The Women Who Inspire Me Most This IWD: The Ones Simply Surviving.

After scrolling through all the International Women’s Day (IWD) posts this year, I had a surprising realisation: I wasn’t particularly moved by the “bossing it” women, the ones winning awards and smashing glass ceilings. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good success story, and I’ll always cheer for women breaking barriers. But right now, in this current season of my life, my biggest wins include leaving work on time for nursery pick-up and managing to put on a face of make-up.

The women who are truly inspiring me this year? They’re the ones simply surviving and being brave enough to be honest about it.

To the Women Who Let Me Be Human.

I admire the women in my life who, by sharing their messy realities, give me permission to embrace my own. Women like: Robyn, the Managing Director of one of the most exciting companies I know. She’s just returned from maternity leave and is somehow juggling sleep regressions, baby brain, and boardroom decisions, all while finding time to share her business wisdom with me. She even dedicates her precious free hours to helping me and 11 other mums access the magical Nanny Kelly (think of a modern day Mary Poppins).

Adele, who recently had both of her kids in hospital for different reasons (because life apparently believes in doubling down). If that wasn’t enough, her husband caught a 24-hour stomach bug the day they were released. And somehow, amid all this chaos, she still finds time to care for her terminally ill mother and remain one of the most positive people I know. Meanwhile, I get stressed when my toddler sneezes twice in a row.

My own mum, who stands by my dad as he chases his dreams in his 60s, risking everything they’ve spent a lifetime building. Definitely not the retirement she signed up for. I can barely handle my toddler refusing to get dressed and throwing off the holy schedule, so hats off to her.

My therapist, Hannah, who spends her days helping women like me bounce back from postnatal depression, even though she probably thinks, “I also have three kids and would love a nap.”

My new mentor, Dominic McGregor, and the entire team at Fearless Adventures. They see potential in me as a business owner, even though I’m five months pregnant and still trying to get my two-year-old to sleep through the night. If that’s not taking a calculated risk, I don’t know what is.

The Beauty of Simply Getting Through It.

In the wise words of Khloé Kardashian (yes, I watch the Kardashians—no shame):

"Each day I make it to my bed at night is the biggest achievement I can hope for right now."

So, here’s to all the women and parents just getting through it and being brave enough to be real about it. You’re not alone.

And a massive thank you to the people who still see the superstars underneath the baby vomit and sleep deprivation temporarily shrinking our brains.

Because, while we may feel like flowers buried under a pile of manure (sometimes quite literally), this is just a season. And when it passes, we’ll break through that dirt, stronger, more glorious, and taller than we ever could have imagined.