Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Olson
Hi Hannah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
You know how in elementary school, kids are asked what they want to be when they grow up? And there’s always that one girl who says, “I want to be a mom,” earning all the “awwwws!” from the adults in the room? That girl was…not me.
Don’t get me wrong—I always planned to be a mom. I never questioned whether I’d have kids. But in my mind, having kids felt more like an obligation—a “noble and good thing to do”—than something I was genuinely excited about. If you had asked me in my late teens or early 20s, I wouldn’t have said I was dreading motherhood, but I definitely wasn’t counting down the days.
Then came February 2015 and a (surprise!) positive pregnancy test.
I was 23, happily married, and just months away from graduating college. By BYU standards, I was in the perfect position to start a family. The only problem? Instead of excitement or anticipation, the only emotion I felt staring at those two tiny pink lines was: dread.
That reaction was a wake-up call. What was it about becoming a mom that filled me with so much panic and fear?
The answer didn’t come right away. But over years of analyzing and questioning the societal expectations placed on mothers (while continuing to have babies at a speed Brigham Young himself would have been impressed by), I arrived at a surprising conclusion:
It starts with language.
Somehow, the word “motherhood” has become a catch-all for everything (good or bad, but mostly bad) associated with pregnancy, babies, children, and household management. The qualifications and expectations placed on moms today are so unrealistic it’s nearly impossible to find one who doesn’t report feeling overwhelmed or burned out. (Seriously, Google it, the numbers are almost unbelievable.)
Our society has a long way to go when it comes to providing the support for mothers so desperately need. But until we shift our language and redefine how we think about motherhood, we’ll keep adding unnecessary hurdles moms have to navigate.
The mission of my business, Redefining Motherhood is to help women, men, and children understand that motherhood isn’t a job, an identity, or passtime– it’s a relationship.
If we want to create a better experience for moms and families now and in the future, we need to think, talk, and treat motherhood like the relationship it is.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not, ha! When I finally realized that the relationship of motherhood and the job of caregiving were different things, it felt like a lightbulb moment. Call it dramatic, but that understanding was life-changing for me! I immediately felt called to spread the message and educate others about this complete paradigm shift. But figuring out the best ways to do that has required many pivots! It has been challenging to figure out how to share the message in ways that are both impactful and sustainable. I’ve tried many different tactics of turning this movement into a business that can support itself.
Not to mention, social media can be a trip! 😂 Trying to breakdown a deeply complex and very engrained concept via short social media clips is tough. It’s been a balancing act of refining my messaging, understanding what resonates most, and trying not to get my feelings hurt when people really don’t like or agree with what I have to say.
I’ve learned so much though and I’m excited to keep learning as I go! Can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Right now I am focusing on creating original Instagram content as well as partnering with brands to create sponsored content. I speak at events and hope to write a book someday! In 2025 I plan to host both in-person and online events as well as group programs, all with the intent to help women Redefine Motherhood and reclaim their identity.
I also host a (semi) weekly podcast, Rantish,
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I love podcasts and the Marco Polo app. I almost always have a podcast or Marco Polo from a friend playing in may ear!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: freckledhan
- Facebook: freckledhan
- Other: tiktok: therealfreckledhan
