“I went in prepared for the worst”: Steph Claire Smith and Laura Henshaw on the parts of early motherhood no one warns you about

Steph Claire Smith and Laura Henshaw’s refreshingly honest take on motherhood.

There’s a version of the motherhood conversation that’s polished, predictable and safe. Then there’s the honest, unfiltered chat shared by Steph Claire Smith and Laura Henshaw, who are best friends, business partners and now mums navigating early parenthood at the same time.

As the co-founders of KIC, Steph and Laura have built a global community around health, mindfulness and feeling good. Lately though, they’ve also been helping mums feel more seen through their refreshingly honest conversations about early motherhood.

Steph is mum to five-year-old Harvey and one-year-old Billie, while Laura is four months into life with her son Atlas. At a recent event hosted by KIC Bump and Tommee Tippee, the pair sat down for a chat covering everything from ADHD diagnoses to birth experiences and the realities of becoming a parent.

Steph’s unexpected discovery: “It’s all kind of made sense”

Motherhood has a way of holding up a mirror. For Steph, what she saw surprised her, not just in Harvey, but in herself.

“What surprised me most as a mum of a now five-year-old is identifying that I have ADHD and navigating that in itself as well over the past couple of years,” she shared.

“Over the past couple of years it’s all kind of made sense, and I think it’s because I have a real connection with my child-like self. I love nostalgia, I love Toy Story, and everything Disney. Since Harvey has been about three and a half, he has a lot more energy and a lot more imagination, so he’ll really want to lock into something with me. I’ll sit down, have every intention to be there and present, and two minutes later I’m like cool, onto something else.”

Steph says she loves leaning into activities she can do with her son.

“We all have interests that we share that we can really lock into. I love colouring in, I love arts and crafts, and thank god Harvey does, too!”

Laura on the surprise of loving it more than she ever expected

Four months into motherhood, Laura says her biggest surprise has been how much she’s overcome the fear she once felt about becoming a mum.

“What has surprised me the most is just how much I’m loving it! I went into motherhood with so much fear about many things. I just thought I was scared I wasn’t going to have a connection with Atlas. I’m so grateful that I did. I know a lot of things influence this – our hormones, our mental health – but I went in prepared for the worst, and it has just exceeded every expectation. It’s so magical. The most beautiful surprise I could ever hope for.”

On their favourite age and why every stage has its magic

When asked which age they’ve loved most so far, Steph didn’t hesitate.

“Between one and two and a half. They’re starting to walk, starting to talk, and there are so many firsts that are phenomenal. They’re just so excited about every little thing. It’s a really entertaining, beautiful time – and it’s also the time before they learn too many words. I’m really looking forward to Billie entering that age. She’s there now and it has just been a joy.”

For Laura, four months in, the magic lives in the smallest moments.

“Atlas is only four months old, but my favourite is hard to say. It’s so beautiful now because he can see you and he’s starting to reach out to you, which is really special. And also, the first five days. I was very lucky to have a really beautiful birth experience.”

Why this conversation matters

The fourth trimester, those first three months after birth, is one of the most intense and least supported seasons of a parent’s life. Marked by recovery, sleep deprivation, identity shifts and often profound isolation, it’s a period that deserves far more than it typically gets.

That’s exactly the gap KIC Bump and Tommee Tippee are working to close. By combining Tommee Tippee’s 60+ years of expertise in the newborn space with KIC’s engaged, wellness-led community, the partnership is designed to support parents more meaningfully, across education, movement, connection and everyday care. Because the conversation Steph and Laura shared at that event is exactly the kind of honest, reassuring chat every new parent deserves access to.