Jesinta Franklin

On Motherhood

In February we visited the Franklin’s new home in the Gold Coast hinterland.

 

Jesinta, Buddy and their three children, Tullulah, Rocky and new addition Bam, shared the beauty of their property with us including horses, geese, ducks and chickens.

 

We sat down with @jesinta_franklin, the face of the MUM Collection, to discuss all things motherhood.

 

How would you describe the chapter of motherhood you’re in right now?

The chapter of motherhood I’m in right now feels equal parts chaotic and magical. It’s full of so much love, but also such a wide range of emotions. There are moments where I feel overwhelmed and impatient, and then in the very next breath, the kids do something so small and beautiful that I’m completely overcome with love. That’s motherhood for me in this season; messy, emotional, exhausting, heart-expanding, and deeply beautiful all at once. Some days I absolutely love it, and some days I find it hard, and I think we need to talk about that more as mums because it isn’t always easy, and that doesn’t make us any less grateful. So, if I had to name this chapter, I’d call it chaotic and magical.

Has your experience changed the way you see yourself or other women?


Motherhood has completely changed the way I see myself. I think I’ve become a lot gentler on myself. I’m still harsh in some ways — that probably never fully goes away — but overall, I’ve learnt to give myself more grace especially now that I have a daughter. I see so much of myself in her, and it’s made me realise how important it is that she grows up giving herself grace too. If I’m constantly hard on myself, what message does that send to her?

What emotions sit with you when you reflect on your own journey?

My journey to motherhood wasn’t straightforward. I struggled for a long time to fall pregnant with Tullulah, it was years and years. I went through multiple miscarriages and IVF, so it was a difficult chapter. When I was in it, it was completely all-consuming. It was the first thing I thought about when I woke up and the last thing I thought about before going to sleep. It just took up so much space in my mind and my heart. But now that I have my children, that experience has been really healing for me. In many ways it shaped the mother I am today, it’s given me such a deep appreciation for what I have, and in those harder moments of motherhood, I often think back to that time when I was yearning so deeply for children. There are still days that feel overwhelming, days where you think, how am I going to get through this? But that journey made me stronger. At the time it felt like such a dark place, but looking back now with my three beautiful children, I can see how much it changed me and how much strength it gave me.

What would you say to women who are still waiting, hoping, or finding their own way to motherhood?

I think everyone’s journey to motherhood is different — no two stories are the same. For some people it happens easily, and for others it can take a lot longer. What I would say to women going through that is that sometimes you have to surrender, that’s what I had to do in the end. Trust that whatever path is meant for you will slowly unfold in the way it’s meant to. What’s meant for you will come. But I also know how hard that can be to hear, because when I was in the middle of it, I hated when people said things like that to me. In that moment you just think, but I want my baby now. I think the most important thing is to give yourself grace. Be gentle and kind to yourself through it all. And if motherhood is something you truly want, there are so many ways to become a mother these days. It doesn’t always have to look the way you first imagined, you can be a mother in so many beautiful ways.

What does being celebrated as a mother feel like to you?


I do think being celebrated as a mother is really important. Often our role, I don’t like to call it a job, can feel a little taken for granted at times. I think celebrating motherhood, and celebrating mums, really matters. For me, it’s never about grand gestures. It’s the small things that mean the most, a sentimental piece of jewellery, a beautiful handwritten card, or even a little drawing the kids have made. It’s those simple gestures, and the thought behind them, that make you feel truly seen and appreciated as a mum.

Because sometimes, if I’m being honest, the role can feel a little unseen or uncelebrated, even though we know it isn’t. That’s just part of the reality of motherhood sometimes, so I think celebrating motherhood in all its forms is important.

If motherhood had a mantra for you, what would it be?

For me, especially in the season I’m in right now, I’m constantly reminding myself to be present. It’s so easy with everything going on in our lives as women to get distracted. We’re juggling so many things, trying to keep so many balls in the air, and often trying to be everything for everyone. So my little mantra at the moment is just that; be present. Be present for the kids, be present for my husband, and be present for myself. That’s something I’m really trying to focus on in motherhood this year.

Why do you love the MUM Collection?

I really love how subtle it is. You don’t quite know what it says until you look a little closer, and I think there’s something really beautiful about that. I actually think subtlety is quite underrated in life, in so many ways. Whether it’s what you wear or how you present yourself, there’s something nice about things being a little understated and a little unexpected. So I love that this range feels delicate and subtle.


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