199. Balancing Motherhood and Ambition Without Losing Yourself with Ruthie Ackerman

Have you ever wondered if becoming a mom meant giving up a part of yourself? In this episode, Whitney talks with Ruthie Ackerman, author of The Mother Code, about the tension between motherhood, ambition, identity and the life you imagined for yourself. Ruthie shares her own experience of feeling torn between having children and the creative, adventurous life she wanted, and how she came to realize that becoming a mother didn't require giving up the other parts of who she was. They talk about the messages women grow up with around motherhood, including the idea that being a good mom means putting your own passions and ambitions aside. Ruthie also shares how her views on feminism influenced her feelings about becoming a mother, how her family's history shaped her fears around having children, and what she learned through her own fertility journey with egg freezing, IVF, and ultimately using donor eggs. Along the way, she found herself questioning a lot of the assumptions she had about what motherhood and family are supposed to look like. If you've ever felt like you had to choose between being a good mom and pursuing the things that make you feel like yourself, tune into this episode of Electric Ideas. Here's what you can look forward to in today's episode: The pressure to choose between motherhood and ambition Why women often see motherhood as a sacrifice of identity and passions Rethinking what feminism and motherhood can look like together How family history and personal trauma can shape decisions about motherhood The emotional and financial realities of egg freezing and IVF The fertility wealth gap and why fertility preservation isn't equally accessible Choosing donor eggs and letting go of the focus on DNA Redefining what makes someone a mother Balancing ambition, motherhood, and guilt Creating a version of motherhood that actually fits your life Learn more about 1:1 coaching with Whitney - book a 15-minute Spark Session Connect with Whitney: Instagram l Website l 5 Days to Less Stress, More Satisfaction l Tend to Your Soul Toolkit l 10 Soulful Journaling Prompts | Electric Ideas Podcast Connect with Ruthie: Instagram | Website | Book: The Mother Code | Substack