“When I sat in your lecture, I realised I was listening to a 21st century parenthood pioneer.”
“In all my years I have never heard anyone speak about parenthood like you do. So validating and makes so much sense.”
“Like Brene Brown, your passion and vulnerability in sharing yourself and your work enables us to be brave.”
In beautiful Fort Lauderdale, Florida for a Doula Conference, 2018
Hi there, I'm Elly Taylor, founder of Becoming Us. Can I share something with you..?
As a Relationship Counsellor and a new mother at the same time, I was shocked to discover that while people say that the first year of marriage is hard, what they don't say is that the first year of parenthood is even harder. There’s abundant joys, wonders and beautiful moments, sure - but tough and gritty times too.
So I began researching. And was shocked to find that a whopping 92% of parents report increased disagreements with their partner in their first year of family and 67% are less happy in their relationship. Relationship concerns are a leading cause of anxiety or depression in pregnancy and early parenthood – affecting as many as 1 in 3 mothers and 1 in 5 dads.
Clearly, we need a new approach to parenthood. And I think I can help with this. With over 25 years experience in relationship counselling, independent perinatal research and relentless curiosity, I’m hoping my work can bridge the gap between the “before” and “after” of parenthood. And if I’ve learned anything, it’s this:
Partners can grow closer through parenthood, instead of growing apart:
they can become a new, bigger, stronger, deeper version of “us”.
Parenthood is a turning point for a couple - and partners can turn towards each other. Parents can have knowledge, skills and support for the normal and common life and relationship changes and challenges of parenthood so they can face them head on, hand-in-hand. This is why I wrote Becoming Us. Preparing and supporting parents for the gnarlier parts of parenthood - so they can enjoy the joys even more - is my passion and our Becoming Us mission.
I’ve been honoured to present the Becoming Us relationship-based approach to parenthood at national and international conferences (including in Latvia!), serve as an adviser for projects developed through Monash University (Emotional Experiences of Early Parenthood), Newcastle University (SMS for Dads), the Australian Catholic University (Supporting Your Partner when you have a Baby), and most recently for Columbia University (Birth and Corona Project) in New York. I have also contributed to the COPE website and I’m on the advisory board of the International Forum for Wellbeing in Pregnancy.
My favourite thing these days (family aside) is travelling (when I can) and sharing the benefits of Becoming Us with parents and professionals all over the world.
I hope to meet you somewhere, someday!
Being invited to present to around 300 parents in Riga, Latvia (with an interpreter) is a highlight! Photo credit: my husband.
Elly has presented Becoming Us at these events:
2020
Keynote Speaker, GOLD Birth and Beyond Conference, Online
Keynote Speaker, Childbirth and Parenting Educators Australia, Online
Keynote Speaker, Childbirth and Postpartum Professionals Association, Online
2019
Keynote Speaker, Broken Sleep Conference, Melbourne
Keynote Speaker, Birth Matters and Beginnings Matter Conferences, Sydney and Brisbane
Perinatal Loss Conference, Brisbane
Australasian Birth Trauma Conference, Sydney
Postpartum Support International Conference, Portland OR
Keynote Speaker, Childbirth and Postpartum Professionals Association Conference, Atlanta, GA
Becoming Us Seed Planting Workshops, Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver and New York City
Becoming Us Level I Training, Chicago
2018
National Mens Health Gathering, Sydney
Parenting 2.0, Sydney
Keynote Speaker, Parents Today Conference, Riga, Latvia (above)
Perinatal Mental Health Summit, London, UK
NHS Mental Health Day, Portsmouth, UK
Becoming Us Seed Planting Workshop, The Family Institute at Northwestern University, Chicago
Becoming Us Seed Planting Workshop, Brown University, Rhode Island
Becoming Us Seed Planting Workshop, The Motherhood Center, NYC
DONA Conference, Fort Lauderdale