The Magic Of Living Life Well: Community, Motherhood and Family Life with Em.
Meet the lovely Em, a beautiful breath of fresh air who is passionate about community, social and emotional well-being and living life to the fullest. Talk about amazing! Em’s thoughts and insights are oh-so-inspiring, and we have no doubt that what you’re about to read is going to bless your socks off!
Without further ado, let’s hear a little more about the wonderful Em from her very self…
Hello, what's your name, and what keeps you busy during the day?
Hi, I’m Em, from Recreation Collective. I’m a researcher and a teacher, and I also run Rec.collect (for short) as a passion project- I have been building it since 2017. I’m also a mum of two girls and a wife, amongst other things.
If you could describe yourself in 5 words, what would they be?
Friendly, earnest, excitable, lighthearted and annoying.
What are your three favourite simple pleasures in life?
Jokes that take it to borderline acceptableness of appropriateness. Lol. The sunshine on my face. Any good beverage.
What has your motherhood journey been like thus far?
It’s been pretty consistent with lots of other mums who live in our culture. I always say we live in a tension- knowing better and knowing what’s good for us- but it’s not always possible, and it’s challenging as a mum because we walk out our motherhood journey in such a complex society. I love being a mum, yet the monotony can be boring. I adore my kids, but I need friends and adults around. I love caring and seeing through my kid’s eyes- yet I need people to care for me and see me, especially in such an invisible, thankless season. I’m full to the brim with the meaning that motherhood has added to my life. I can’t remember what it was like before, but now my girls are getting older, I see things with more clarity, too. When I see a new mum doing her thing… getting kids buckled in the car, calming screams in a cafe, sitting exhausted near a playground for infinity swings, walking with a toddler at frustrating speeds… I just feel so proud of them, and to be Frank, happy that we can all connect and share such a human but magical experience. Sitting back and seeing other mums in the street has also helped me see how hard we all try. I wish I could go back to younger me with babies and say- ‘I’m so proud of you.’
What are the three biggest things that motherhood has taught you so far?
Patience, obviously. How important it is to have lots of connected, warm relationships through community, friends and family. And that it is what you make it. It can be a chore and a pain, or you can join in the laughter and the chaos. You’ve got to lean in.
What are you currently most passionate about, and why?
I’m passionate about social and emotional well-being. Australia is increasingly losing our collective social trust and sense of shared identity. It means we are more disconnected and lack belonging. When this is the case, we can’t be as happy as we should be or as fulfilled and whole as a human needs to be. Our culture is saturated with consumerism, hyper-individualism and low trust. It means things that should feel normal, like seeing people every day, asking for support and giving support, sharing more meals together, and sacrificing for the greater good… these things don’t feel normal, they feel awkward and foreign- it’s all about self, and Independence, selfish ambition etc. We often go into relationships and experiences being super suspicious and cautious, too, because our trust levels are low, and we don’t realise how integral they are to feeling safe and accepted.
What are your top three tips for living life to the full?
Be inconvenienced. Know your convictions and act on them. Seek out playfulness and fun.
What does building a family mean to you, and what does it look like practically on a daily basis?
Building a family means having strong connections based on honour, respect, friendship, compromise and, obviously, love. I think it needs to be intentional. We spend so much time online, on social media, watching shows, and getting ourselves ready for the day, imagine if we just spent half an hour a week reading a parenting book, thinking about what one child might need, or asking our family what we can do for them. I think the things that make us happy and make life easier in the long term are always a bit difficult, and we can take the path of least resistance. I know I do. But I also want to look back and know I did everything I could. And I should emphasise it’s WE did everything we could. Me, my husband, my family, my friends, my community… we can’t do it on our own.
How do you keep your cup full?
I haven’t been really great at keeping my cup full lately. I’ve been leaking out in one of those seasons- but I know it’s one of those seasons I have to. If my relationships are good, I’m normally good. I am a people person, so I am filled up through others. I love doing anything outside in the sun. I love using my hands to make things. I’m definitely an activities person. My husband likes to sit inside with the blinds drawn on a sunny day to watch some lame action movie whilst eating chips, he’s a bonafide relaxer on his days off, but I’m more of a rejuvenate through recreation type.
If you could encourage mothers to implement one thing in their day-to-day lives, what would it be?
Connect.
Well, it’s safe to say that Em is truly a treasure trove full of goodness! She encourages us to cherish simple pleasures, find joy in each moment, and stay connected - such beautiful, timely reminders. Em is living proof that intentionality and living life with an open heart leads to daily magic!
We can't thank Em enough for sharing such precious insights with us and shedding a little light on the value of motherhood, family life and community.
We hope you loved getting to know Em just as much as we did!
If you’d like to follow Em’s inspiring journey and business, you can do so right here
All our love,
Bel at Baask Baby xx