Motherhood: but make it Yours, Vol. 14

Motherhood: but make it Yours is a series featuring different perspectives on motherhood, life choices, ups and downs as well as inspiration, reflection and tackling the real questions, written by different women each week.

In this edition, we sit down with Elena Pappas Gishen, mother of two and founder of the home workout platform BodE, to talk about the parts of motherhood that don’t get wrapped in a bow: becoming a mum earlier than planned, letting go of old identities, rebuilding strength from the inside out, and learning to move slower without losing yourself. It’s a conversation about acceptance, ambition, and discovering that the life you didn’t plan can still be the one you’d never trade.

Plnty: What part of your life looks nothing like you imagined — but you wouldn’t change a thing?

Elena: Motherhood actually! I became a mom a lot earlier than I expected due to my endometriosis journey. I had laparoscopy surgery after being diagnosed with stage 3 endo, and shortly after was encouraged to fall pregnant because of how aggressively endometriosis can come back. Fast forward a few years, and I am now a mom of 2. It’s been the most incredible journey of my life and I wouldn’t change a thing!

Plnty: What’s the biggest change you experienced after becoming a mother?

Elena: Adjusting from my previously carefree and adaptable lifestyle has been tough. I’ve felt the loss of friendships, and I am still learning to navigate this new version of myself. Accepting this life where I am keeping little humans alive takes priority over everything else, but it has been a lengthy journey. Rediscovering who I am is incredibly challenging, and there are countless moments where I have felt isolated and alone. I feel like now things are starting to get a lot easier, but its taken a lot of time!

Plnty: Be honest: how do you actually fit it all in (and what quietly gets dropped)?

Elena: I don’t! Most of the time I have to compromise on one thing, and it’s never going to be my children. So naturally my career had to take a step back which was really tough at first, but now that I’ve accepted it and fully embraced my role of being a mom, it’s been a really beautiful journey. I still love what I do career wise, but I’m definitely not able to fully immerse myself into it like I did before I became a mom.

Plnty: What’s something you thought you’d lose in motherhood that you’ve actually reclaimed?

Elena: My body has surprised me! I used to think I could never be as strong as I was before, but now I am actually stronger than ever. Achieving this strength required a significant amount of time, consistency, and dedication, it hasn’t been easy! My home workout platform, BodE, has really helped me establish and stick to a routine. Prioritizing just 30 minutes a day for my own well-being has become a non-negotiable. Working out and feeling strong boosts my confidence, which ultimately makes me a better mom.

Plnty: What’s your version of self-care when the word itself feels a bit tired?

Elena: Just quiet time. I don’t always need to be doing something. As a mom, the very sacred art of doing nothing is the best form of self care!

Plnty: When was the last time you felt like, “Yes — this is me”?

Elena: Right now! 2026 is my year of self acceptance, less comparison, more kindness and moving slower without guilt.

Plnty: What’s your love language with yourself these days?

Elena: I’m an acts of service kind of girl! Cleaning the house, making things neat and decluttering just makes me so happy.

Plnty: What’s something that still scares you about running your own thing and how do you move through it?

Elena: I often struggle with the fear of becoming irrelevant in the fitness world. Workout trends come and go, and there’s always something newer and more exciting on the horizon, whether it be a new studio in town or a new fitness movement that everyone is following. I constantly brainstorm ways to keep my online platform fresh and engaging. Since I don’t have the opportunity to motivate people in person, it can be quite challenging to think of innovative strategies to keep my audience motivated and engaged with my workout programs.

Plnty: What’s the kindest thing you’ve done for yourself in 2025? And what are you looking to carry more of into 2026?

Elena: In 2025, I accepted a slower and more private life. I took the pressure off myself of having to always show up and deliver when I didn’t actually have the capacity to do so. This year I aspire be better at everything I do as a business woman, mother, wife & friend, but in a way that inspires others. Not for having the most followers or for posting reels that go viral. I want to inspire women to be real, authentic & confident. I want to be that girl, that wife, that mom!

Plnty: What would you tell the ‘you’ who was still figuring it out, the one who is just starting?

Elena: Hang in there, don’t rush it and stop comparing yourself to others. You are running your own race and success takes time. Don’t let social media make you feel like you aren’t enough - every single person is posting a fully curated life of what they want others to see. Turn off the noise, focus on your vision, and keep certain things private. Quietly build, loudly succeed!

Plnty: What are you most proud of?

Elena: Family! My husband, my kids and my 2 dogs. It doesn’t get better than this. I’m so blessed!

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December 9, 2025

Our little guy is about to turn two in a few days, and—for reasons I can’t fully articulate—it feels like a much bigger milestone than turning one ever did. One felt symbolic. Two feels real. Two feels like: we’ve built something here. A small person with preferences, opinions, jokes, routines… and a mother who

Motherhood: but make it Yours, Vol. 12

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December 1, 2025

There are women who walk into motherhood quietly, and there are women who expand inside it.
Rushda Moosajee — aka RUSHTUSH — is the latter. Entrepreneur, wife, mother of four boys, community-builder, and creator of a wellness empire that looks nothing like anyone else’s.