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Mother Leader: Simi Botic, Author, Intuitive Eating Counselor, Holistic Health Coach, and Barre Instructor

Simi Botic (She/Her) is a corporate attorney turned certified holistic health coach, Intuitive Eating counselor, the author of Letting Go Of Leo: How I Broke Up With Perfection a memoir about overcoming her decades long struggle with feeling like she wasn’t enough, and the founder of UNMEASURED, a virtual monthly barre membership that celebrates your body. Through her work, she helps women all over the world ditch perfection, heal their relationships with food, movement, and body image, and deepen self-compassion, trust, and connection.

Simi is the mother to two amazing humans. Five year old son Alyosha and two year old daughter Yasmina. Learn more about Simi’s work in Unmeasured here and follow her on IG @simibotic and @movementunmeasured

How postpartum are you?

Two years and two months!

How have you transformed since becoming a parent? 

My children have truly been like a magnifying glass in my life. Since becoming a mother, I feel like I’ve gotten so much clearer on what matters the most to me, what I dream of for my life, how deeply I’m capable of loving someone, where I have pain that is asking to be healed, and so many opportunities for growth. 

The biggest transformation of motherhood for me has been clarity!

With the little solo time you do get, what’s your favorite thing to do? 

If I’m not catching up on work during the solo time, I love to take a walk while I listen to a podcast, do a barre class (without any little loves climbing all over me), or curl up with a great cup of coffee to watch a beloved TV show or read a book.

If you could describe your postpartum experience in one word, what would it be and why? 

BLISS!! After being so sick through both of my pregnancies with hyperemesis, postpartum was bliss since I wasn’t getting sick anymore. I could cry even now describing how much relief I got when I was no longer pregnant. It was bliss to both meet my beautiful babies AND to not feel physically ill 24/7 anymore !

What’s something that caught you off guard during the first 3 months of parenthood? 

I was shocked by how little sleep I needed during that time! The sleep deprivation definitely got tough for me around 5-6 months postpartum, but I couldn’t believe how the body seemed to adjust at the beginning.

On a scale of 1-10, how supported did you feel as you navigated healing and learning how to take care of your baby? Why? 

In the beginning, I would say 9-10. My family and friends were so loving and supportive. But a few months postpartum, I’d say much less. Like a 3 or 4. My husband and family were still so present for me but it felt like the whole world expected me to be back and able to do everything I did before just that I did it then. That was tough!

If you could dream up the perfect postpartum journey, what would it look like and feel like?

Waking up and taking a shower first thing in the morning (the night sweats and leaky milk are so real!!), putting on a soft robe, and crawling back into bed to nurse the baby. Having my husband bring me coffee and breakfast in bed. Spending the day snuggling and resting. Taking slow walks in the fresh air. Friends stopping by with food and flowers to say hi, but not expecting anything from us. A quiet, peaceful house. Plenty of time and space to heal and connect with my baby while also getting to know myself as a mom. Time for Tim and I to connect on all we’ve been through together and this new life we are responsible for. That would be my perfect postpartum journey!!

What’s the #1 piece of advice you’d give a brand new parent? 

That it’s going to be “both and.” Both challenging and magical. Both intuitive and unknown. Both anxiety-provoking and love-filled. Both lonely and deeply connected. Both and. 

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