December 15th 2024.
Rhiannon Sully-Newman, a new mother, found herself struggling to meet society's expectations of the "perfect" mother. She recalls a cold morning nine years ago, standing in her kitchen with a cup of coffee and a heavy heart, consumed by feelings of guilt and inadequacy. As she compared herself to other mothers and tried to conform to societal norms, she felt overwhelmed, judged, and lost. She was just going through the motions of life, living in survival mode.
Rhiannon admits that during this time, she would often yell at her daughter and husband in the mornings, and numb her guilt with wine in the evenings. Even walking to school filled her with anxiety, and she prayed that no one would talk to her in the playground. Looking in the mirror, she didn't recognize the person staring back at her. It was then that she noticed a rash on her neck, chest, and face that would appear whenever she felt panicked, even at work. When she went to her doctor, they couldn't explain it.
In addition to the pressures of motherhood, Rhiannon also faced the sudden loss of her father and the breakdown of her marriage. It was during this time of grief and self-exploration that she realized life was too short to conform to what others expected of her. She had always been adventurous and had traveled extensively before becoming a mom, but she gave it all up in an attempt to be the perfect mother. Now, she knew she needed to be true to herself in order to be a good parent.
Upon returning from a trip to Namibia, where she found solace and healing, Rhiannon decided to create Maverick Mums, a group that encourages women to step out of their comfort zones. She also began volunteering with Elephant-Human Relations Aid (EHRA). It was at an adventure travel show that she met Catherine Edsell, an explorer and conservationist, and they quickly became friends. Together, they organized trips to support other women like themselves.
Catherine had already started The Matriarch Adventure, which offered extreme expeditions to help women connect with nature and share their wisdom. She was inspired to create this venture after experiencing her own "unraveling" as a mother. Despite being an experienced explorer, she found herself breaking down over small things like a malfunctioning dishwasher. Together, Rhiannon and Catherine planned a special expedition for Maverick Mums, where 15 women between the ages of 36 and 66 embarked on a ten-day journey through the Namibian desert, following the path of elephants.
During the trip, the women bonded around campfires and slept under the stars, completely unplugged from technology. Catherine wanted to recreate the feeling of adventure from her early days of leading expeditions, where you were truly disconnected from the outside world. The trip was not for the faint of heart, with no luxurious amenities or creature comforts. Instead, the women were exposed to the elements, sleeping in mosquito nets and relying on nature for their basic needs.
Overall, the Matriarch Adventure for Maverick Mums was a transformative experience for all involved. It allowed these women to let go of societal expectations and reconnect with themselves and nature. Rhiannon and Catherine continue to organize these trips, providing a space for women to break free from the pressures of motherhood and find their true identities.
After giving birth to her first child, Rhiannon Sully-Newman found herself struggling to fulfill the societal expectations of a perfect mother. Like many new mothers, she experienced a period of turmoil and self-doubt. She recalls one particular winter morning, standing in her kitchen with a cup of coffee, feeling consumed by guilt and constantly comparing herself to other mothers. She felt overwhelmed and lost, like she was failing at being a good mother. Every day felt like a daunting challenge, and she was merely surviving rather than truly living.
The stress and anxiety began to manifest physically, as Rhiannon developed a rash that would start on her neck and spread to her chest and face. She also found herself shouting at her daughter and husband in the mornings and using wine to numb her feelings of guilt in the evenings. Her anxiety would rise on the walk to her daughter's school, and she would pray that no one would speak to her in the playground. Looking in the mirror, she no longer recognized the person staring back at her.
One day, Rhiannon's body seemed to be screaming for help, and she finally sought it out. She realized that before becoming a mother, she had been adventurous and had traveled extensively. However, after having her daughter, she felt pressured to conform to a certain image of a selfless mother and had given up those parts of herself. But with the sudden death of her father and the breakdown of her marriage, Rhiannon realized that life was too short to not live it to the fullest.
She embarked on a journey of self-exploration and healing in Namibia, volunteering with Elephant-Human Relations Aid and reconnecting with her adventurous side. It was during an adventure travel show that she met Catherine Edsell, an explorer and conservationist. The two women bonded over their shared experiences and decided to collaborate on a project to support other mothers like themselves.
Catherine had also gone through her own period of unraveling, despite being an experienced explorer and conservationist. When she received a birthday card that said, “I wanted to go out and change the world but I couldn't find a babysitter,” she was overwhelmed with emotions. She couldn't understand why she could scuba dive and trek through jungles, but when she became a mother, she struggled with everyday tasks like the dishwasher not draining properly.
Together, Rhiannon and Catherine organized a ten-day expedition called the Matriarch Adventure for Maverick Mums. They invited 15 mothers between the ages of 36 and 66 to join them in traveling through the Namibian desert, following the path of elephants and aiding conservation efforts. The women bonded over campfires and slept under the stars, disconnected from their phones and completely immersed in nature.
For these women, the trip was a chance to unplug and reconnect with their sense of adventure and self. It was not a luxurious vacation, but a challenging and transformative experience. There were no beds, walls, or running water, but the women embraced the opportunity to step out of their comfort zones and support each other on this journey. It was a reminder that true adventure and connection can only be found when we disconnect from the distractions of modern life.
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