Madeleine is the founder of Seeking Ro — a platform rooted in slow travel, shaped by her own search for stillness, beauty, and a more intentional way of moving through the world.

Being ripe for motherhood is as much a feeling as it is an active decision. It's not something that arrives all at once, but rather something to grow into.

Recognising that there were seeds to sow, and things I needed to work through before stepping into this new chapter, has been one of the most transformative realisations of my life. The path wasn't always clear. But in hindsight, I can see what guided me to a place where I both feel, and decide to be, ready.

Three things, in particular, shaped that shift.

1. The discipline of gratitude

For a long time, my mind focused on what was missing — the KPIs in life I hadn't hit, the milestones of my small business that hadn't yet materialised. Somewhere along this journey, I began to turn my attention toward counting blessings instead.

Soft light through our bedroom curtains. Birdsong in the morning. The health of my body and the lively kicks in my belly. The taste of my morning Oolong tea.

These small moments bring me back to how much there is to appreciate in the present. Entering motherhood can feel overwhelming — always another milestone, another symptom, another unknown. I've had to remind myself not to worry or rush ahead, but to stay here, and remain with what is good right now.

2. A change of energy and environment

There's an awareness that has sharpened over time — a sensitivity to energy. People and places carry something. Some restore you. Others quietly deplete you.

I felt this clearly following our move from Berlin to Nairobi. At this phase in life, we needed something different: less material consumption, stress, and pressure; more living, greenery, space, and a reminder of how much awe this planet holds. Nothing has embodied that more than Kenya.

When you're growing a life — when your energy is being directed outward — this distinction becomes essential. We need to be discerning about what we allow into our lives, filling our own cups steadily enough to overflow into another human being.

3. A deeper sense of community

Developing new friendships while nurturing existing ones has been one of the most rewarding parts of this chapter. I've been struck by how people show up — becoming meaningful pillars of support in unexpected ways.

Some through lived experience and a deep understanding of what this chapter holds. Others despite distance, time differences, or different life stages. It has reminded me how important it is to keep an open mind and trust your connections. The right people will meet you where you are.

Motherhood asks for surrender

I've always liked control and planning for what's next. Motherhood asks something else entirely. It asks for trust — in yourself, in others, and in the process. My relationship to the unknown has shifted. Uncertainty has certainly not disappeared, but I feel more at ease within it.

Now, at the very end of my pregnancy, I find myself in a particular kind of gratefulness. This chapter has given me more than I could have anticipated — a deeper appreciation for connection, a greater capacity to be present, a renewed sense of awe for life.

I know I will miss it. And at the same time, I feel ready to let go — and ready to step into what comes next.

Madeleine wears the Mistari Dressing Gown as well as a new weave coming soon!