Evolving Through Motherhood: Pivoting & Upskilling with Tru
Ep 7: A genuine look at what it means to change direction, return to study, find new passions, and rediscover who you are after kids.
Motherhood has a way of forcing you to pause, reassess, and completely rewrite who you thought you were. The plans you imagined at 18 rarely survive the reality of raising tiny humans. Careers shift, identity blurs, and the version of you that existed before kids evolves into someone you couldn’t have predicted.
In this episode, I sit down with Tru — mum, writer, student, and professional pivoter — to talk about what it really looks like to grow, change, and start again while navigating the chaos of motherhood. Tru opens up about leaving school early, finding her way through admin roles, running an online business during COVID, being made redundant multiple times, and returning to study as a mature-age student (and mum of two).
Her story is an honest look at learning on the fly, letting go of timelines, and choosing yourself even when fear says you shouldn’t.
This conversation isn’t about having it all together — it’s about embracing the mess, honouring your ambition, and believing there’s always another door, even when the first few close.
What We Cover in This Episode:
Non-linear career paths & letting go of traditional timelines: how leaving school early didn’t stop Tru from building a meaningful and evolving career — and why persistence, curiosity, and reinvention have shaped every chapter of her journey.
Going back to study as a mum: the honest reality of completing university-level study after kids, why Tru made the decision to pause her semester, and how honouring her capacity helped her avoid burnout.
Redundancy, rejection and resilience: what losing three jobs in 18 months taught her, how those setbacks pushed her toward new opportunities, and why “wrong” roles can offer the most powerful lessons.
FIFO life, night shifts and solo parenting stretches: a raw conversation about the emotional load, the unpredictability, and the survival-mode seasons of parenting alone for long stretches while a partner works away.
Pivoting from business owner to HR to youth-focused work: how Tru unexpectedly found fulfilment in a role she nearly walked away from, and why giving new paths time to settle can reveal surprising joy.
Writing as a creative outlet: why writing a novel became the quiet anchoring space her mind needed, how creativity reconnects her to herself, and what having a passion outside motherhood can bring.
Identity, motherhood and evolving at every stage: the advice she’d give her younger self, the example she hopes to set for her children, and the importance of allowing yourself to grow alongside your family.
Permission to change your mind: why pivoting isn’t failure but evidence that you're tuning in to what you need — both as a woman and as a mother.
💌 Resources & Mentions:
Connect with Tru — Instagram: @truterrance_writes
💬 Listener Takeaway:
This episode is a reminder that your path does not expire just because motherhood began. Tru’s story proves you can pivot, pause, return, and reinvent at any age — and that your worth is never defined by the path you didn’t take.
🎧 Listen to the Episode Now:
Hit play on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
And don’t forget to follow the show so you don’t miss upcoming episodes where we unpack identity, motherhood, and finding YOU again.
It's okay if you're learning something new. It's okay if you're learning something new while raising kids. Your growth matters too.