From Burnout to Belonging: One Mum’s Mission to Build Community

The Nap Time Sessions

What happens when you hit burnout and realise you can’t keep doing it all on your own? In this episode of The Naptime Sessions, I chat to Karen Lander - mum, community builder, and founder of Mum Hub Kent - about the real-life challenges of motherhood, and why connection and self-care are anything but optional.

Karen shares her honest journey through burnout and overwhelm, and how that difficult experience led her to create Mum Hub: a warm, welcoming space for mums to come together, share stories, and feel a little less alone. We talk about why mums so often put themselves last, how damaging that can be to our mental health, and what it looks like to start putting ourselves back on the list – even in small, doable ways.

This is a powerful reminder that motherhood doesn’t have to be a solo mission. That asking for help is a strength. And that finding joy, purpose, and connection beyond the chaos of parenting is not only possible, but necessary.

Here’s what we cover:

• Karen’s experience of burnout and how it led to creating Mum Hub Kent
• Why mums often struggle to prioritise their own needs
• The importance of community and peer support in motherhood
• How asking for help can be one of the bravest things we do
• The impact of self-care on our mental health and relationships
• Living with a rare health condition and finding strength in vulnerability
• The need for mums to have something just for them
• Why your identity doesn’t disappear when you become a parent
• Simple shifts that can help you reclaim time, energy, and joy
• Embracing the unpredictability and messiness of motherhood

Karen’s story is a beautiful reminder that support can be found in the most honest conversations – and that creating something from your own struggle can help so many others along the way.

Resources

Want to find out more about Mum Hub Kent? Visit the website, follow Karen on Instagram or Facebook.

Enjoyed This Episode?

If Karen’s words resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you. Share this episode with a mum friend who might need the reminder that she’s not alone, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review – it helps so much and means the world.