Jenny C. Cohen on Motherhood: Worthiness, Wake-Up Calls, and What It Really Means to Be Present

All featured photography by Brianna Shrader of 
Shy Heart Studios

For Jenny C. Cohen, motherhood has always been a conscious choice—a sacred responsibility, not just a rite of passage. From IVF to international medals, breast cancer to mental health crises, her journey as a mother has been anything but ordinary. But what shines through, louder than any struggle, is her belief that every mother is exactly who her child needs.

Jenny is a confidence coach who helps women go from nervous speakers to bold communicators. She’s also a breast cancer survivor, an author, and the mother of fraternal twins who defied many odds to become elite athletes. And while her resume is impressive, it’s her raw honesty and emotional resilience that truly define her story. Jenny’s book, “Outside In Recovery: Dancing My Way Back to My Self after breast cancer”, chronicles her personal and professional journey and offers a roadmap for women to reclaim their authenticity, heal from their wounds, and embrace their true strength.

At a recent Mother’s Day storytelling event, Jenny opened up about what motherhood really means to her—beyond the milestones and medals. Her words are a powerful reminder that healing, presence, and self-worth are at the heart of it all.

A Mother By Intention, Not by Default

Motherhood didn’t happen by chance for Jenny—it happened by choice. After her husband was diagnosed with cancer shortly after they were married, the couple was forced to consider fertility preservation much sooner than expected. That led to IVF, which uncovered that Jenny had severe endometriosis—a condition that likely would have made natural conception nearly impossible.

“We never would have had children had we not gone through IVF,” she says. “Motherhood, from the start, was something we had to fight for. It wasn’t handed to us. It was incredibly medical, incredibly deliberate.”

This deep intentionality shaped how Jenny viewed parenthood: not as an obligation, but as a calling. “It’s not a right,” she explains. “It’s a privilege. And when you’re gifted that opportunity, it becomes sacred.”

Her twins—now in their twenties—went on to become Junior Olympians, thanks in part to Jenny’s background in occupational therapy and her fierce dedication as a coach and mentor. But their journey wasn’t without heartbreak.

Surviving Breast Cancer—and the Guilt That Followed

In 2015, Jenny’s world shifted again when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. What followed was a grueling two-year treatment process that included chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and additional infusions. But the hardest part wasn’t just the physical pain—it was the emotional disconnection that came with survival.

“I had to disassociate just to get through it,” she says. “But that meant I wasn’t truly present. And I missed the signs that one of my children was in deep emotional distress.”

While Jenny was focusing on surviving cancer, one of her twins —already overwhelmed by the stress of their twin sibling diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes a few years earlier—was silently struggling. The signs weren’t subtle in hindsight, but Jenny, like many mothers caught in survival mode, simply couldn’t see them.

It wasn’t until her young teen reached out, expressing suicidal thoughts and sharing scars from self-harm, that Jenny realized how crucial her own healing was—not just for herself, but for her child. This pivotal moment of realization is explored in her book, where Jenny reveals the steps she took to rebuild trust, connection, and healing within her family.

“That was the wake-up call,” she says. “I knew I had to get truly present. I couldn’t lose my precious child.  I had to come back into my body, back into my life, to be the mother they needed.”

Redefining Confidence—and Motherhood

In the aftermath of her breast cancer treatment, Jenny wrote “Outside In Recovery: Dancing My Way Back to My Self after breast cancer” to help others feel less alone and to confront the survivor’s guilt that often lingers long after medical care ends. Through her coaching work, she now supports women who are “faking it”—putting on masks of confidence without truly knowing who they are.

“My clients are the version of me before I got cancer,” she says. “Women who are high-functioning but disconnected from their truth.”

That journey back to truth began, for Jenny, with motherhood. “Motherhood is the mirror,” she says. “It reflects everything we need to heal. It demands authenticity. And it teaches us what real presence means.”

The Role of Motherhood in Society

When asked what role motherhood plays in society, Jenny’s response is both philosophical and grounded.

“We’re raising the next generation of humans,” she says. “That’s not something to be taken lightly. It should be a conscious choice—a sacred one.”

She speaks candidly about how many parents, like her own immigrant family, view parenthood as duty rather than opportunity. But for Jenny, every part of her journey—from IVF to illness—reaffirmed that motherhood is about more than survival. It’s about transformation.

“Our children didn’t ask to be born,” she reflects. “We are the ones who insisted. And that means we have a responsibility to show up fully — not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually.”

One Message to All Mothers: You Are Enough

If Jenny could say one thing to every mother in the world, it would be this:
“You are worthy. You are enough. You are the perfect mom for the child you were gifted.”

In a culture that constantly questions mothers’ value, ability, and balance, Jenny’s message cuts through the noise with clarity and compassion. Her own journey—marked by trauma, triumph, and deep introspection—proves that motherhood isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. And love. And growth.

“I missed signs, I made mistakes,” she says. “But I also came back stronger. And I now know that being real with your kids, being present, is the most important thing you can offer.”

A Story That Honors the Quiet Strength of Mothers

Jenny C. Cohen’s story is a reminder that motherhood isn’t a linear path—it’s a layered, evolving experience shaped by both love and loss. Through her coaching, writing, and lived example, she offers other mothers something precious: validation.

Her voice, like her journey, is filled with grace and grit. And this Mother’s Day, her story stands as a testament to the kind of motherhood that heals—not just our children, but ourselves.