#6 - Candida -Two Boys, A Newborn, And A Cold Cup Of Soup

In this episode, Candida shares her journey from being a child who adored babies to becoming a mother of three — and discovering how motherhood can be both everything she dreamed of and nothing like she expected.

She reflects on the years she spent worrying about her fertility in her 20s (not for medical reasons, but because of headlines and conversations around her), the long path to meeting her first baby, and the identity-shifting experience of going from one child to three.

From the early shock of becoming a mother much sooner than she anticipated emotionally, to the beautiful chaos of siblings playing together while she finally enjoys a warm bowl of soup, Candida speaks with refreshing honesty and humour about the realities of family life — the joyful, the challenging, and the entirely human parts in between.

In this episode, we talk about:

✨ Early longing for motherhood

• Candida’s childhood love for babies
• The sense of “I’m meant to be a mum” she carried from a young age

✨ Fertility fears in her 20s

• How media and cultural narratives created anxiety about her biological clock
• The disconnect between worry and actual medical reality
• Navigating early adulthood with an internal pressure to “hurry”

✨ Becoming a mother for the first time

• The emotional shock of the postpartum period
• The sudden loss of independence and identity shifts
• The long, hard days when a hot meal felt impossible

✨ Growing her family to three

• Her experience adding a second and then a third child
• How her expectations changed with each baby
• The moment she realised her babies were no longer babies — and life became easier again

✨ Siblings, connection, and reclaiming space

• The joy of watching her kids play together
• The return of small freedoms, including finally enjoying a warm bowl of soup
• How completing her family brought clarity, gratitude, and relief

Books mentioned by Candida

From the transcript, the books she referenced appear to be:

• "The Continuum Concept" by Jean Liedloff — A book exploring indigenous approaches to infant care and the concept of continuous physical closeness.
• "French Children Don’t Throw Food" (also titled Bringing Up Bébé) by Pamela Druckerman — A book on French parenting culture and boundaries around sleep, food, and independence.

(If you want me to verify the titles you think she meant, feel free to send a quick line and I’ll adjust.)

Why this episode matters

Candida’s story is a reminder that:

• you can deeply desire motherhood and still find it overwhelming,
• identity can feel shaky before it feels solid again,
• and sometimes the most profound sense of "arrival" comes quietly — with children laughing together nearby and a warm bowl of soup in your hands.

💛 Raising with the Village

This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
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🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
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If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.