Postpartum, creativity & the beauty of joyful chaos: Lisa Gachet’s intimate reflections

Creating, giving life, running a business, loving, doubting, starting over… Lisa Gachet is one of those who embrace everyday complexity with authenticity. Founder of Make My Lemonade and mother of two young children, she opens up about motherhood with raw honesty and vulnerability.

Emotionally intense births, vulnerable postpartum, gentle self-care rituals, and the need for slowing down in a fast-paced world: Lisa tells it all, with the tenderness and strength of women who endure. A sensitive and powerful interview, speaking of fierce love, healing manicures, Mega Water, and that inner compass that is the power of speaking out.

Welcome to a suspended moment, with an open heart.

During your pregnancies, what really dominated your thoughts?

A kind of amazement, I think. I was fascinated by what my body was capable of doing without me having to ask it. It was very physical, and at the same time, I found it easy, natural. I remember the sensations when I felt the babies move inside me, as if another life was unfolding alongside my own. And looking back, I love their behaviors in utero, they were already completely themselves! Two very different experiences.

You experienced two difficult deliveries. If you take a moment to relive that moment, what comes to mind?

I think it took me a long time to realize that the first one had been traumatic. An overwhelming intensity. An immense loneliness, even when surrounded by people. Fear too, and at the same time, that instinctive strength you discover in an emergency. And then the complete shift, the metamorphosis, within a few seconds: you are never the same afterwards.

In the postpartum period, what did you discover about yourself?

A vulnerability I didn’t know I had, a bone-deep exhaustion, but also a capacity to love on an almost unbearable level. And this need for slowness, an absolute slowness that modern life doesn’t allow.

Was there a hand, a sentence, or a look that helped you hold on?

Yes. During my second postpartum, I didn’t try to be strong. I accepted to surrender and ask for help. Lazare had severe GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease); he cried all the time until he was diagnosed. Suzanne was barely 20 months old, my maternity leave with Make My Lemonade wasn’t really a break — it was hard to fully disconnect. And my partner was starting a new job. In short, those first weeks were MEGA tough. The childcare assistant from maternal and child protection sensed my distress, and we were lucky to have the support of an extraordinary person: Deborah, a family support technician, who became my crutch by coming a few hours a week to help with Lazare.

Did a talm product accompany you during your pregnancies? And in your daily life today?

Yes, the body oil. I think I treated it like a gentle act of self-kindness, a ritual just for me. I still use it like a comfort item, and I admit I smear it on the kids at the slightest redness or dry skin in winter. And I’m totally hooked on Mega Water, my skin has never looked better since I started using it.

Now, there are four of you. How do you all live together?

It’s a joyful chaos, but organized in its own way. There are rituals, drawings and Duplo blocks everywhere, packed calendars... and in the middle of it all, I find moments for Kevin and I: one evening a week, we make ourselves a priority. And I carve out space for myself (quietly, often with guilt), in the little gaps, often with guilt, but I do it for my well-being.

You run Make My Lemonade and you’re a mom. How do you manage that mix?

With a lot of ups and downs. But for the past three years, I’ve been running MML with Inès, my general manager, so she’s a true partner in the day-to-day professional life. On the personal side, some days I’m in the right place at the right time and everything seems to flow… and other days it feels like one problem after another. That’s life. It’s a constant balancing act. But I’ve learned to ask for help, delegate, and trust others.

You run Make My Lemonade and you’re a mom. How do you manage that mix?

With a lot of ups and downs. But for the past three years, I’ve been running MML with Inès, my general manager, so she’s a true partner in the day-to-day professional life. On the personal side, some days I’m in the right place at the right time and everything seems to flow… and other days it feels like one problem after another. That’s life. It’s a constant balancing act. But I’ve learned to ask for help, delegate, and trust others.

How has motherhood changed your creativity?

I think I’ve gained depth and intuition. I have less time to create whenever I want. I’ve learned to harness inspiration and to ritualize my creative moments to fit everything into my schedule. It’s not an exact science, but I feel much more efficient.

When everything feels overwhelming, what’s your little trick?

I just hit pause and go get a manicure. Lol. I’m not joking, it’s a moment where I can’t fidget or create, so it’s like forced introspection for an hour. It could be a massage too, but I find the benefits don’t last as long, whereas a colorful manicure cheers me up for weeks every time I look at it.

Since becoming a mother, do you feel a different kind of responsibility in what you pass on?

Yes, definitely. I think about what I leave behind, what my children will understand from my choices and commitments. I want them to see a woman who is free, flawed but aligned. I work a lot, and I love it. I want them to see me fulfilled and know that I pursue my ambitions fully. I don’t sacrifice anything because when I’m at home, I’m 100% present too.

How do you get through the most intense moments?

By focusing on the essentials: getting enough sleep (as much as possible), eating (as much as possible), cuddling, that’s the easiest part. And by putting things into words. When I say I’m not okay, it already feels a bit better. Communication is my North Star.

A recent little moment of joy?

Every day brings joy. Just hearing my kids talk to each other, it’s incredible. Discovering their tastes, listening to them tell me all sorts of things, it’s wonderful! And making them laugh is my ultimate addiction.

An unexpected lesson from motherhood?

There are many, but I’d say: humility! I thought I’d be above the impenetrable laws of parenting. That postpartum would be a breeze, my kids would sleep well right away, teething wouldn’t hurt, and weaning off the pacifier would be easy. Honestly, who did I think I was… And I also discovered that time can be elastic. You can have an exhausting and beautiful day all at once.