just about to start their journey with balance, being and business in motherhood?
I think the best advice I could give is to not be afraid of carving your own path. There is no 'set way' of doing anything when it comes to Motherhood and/or Business - and yet society tells us that we have to show up in a certain way. I have had to really deconstruct a lot of cultural narratives within myself - and that has been extremely uncomfortable at times - however I truly feel that with a little bit of trust and self reflection we can find ways to feel nourished by all aspects of our life.
There is also an element of taking responsibility for ourselves and our own mental and physical wellbeing - because I have learned that it is rare that someone else will come and do that for you.
To me I want to model to my own daughters a way of being that is not depleting and soul destroying - which means at times going against the grain - in these moments it is so important to soothe our own nervous systems and take care of ourselves. I would like to add as a final piece - that there is also so much value in the pauses and the times of stillness.
Before I became a Mother I was quite scared of these gaps in between, the voids, the not knowing - but Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum has taught me that actually it is these forced pauses that usually bring the most magic. If there is a seed of a vision whispering from within... I really hope you can gently follow it.
Thanks so so much to Lauren for guesting for us this week.
Over to you…checking in…
How are you this week? How’s life feeling?
From Claire - I haven’t really got the words to articulate the ups and downs and the quite frankly confusing rats nest of business this week but I will say thank-you to any of you who have supported
and to my new VA for understanding when my 3 year old burst into our zoom call in the nuds! 🥴What I want to tell you about is that we went to the theatre (me, my mum and my nearly nine year old) to see a show I worked on the engagement strategy for. I’ve sat through countless hours of theatre in my life and I didn’t have high expectations (I find this is best). Before long, I found myself giggling then really laughing and it felt strange because I couldn’t remember laughing like that in public… it’s been a long time! I’m going to go again.
Here’s a little follow up blog I wrote for it. Full disclosure I wrote this blog in 25 mins in my writing group this week with
as that’s all the time I had. It’s not perfect but it’s done!From Laura - We are on holiday this week in Derbyshire, U.K., which is gloriously slow-paced and rainy (although I'm easily hitting my 10000 steps with 3 kids, plus a daily wild thrashing around in the pool). And yet this week (my holiday week) finds me spending a day discussing my company of one in a creative incubator day! Why, you ask? Well, I have been very keen to work with a certain individual for a while, and found that I could get a train to Leeds to meet her in real life for the day. So I did. And it was glorious. Inspired by this I've written an updated bio and thought I'd share it here, because it gives you a greater insight into me! Chatty multipassionate mum of 3.
I am lucky enough to do lots of wonderful things that bring me income and joy.
I help remarkable, creative women work out their path to sustainable, creative growth in their small businesses, and creatives unlock their artistic pathway.
I sing professionally with groups like the BBC Singers, Tenebrae, OAE and sing with London Voices on films like Barbie and Avengers Assemble.
I also teach music (both classroom and 121), write and podcast on Substack with my pal Claire, creating a community discussing all things balance, business and being in motherhood.
This year I've received DYCP funding for the first time, and hope it will lead to my first published music compositions. You can follow the journey over on my Substack.
When I'm not doing these lovely things I love to garden, drink flat whites, sofa sit, write poetry & hang with the 3 kids and husband.
Building this community is such a joy and we are so keen to hear your voices in it. If you haven’t seen this post Company of Two - and you!
We invite you to contribute to our shared world via three simple questions in a google form.
Please don’t do that society-induced thing expected of women (and mothers) and think “who wants to hear what I have to say?” WE DO.
You are not meant to do this alone. Those feelings you have: we’ve had them too. In the thick of it right now? We see you and we send support, love and a gentle sunshine energy your way. Get outside today if you can. Drink the water.
Call a friend, or do comment here.
With love as ever,
Laura and Claire
x
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What a fantastic interview with Lauren! I’ve loved reading her replies. Also, those photographs are absolutely beautiful!
Ha! I didn’t mind one bit about Luna! I’m sure my children will interrupt a future meeting before long 🤣
I loved learning more about Lauren and her lens on business as a mother and for mothers. Thank you for opening up this discussion and putting such brilliant insights out there into the world...