Words by Rachel StraitMotherhood, the state of being a mother. The quality of having the tenderness, the warmth and the affection of a mother. Being a mom is something I have always wanted. But I struggled with the idea of giving up my dream of being a professional athlete. The fear of losing everything, my sponsorships, my fitness, my career was a reality I was willing to take on in order to fulfill my desire to be a mom. As I held her in my arms on February 20th, 2021, and felt her love and the bond we immediately had, I realized it’s okay to do both, to love both, and to have both. The adversity I experience outside of motherhood is what makes me a stronger mom!
2020 was a very unique year for many professional athletes. I realized after we returned home from Crankworx Rotorua in March and the country shut down all non-essential everything, that most likely all of our events would be cancelled. I am 32, and I knew I always wanted to be a mom. Kyle and I had been talking about when was the right time to try, but to be completely honest, I wasn’t ready in previous years. I wanted more from my career. I still had so many goals I wanted to reach, and I wasn’t ready to slow down. 2020 forced me to slow down. In June I took a pregnancy test and it was positive. It was go time...
I waited until September to tell my sponsors. I was nervous as to how they would respond. I remember following Allyson Felix’s career. If you aren’t familiar with Allyson Felix, she is the most decorated woman in US track and field history. In 2018 she announced she was pregnant. At the time her biggest sponsor was Nike. I remember reading the article that Nike offered her a pay cut of 70% in case her performance saw subpar results as she recovered from childbirth. This woman has 9 Olympic medals! And she was struggling with sponsors… I remember reading it and thinking, “oh man, how will my career survive then.”
When I finally told my sponsors, I received the exact opposite response. I felt so relieved, and almost lucky… They were so excited, so supportive and very encouraging that I would be able to continue my role as an athlete/ambassador in the sport. That says a lot about the people who stand behind me. I also realized that it is because of women like Felix that I am able to still do both. All the women before me that proved being a mom doesn’t stop you from reaching your goals professionally. Their sacrifices, hard work and determination helped pave the way for me, and I can only hope that my story can help pave the way, or at least inspire other women who are thinking of starting a family.
I have heard people say, “once you have a kid your life is over…” I couldn't disagree more with this statement. Is racing harder, yes. Do you need more support, Heck Yes. But is your life over, No… It’s different. You adapt, change your mindset, and move forward knowing some days will be harder than others. But in the end, it is so worth it. In making this video my goal was to show my journey of becoming a new mom and finding my path, but also being a mom does not define who I am, I am still Rachel Strait, just with a beautiful baby girl! And I am so happy and honored DEITY wanted to partner up and make it happen.
I hope you all enjoy “Don’t Define Me”.
http://www.deitycomponents.com
126 Comments
Or political bullshit statements in general like "the problem doesn't exist" and keeping Mom's from recieving proper maternity leave...
THe "mom culture" you speak of is people posting online pics/vids of them doing parenting stuff, and it makes you feel overwhelmed that you aren't doing enough, you should do more, spend more time, etc. when really its just a sampling bias and doing "more" isn't necessarily better.
You seem a bit reactionary to the question "Who is actually out there saying women shouldn't ride bikes or be adventure moms?".
"Or political bullshit statements in general like "the problem doesn't exist" and keeping Mom's from recieving proper maternity leave..." I don't see anywhere in the article, nor my comment, nor any of the comments where we say "the problem doesn't exist". All I asked is who are these idiots out there telling moms to not live their lives and be all they can be? I've never actually heard someone say this, but only heard people respond to the ideologies behind them, so that's why I'm asking can someone point out a person/organizational body that is telling Rachel "hey you have a kid now, stop doing cool shit."
Also I totally endorse leaving kids alone to entertain themselves from a young age, ignoring them to teach them how to handle their own shit, and saying no to stuff for no reason other than to teach them they can’t always get what they want.
Then again I believe the issue of not having as many women in the sport is due to lack of interest and a very slowly growing participation rate, not anyone telling them they can't ride. Which somehow is a contentious viewpoint that i'm sure will get downtrolled by the big brain anon lurkers on here but oh well
Couldn't agree more. Of course I'm a man so having kids is far less of a sacrifice, but the principle is the same- sacrifice is giving up something good for something better.
The trick is to neglect your children. Much easier that way.
JKJK! I spend lots of time with my kids.
*except for the next few days.
Until the last few years in some industries/companies if you were a woman and had a baby it was almost guaranteed that your chances of promotion were over or at least much more likely to be passed over. I mean “who wants to promote some woman who might have another baby and go on leave for a year again?”
Hopefully this sexist bullshit is being replaced by more equality in the home and workspace.
Also dudes, it might be really f*cking hard work to raise your kids while the wife goes back to work but you get to take them to pump tracks, swimming, etc and you have to go to work less.
I personally think that a female athlete can still easily promote and sell products if they are a mother, they just need to incorporate that into their ads. "I love motherhood, but I never let it slow me down", Felix says into the camera, and then she sprints away. Or something kinda cheesy like that. Celebrate parenthood within the ad campaign.
Did Nike stop paying Michael Jordan went he went to play baseball? Do they drop Lebron's pay if he sits out games due to injury or covid?
To bring up injuries/covid is comparable to what exactly? Having a child is a decision and having an injurie is not.
We all like to throw judgement and analysis around, but I fear we don't know nearly enough about the details.
Butit wasn’t just Felix, there were a lot of athletes across the whole spectrum of sports struggling with sponsorship cuts or being dropped as soon as they got pregnant.
Luckily (hopefully) it’s getting better thanks to Felix, Williams, etc.
Sad that you need this marketing stuff to get people interested.
@jkwilliamz @ryanthelyon @flatlandhaala @nzstormer @DanKaplan @CamNeelyCantWheelie
One's mother.
E.g. 'My mom gave us each a slice of pizza'
See also: 媽媽
@Caligula1620: religious fundamentalists
@matadorCE: www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/paid-family-leave-in-the-states.aspx
Your baby grinning back up at you from the baby seat while gripping the handlebars with their tiny hands and the wind in their hair is the best bike related experience ever.
And then their first micro BMX. First wheelie...and for little Stevie so on all the way up to her First World Cup win....
www.pinkbike.com/news/video-flips-and-tricks-with-stephanie-nychka-in-rides-like-a-mother.html
For 3/4 was/is the only way they sleep!
Really need the facepalm symbol now.
Wait Rachel Atherton is in this article? It is cool Rachel Strait and Atherton for that matter are moms that are still riding.
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