Why Did Nobody Tell Me This?
Description
Motherhood can be beautiful and brutal
You can love your children beyond words and still miss who you were before them.
You can be grateful and overwhelmed.
You can love your partner more than anything and still feel resentful
You can feel both connected to others and equally feel really lonely.
You can be appreciative of your body and miss how it used to feel, move and look.
So... we made something.
Welcome to Why Did Nobody Tell Me This?
A day for the woman behind the mum
Join us for an intimate and relaxed day of honest conversations about the parts of motherhood we all experience, but we rarely talk about.
We created Why Did Nobody Tell Me This? because we wanted the day we wish we'd had ourselves, a space to step out of the mental load (and the fifty tabs open at once) so you can slow down, feel understood, be held, and learn psychology and science backed reasons why you feel so damn different in motherhood.
This is not a parenting seminar that is going to tell you how to be better parent, how to optimise every part of your child’s development or essentially shame you for not doing the most.
No.
This is a day for you, to take off the ‘I’ve got it all together mask’, hear other mums and experts in the same boat as you, so you can feel a little less alone and reconnect you with feeling like you again.
Think psychology and science meets an honest mum's day out, with an incredible line-up of experts in maternal mental health, honest conversations, practical tools, yummy food, beautiful experiences and permission to take off the perfect-mother mask.
Here's what's included in your ticket:
💌 An incredible line-up of experts across psychology, maternal mental health, OT, wellbeing and more
💌 Practical evidence-based tools you will actually use for coping with overwhelm, nervous system regulation, reconnecting with your identity, navigating your relationships, reducing your mental load and managing the realities of motherhood
💌 A group styling session where you’ll discover the colours, shapes and styling hacks that help you feel more confident and like yourself again. (A few lucky attendees will have their own colour analysis done too!)
💌 A thoughtfully curated gift box packed with beautiful, helpful and useful goodies to take home
💌 Meaningful psychology-based activities and reflections to help you reconnect with you, your inner child and your future self with practical tools to take home and use long after the event
💌 Fully catered morning tea, lunch & treats throughout the day
💌 Honest conversations about the parts of motherhood we don't always talk about
💌 A room full of other mums who just get it
💌 A beautiful beachfront setting in Bondi
Come solo or with your best mum friend and make a day of it!
The conversations we're inviting you into
✨ Matrescence & the maternal brain
Understanding the profound changes that happen to your brain, body and sense of self when you become a mother.
✨ Motherhood, ADHD & the mental load
Why motherhood can feel like too much — and practical ways to create more space, ease and capacity.
✨ Letting go of the pressure to be a perfect parent
Moving beyond impossible expectations and finding a way of parenting that feels right for you.
✨ Big feelings- theirs and yours
Understanding your child's emotions while learning how to navigate and care for your own.
✨ Play, joy & fun
Finding your way back to the lighter, more playful parts of yourself outside of motherhood.
✨ Finding yourself again
Reconnecting back with the woman you are beyond the role of Mum.
Part education. Part connection. Part play. Part exhale.
Our why:
Why Did Nobody Tell Me This? is the space we wish existed for mothers, where expert knowledge and psychology meet lived experience, the polished version of motherhood gets left at the door, and you leave feeling reassured, recharged and a little more like yourself.
Only 30 tickets available, We've intentionally kept this a small, intimate experience so there's space for genuine connection, conversation and a really special day.
We'd absolutely love to have you there. xx
Our incredible speakers!
Your hosts - Kat and Aimee (@thepsychologysisters)
We're so BEYOND thrilled to be bringing together a wonderful day of incredible women to hold and support you. We're two therapists, mamas, practice owners and podcasters who are passionate about bridging the gap between psychology and lived experience. We’re here to bring the research, the real talk and a healthy dose of “oh thank god, it’s not just me” to motherhood.
Emily Hanlon - How to Navigate ADHD in Motherhood
Emily Hanlon is a Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychologist, founder of The Playful Psychologist, and mum of three. She’s also an ADHD mum herself, so she understands the realities of ADHD in motherhood from both sides — as a psychologist and as a mum living it. In her session, Emily will unpack what ADHD can look and feel like in motherhood, from the relentless mental load and overwhelm to the guilt, exhaustion and feeling that you’re somehow not keeping up with everyone else. With a warm, neuro-affirming and evidence-based approach, Emily will help make sense of the ways ADHD can shape parenting, while offering practical tools to make everyday life feel a little more manageable. No shame, no jargon and no impossible parenting standards — just real strategies and plenty of reassurance. Because Emily’s message is simple: you’re not failing, and you’re not doing motherhood wrong. Understanding how your brain works can be the first step towards finding more ease, self-compassion and confidence in the way you parent.
Jacquie Ward - Dropping the Mask of the Perfect Parent
Jacquie Ward is a registered psychologist and the founder of Nurtured Minds in South Sydney, where she supports children and families to navigate big feelings, challenging moments and the beautiful messiness of family life. In her session, Jacquie will unpack the idea of “perfect parenting” and explore what our children actually need from us. She’ll share practical, compassionate ways to show up as a good enough parent, support our children through big emotions, and strengthen the connection that helps them feel safe and secure. With a neuro-affirming, relationship-centred approach, Jacquie draws on her experience supporting families through anxiety, ADHD, Autism, emotional dysregulation and challenging behaviours, as well as her work with pre- and post-partum mothers. As a mum of three herself, Jacquie knows that parenting rarely goes to plan. Her message is one of reassurance: you don’t need to get it perfect — you just need to keep showing up, connecting and repairing.
Alaskah Hindry - Navigating the Invisible Load of Motherhood
Alaskah Hindry is a paediatric occupational therapist, mum of two, and founder of Evergrow, an app supporting parents of 0-24 month olds through play, child development and the honest realities of early parenthood. Alaskah shares evidence-based, myth-busting content to a large and highly engaged online community, known for blending clinical expertise with refreshing honesty about motherhood, mental load and building a business from the ground up. She's passionate about helping parents feel informed, confident, and supported, without the pressure or overwhelm so often attached to modern parenting!
Kim Crowley - How to find your style postpartum
Kim from StyleSense is a former international fashion designer turned personal stylist, and a multi-award-winning fashion disruptor who believes getting dressed should feel fun, easy and empowering — especially after having a baby. In her session, Kim will help you rediscover your personal style postpartum, navigate how your body and lifestyle may have changed, and find clothes that make you feel confident and like you again. Through her signature approach, Kim teaches you how to buy less, shop smarter and create an interchangeable Colour Capsule Wardrobe© filled with fun, flattering pieces you’ll actually want to live your life in. Because the truth is, we’re never really taught how to dress ourselves. Kim is here to change that — giving you the confidence, clarity and shortcuts to feel like your most stylish self, whatever motherhood looks like right now.
Stacey Papdi - How to Reconnect to Play + Fun
Stacey is a wife, mum, high school teacher and owner of Take A Bow. She suffered severe PND after the birth of her first daughter and emerged out the other side with a deep belief in the importance of connection, creativity and community. Stacey created Take A Bow to give children and their parents/ carers a space to play, imagine and express themselves as equals.
FAQs
- Can I bring my baby?
Yes! bubs in arms are warmly welcome to join us! We also want you to truly relax and enjoy your time away here, so please feel free to step out or take a break whenever you need. We have access to an outdoor courtyard and beautiful verandah overlooking the ocean as separate spaces if you need a break away with bub.
There will also be a little area with a rug and some toys for your baby if you need
Just a little note, there are no lifts or ramps to get to the event space, so if you are bringing a pram, you may need to leave it downstairs or we're more than happy to help you lift it up the stairs when you arrive
- Can I come alone?
Absolutely! There will be other mums who are coming along and we will have lots of mingling activities on the day :)
- Who is this event for?
Mums!
Whether you’re pregnant and curious to know more deep in the baby years, navigating toddlers, school-aged kids or further along in motherhood, the day is designed for women wanting to better understand themselves, their brains, their relationships and their experience of modern motherhood
- What can I expect on the day?
A mix of expert-led talks, psychology and neuroscience, lived-experience conversations, practical workshops, lifestyle and styling content, opportunities to connect with other mums, curated brand experiences, giveaways and some very intentional moments to switch off, move, laugh and have fun.
- Will there be breaks?
Yes absolutely! We don’t want to spend an entire day talking about nervous systems and overwhelm while keeping you trapped in a chair for six hours. There’ll be morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea breaks, opportunities to connect, space to breathe and moments designed simply for enjoyment.
We are also neuroaffirming event, meaning if you need to step out at anytime, there will be plenty of comfy spots for you to go to within the event space, outside on the terrace and a beautiful park right next door. We will also provide fidgets and will be mindful of sensory preferences!
- Will there be food and drinks?
Yes — your ticket includes morning tea/lunch/coffees with dietary requirements catered for where possible.
We’ll share all the practical details with ticket holders before the event.
- Is this therapy or treatment?
No. While the day includes psychologists and other health professionals discussing psychological research and mental health, the event is educational in nature and isn’t a substitute for individual psychological or medical support.
- Is this going to another parenting seminar telling me how to be a better mum?
Nope nope nope!
We’re much more interested in helping women understand their experience of motherhood than adding another list of things they “should” be doing. Expect evidence, fun, dancing, god food, amazing speakers and plenty of permission to take off the perfect mother mask
- How can I get there?
The event will be held at Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club, right on beautiful Bondi Beach.
We recommend allowing a little extra travel time on the day. There is paid and timed street parking around Bondi, however spaces can be limited, so public transport, rideshare or carpooling are great options where possible.
If travelling by public transport, buses run regularly between Bondi Junction and Bondi Beach, with the venue just a short walk from the beachfront bus stops.
We’ll send all attendees further information about transport, parking and arrival details closer to the event.
- Can I come if I'm pregnant or expecting my first baby?
Absolutely! In fact, this event is so much about what we wish we knew before becoming mothers, so this will be really helpful if you're wanting to learn a little more
- How do I get there?
By Car
The club is on Queen Elizabeth Drive, right at Bondi Beach.
There is no dedicated public car park at the club, but there is metered parking along Queen Elizabeth Drive and nearby Park Drive/Campbell Parade.
By Train:
From Sydney CBD, the simplest is usually:
Take the 333 or 380 bus directly to Bondi Beach.
Or take a train to Bondi Junction, then bus 333/380/381/382 to Bondi Beach. H
HELLO BONDI
The bus stops are around Campbell Parade, immediately behind/near the club. N
NSW Planning Portal
Uber/taxi
Put “Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club” or “Bondi Beach, Queen Elizabeth Drive” as the destination. You'll generally be dropped near the beach/club, subject to traffic restrictions.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
