Penny Moodie is a constant inspiration to me and so many others.
I first met her when I was around 18 years old through my younger brother, and she truly is one of the most beautiful people inside and out. Penny lives with OCD and has turned her experience into something incredibly powerful. As well as being an incredible mother she is the author of The Joy Thief and co-host of the podcast, It's Not What You Think, where she helps bring more awareness and understanding to OCD.
In this episode she shares:
- Her childhood dream of becoming a writer and how she returned to it
- The pressure of chasing careers that looked successful to others
- Why motherhood made her question whether she was “good at it” despite always wanting kids
- The reality that parenting doesn’t get easier, the challenges just change
- How parenting forced her to confront her own struggles with self-regulation and overstimulation
- The practical tools she uses to manage overwhelm, sensory overload and emotional regulation as a mum
- Her reflections on losing herself in relationships when she was younger and why female friendships matter so much now
- How becoming a parent changed the way she judges herself and other families,
- Her experience living with OCD, the misconceptions people still have about it, and how motherhood became the motivation to seek proper help
- The ongoing conversations around mental load, resentment and partnership
Key Quotes
“I think having a, a neurodivergent kid has made me so much more accepting and just sort of open to other people's experiences.”
“Doing these things, you feel trapped, and you feel like you have to do it, otherwise something really horrible will happen.”
“It's like two really, really difficult things stacked on top of each other. Getting through each day, yeah, it can feel impossible sometimes.”
More about Penny
Buy her book The Joy Thief, follow her on Instagram, listen to her podcast It’s Not What You Think and follow the podcast on Instagram.
You can get involved with the podcast online
Website https://herethereeverywhere.com.au/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/here_there_everywhere_aus/
FB group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CWFAe3LkU/?mibextid=wwXIfr