As a mother navigating the challenges of early parenthood during the COVID pandemic, Rachel Soriano experienced firsthand the isolation, overwhelm and lack of practical support that many families face. What began as a simple idea to provide nourishing postpartum meals has since evolved into Villagehood, an innovative platform designed to help families connect with local support, create flexible income opportunities and rebuild the sense of community that modern parenting often lacks. Driven by her background in nutrition, her passion for supporting families and her belief that no parent should have to do it all alone, Rachel is on a mission to help bring the village back to family life. Here she talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the inspiration behind what she does, how she balances work and family time, and the challenges she has overcome along the way.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
It all started when I had my first baby during the COVID pandemic. My husband and I weren’t prepared for just how challenging those early months would be, and being in lockdown only amplified that. With our families living interstate and overseas, I felt incredibly overwhelmed and isolated.
I was shocked at how hard the little things became, like having a shower and cooking a meal. I tried a range of meal delivery services, but nothing quite met what I was craving which was nutrient-dense, home-cooked meals that truly nourished you in postpartum. Everything available seemed to be frozen or lacked that “made with care” feeling. That’s when the idea first sparked: what if I could provide fresh, home-style, nourishing meals for postpartum families? That question became the seed for Villagehood.
When my firstborn was nine months old, we found out we were expecting our second. Naturally, Villagehood took a back seat while I focused on motherhood and finishing my degree in nutrition. As a stay-at-home mum, there were financial sacrifices but more than anything, I felt the lack of connection.
Over time, I found an incredible group of mums who transformed my experience of motherhood. They showed me just how vital having a “village” really is. But as I met more mums, a common theme kept emerging. Many were struggling with three key things: lack of practical support, financial pressure and a lack of community. Many families were struggling with the cost of staying home with their children, or paying for childcare. After my second baby, the vision for Villagehood evolved to cater for the financial challenges families face.
It grew from a meal service idea into something much bigger: an app that connects families with local, practical support. Whether it’s meals, cleaning or other services, Villagehood is about helping families access support, create flexible income opportunities and build meaningful connections within their own neighbourhood.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
Honestly, it’s been almost a five-year journey.
I invested a significant portion of our savings into developing the app, and along the way, life continued to happen with more babies, study, and all the beautiful chaos that comes with family life. It hasn’t been a fast process, but we’re now getting very close to launching, which is incredibly exciting.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
If I’m being completely honest, I don’t feel like the biggest breakthrough has happened just yet.
For me, that moment will be when the app is fully launched and actively helping families. That’s when it will truly feel real. That said, there have been so many meaningful milestones along the way: seeing the first prototype, launching the website, and having people sign up and believe in the vision.
Those small wins have been powerful reminders that we’re building something that people genuinely need.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
There’s a quote I love: you don’t balance work and family, you juggle.
With three children under five, balance isn’t always realistic. The past few years have been a constant juggle of pregnancy, postpartum recovery, sleepless nights, finishing a degree, building a business and being present as a wife and mum.
And honestly, that’s exactly why Villagehood exists, because families are trying to do it all on their own, and it’s overwhelming. We’re not meant to carry everything alone. We’re meant to have a village that helps share the load.
That said, we’re always learning to adapt to different seasons. In busier times, we’ve intentionally created small moments to stay connected like Friday night picnics at the beach or simple at-home date nights after the kids are asleep. It’s not about perfect balance; it’s about being intentional within the juggle.
