Suburban Mom 'Drowning' in Postpartum Moves Family to N.Y.C. to Pursue Her 'Passion': 'Never Give Up on Yourself' (Exclusive)

Suburban Mom 'Drowning' in Postpartum Moves Family to N.Y.C. to Pursue Her 'Passion': 'Never Give Up on Yourself' (Exclusive) https://ift.tt/xieGHDv

“I’ve always wanted to have a family and to be an actor in New York – so it feels like the ultimate dream,” Grace Morgan tells PEOPLE

Courtesy of Grace Morgan

Grace Morgan, her husband, Daniel Berryman, and their two sons.

NEED TO KNOW

• Grace Morgan is an actor and mother of two, originally from Fishers, Ind.
• After moving to New York City in 2012 post-graduate, Morgan tells PEOPLE she “never planned on leaving”
• However, in 2019, she and her husband, Daniel Berryman, moved back to her hometown in search of stability for their growing family

After seven unforgettable years living in New York City, Grace Morgan never pictured herself packing up and heading back to the hometown she’d worked so hard to outgrow.

“When I moved to New York at 22 years old, I never planned on leaving. My husband and I were actors in the city, and we experienced a good amount of success in our 20s,” she tells PEOPLE exclusively.

“I played Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera National Tour, and my husband was in Les Misérables on tour as well," she adds.

But after welcoming her first son in 2018, being closer to family and having more space to grow became a priority and a practical sacrifice she thought she was willing to commit to. So, in 2019, the couple moved about 700 miles away to Fishers, Ind.

@gracemorganberryman

There’s no glow up quite like finding yourself again after being postpartum. The city has been so good for my mental health, and getting to watch my kids thrive here has meant more to me than I could have possibly imagined. #nycmom #nyc #motherhood #theaterkid #fyp

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“I really struggled to keep my head above water in the suburbs, especially during COVID. It was such an isolating time for me,” Morgan admits. “I missed my friends and the pace of New York, and I was so scared we had left New York forever.”

Following the birth of her second son less than a year later, Morgan found herself “drowning” in what she initially believed to be postpartum depression.

However, after testing a few antidepressants with no relief, the then 33-year-old mother of two discovered that she had actually been struggling with undiagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD.

It wasn’t long after that Morgan realized her former life in N.Y.C. was actually a “stimulant” for her – an environment that brought her “calm and focus.”

“The peace of the suburbs actually makes me feel very scattered and distracted,” she explains. “I found the repetitiveness and mundaneness of motherhood to be very challenging in conjunction with my ADHD.”

Courtesy of Grace Morgan

Grace Morgan, her husband, Daniel Berryman, and their two sons.

In a bid to reclaim her former self, Morgan and her husband, Daniel Berryman, decided to move their family back to the Upper West Side of Manhattan in March 2022.

“New York is expensive, so it’s been an adjustment. I definitely miss having a giant fridge and a deep freezer in the garage, but there are so many things that make up for it,” she says, citing her morning walks in Central Park and impromptu Broadway shows as highlights.

Although she initially worried her children would struggle without a big house, backyard, and close family, she was surprised to find they adapted well.

While her sons still wish for more space at times, both kids have come to love their new friends and school.

“Once we got settled into our apartment, I knew we’d thrive here,” Morgan reveals. “The energy of this city truly brings me the greatest amount of calm. It makes me feel like anything is possible. Everyone here is a dreamer, and that really bonds the people of New York.”

Photographer Nicole Wilson

Grace Morgan.

With her children now in elementary school, Morgan has the time to network, audition and nurture her many creative passions during the day.

Being around like-minded, talented friends and taking full advantage of what the city has to offer has been both restorative and healing for her mental health.

“I do think I’ve learned that where you parent really matters, because my kids are so affected by my mood. When I exude joy, so do they,” Morgan emphasizes.

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Alexa Jae Photography

Grace Morgan on stage.

Since returning to the city, Morgan has made her debut in Titanic at New York City Center alongside some of Broadway’s finest, performed at cabaret venues with numerous Broadway stars, and toured the country as a soloist with symphonies.

She has also recorded vocals for major films, including K-Pop: Demon Hunters, booked her first commercial, and, with her husband, founded The Upper West Side Children’s Choir.

Courtesy of Grace Morgan

Grace Morgan and her husband, Daniel Berryman.

“I want to show my kids what it means to follow your dreams and never give up on yourself,” Morgan tells PEOPLE.

“No mom should ever feel like she can’t continue to pursue her passion when she chooses motherhood. It just might take some more creative planning to make it all happen.”