As part of our Other Mother celebrations, we have introduced #MotherOfTheMoment which will turn Monday in to #MOMday
We're all about #SupportNotJudgement here at Eventual Mother and want to celebrate the differences between our motherly styles and build each other up, not tear each other down because we don't do things exactly the same.
#MOMday will be a chance for us all to meet another amazing Mum and find out what makes her tick. We'll meet some ladies who are really similar to us and we'll meet some ladies that do it differently, but what we want to show is:
As long as the child is happy and loved, you're doing an amazing job!
Whether we are breast or bottle, cloth or disposable, stay at home mum or working mama - WE ROCK!!!
ENJOY :)
We're all about #SupportNotJudgement here at Eventual Mother and want to celebrate the differences between our motherly styles and build each other up, not tear each other down because we don't do things exactly the same.
#MOMday will be a chance for us all to meet another amazing Mum and find out what makes her tick. We'll meet some ladies who are really similar to us and we'll meet some ladies that do it differently, but what we want to show is:
As long as the child is happy and loved, you're doing an amazing job!
Whether we are breast or bottle, cloth or disposable, stay at home mum or working mama - WE ROCK!!!
ENJOY :)
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/311773862.png?250)
Name:
Megan Jilg
Age:
25
Location:
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Job:
Supervisor at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
Children:
2 kiddies. Jimmy is 4 and Jordyn is 10 months
The best thing about being a Mum:
Everything about being a mom is amazing. The bond I share with these two not so tiny humans is amazing. If I had to pick just one thing I loved it would definitely be their kisses and snuggles 😊 those are the best!
What motherhood has taught you about yourself:
It has definitely taught me to love myself for who I am, an amazing woman who created two humans!
A day in the life of you:
Our mornings start off around 7 am with both kiddies waking up (Jordyn just rolls over and gives me kisses--we bed share, and Jimmy comes into our room from his) and we watch Disney for a bit. Once we watch a couple cartoons we mosey downstairs to get breakfast and play with toys. Around noon both kids take a nap and when they wake up they eat lunch. Then it's time to play outside and get some sun! The kids come back in for dinner and then they get baths and put on jammies! Bed time is at 8:30 and then it's Mommy and Daddy's time to relax! (That is if Mommy is at work!!)
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought:
-A nipple shield for breastfeeding and a baby carrier!!!
1 piece of advice for pregnancy:
Drink lemon water first thing in the morning for morning sickness and get some sea bands!
1 piece of advice for motherhood:
Stay calm, I know it's hard sometimes, but this won't last forever and you will wish you had this time back when it is gone!
Megan Jilg
Age:
25
Location:
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Job:
Supervisor at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
Children:
2 kiddies. Jimmy is 4 and Jordyn is 10 months
The best thing about being a Mum:
Everything about being a mom is amazing. The bond I share with these two not so tiny humans is amazing. If I had to pick just one thing I loved it would definitely be their kisses and snuggles 😊 those are the best!
What motherhood has taught you about yourself:
It has definitely taught me to love myself for who I am, an amazing woman who created two humans!
A day in the life of you:
Our mornings start off around 7 am with both kiddies waking up (Jordyn just rolls over and gives me kisses--we bed share, and Jimmy comes into our room from his) and we watch Disney for a bit. Once we watch a couple cartoons we mosey downstairs to get breakfast and play with toys. Around noon both kids take a nap and when they wake up they eat lunch. Then it's time to play outside and get some sun! The kids come back in for dinner and then they get baths and put on jammies! Bed time is at 8:30 and then it's Mommy and Daddy's time to relax! (That is if Mommy is at work!!)
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought:
-A nipple shield for breastfeeding and a baby carrier!!!
1 piece of advice for pregnancy:
Drink lemon water first thing in the morning for morning sickness and get some sea bands!
1 piece of advice for motherhood:
Stay calm, I know it's hard sometimes, but this won't last forever and you will wish you had this time back when it is gone!
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/8038702_orig.jpg)
Name:
-Vicky Iceton
Age:
-30
Location:
-Consett, County Durham
Job:
-Kitchen planner at IKEA
Children:
- Edwin (Ted) Matthew aged 2years 2months and Benjamin Anthony aged 8 months
The best thing about being a Mum:
- The sense of achievement and pride you get from every amazing thing that your child does. Plus booby cuddles they are awesome!
What motherhood has taught you about yourself:
- That i am stronger than I ever imagined. But also that i am pretty impatient!
A day in the life of you:
- Get up, get me, daddy and the boys up dressed, fed and organised by 8am to take daddy to work. Lots of fun and activities (out of the house as much as possible) for me and the boys through the day. We have a fluid approach to naps and mealtimes so we can squash as much fun in as possible. Pick daddy up at 5pm then home for the boys to have tea. Boys in bed at 7pm then time to tidy house have our tea and a bit of tv time before we go to bed!
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought:
- torn with this one... my sleepy nico, the car seat base for the car, grobags,
1 piece of advice for pregnancy:
- put your feet up as much as possible and try and enjoy it, you will miss it once baby is here!
1 piece of advice for motherhood:
- dont compare yourself to others, people tend to only tell you the good bits
-Vicky Iceton
Age:
-30
Location:
-Consett, County Durham
Job:
-Kitchen planner at IKEA
Children:
- Edwin (Ted) Matthew aged 2years 2months and Benjamin Anthony aged 8 months
The best thing about being a Mum:
- The sense of achievement and pride you get from every amazing thing that your child does. Plus booby cuddles they are awesome!
What motherhood has taught you about yourself:
- That i am stronger than I ever imagined. But also that i am pretty impatient!
A day in the life of you:
- Get up, get me, daddy and the boys up dressed, fed and organised by 8am to take daddy to work. Lots of fun and activities (out of the house as much as possible) for me and the boys through the day. We have a fluid approach to naps and mealtimes so we can squash as much fun in as possible. Pick daddy up at 5pm then home for the boys to have tea. Boys in bed at 7pm then time to tidy house have our tea and a bit of tv time before we go to bed!
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought:
- torn with this one... my sleepy nico, the car seat base for the car, grobags,
1 piece of advice for pregnancy:
- put your feet up as much as possible and try and enjoy it, you will miss it once baby is here!
1 piece of advice for motherhood:
- dont compare yourself to others, people tend to only tell you the good bits
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/5893648.jpg?272)
Name: Jennifer (Jenn) Tellerday
Age: 30
Location: Smelly Gilroy, California (the garlic capital of the world)
Job: Stay at home mom! I love it so much!
Children: 1 - 14 month old daughter named Chloe
The best thing about being a Mum: Wow, this is a hard question because honestly I love everything about it. I guess one thing that stands out is just sitting and watching my daughter day in and day out, learning the world around her..
What motherhood has taught you about yourself: I am a lot stronger than I thought. I used to sleep so much, so I thought there's now way I'll be able to get passed the infant stage, but I did it with flying colors!
A day in the life of you: My husband, daughter and myself all wake up around 11 am (hubby works swing shift) we hang out as a family for a few hours before he has to leave for work, then it's Chloe and I for the evening, and boy does she keep me on my toes!
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought: There have been a lot of things that have helped me this past year, but I think the one thing that helped me get through the infant stage was the baby swing. My daughter would NOT sleep anywhere else but that swing for the first 6 months.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy: Enjoy it!!! I know a lot of women have hard pregnancies, and for them, I am so sorry. But if you have a normal, healthy pregnancy, enjoy every moment. I couldn't due to some extended family issues and I regret it tremendously!
1 piece of advice for motherhood: Spend as much time with your kids as possible, they grow up so fast!
Age: 30
Location: Smelly Gilroy, California (the garlic capital of the world)
Job: Stay at home mom! I love it so much!
Children: 1 - 14 month old daughter named Chloe
The best thing about being a Mum: Wow, this is a hard question because honestly I love everything about it. I guess one thing that stands out is just sitting and watching my daughter day in and day out, learning the world around her..
What motherhood has taught you about yourself: I am a lot stronger than I thought. I used to sleep so much, so I thought there's now way I'll be able to get passed the infant stage, but I did it with flying colors!
A day in the life of you: My husband, daughter and myself all wake up around 11 am (hubby works swing shift) we hang out as a family for a few hours before he has to leave for work, then it's Chloe and I for the evening, and boy does she keep me on my toes!
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought: There have been a lot of things that have helped me this past year, but I think the one thing that helped me get through the infant stage was the baby swing. My daughter would NOT sleep anywhere else but that swing for the first 6 months.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy: Enjoy it!!! I know a lot of women have hard pregnancies, and for them, I am so sorry. But if you have a normal, healthy pregnancy, enjoy every moment. I couldn't due to some extended family issues and I regret it tremendously!
1 piece of advice for motherhood: Spend as much time with your kids as possible, they grow up so fast!
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/6609949_orig.jpg)
Name: Lauren LaMarsh
Age: 30
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Job: Stay at home mom
Children: 6 - Seth, 16; Eli, 14; Reagan, 9; Gabe, 7; Sean, 6 1/2 months; Danny, 6 1/2 months (twins).
The best thing about being a Mum: Seeing the smiles on my children's faces and knowing I have the honor of loving, teaching, nurturing, and protecting 6 of the most amazing people I've ever had the honor of knowing.
What motherhood has taught you about yourself: I've learned so much. When I became a mother I hadn't been planning on ever having children. I adopted four traumatized, abused, and neglected children and they've helped me learn who I am as I've helped them heal and learn what it means to have a mother, a woman who will love and protect you, laugh with you, let you fall down and then help you get back up. I've learned that I'll never be able to make everyone happy all of the time, but that I don't have to be perfect to be good enough.
A day in the life of you: Wake up, feed the babies, get breakfast for the kids, either bring everyone to school and then run errands if it's during the school year, or go to the park or a museum if it's summer break, come home and cook dinner while the kids play on the trampoline, family movie after dinner, quiet time for the middle kids and chores for the teenagers, and then I sing individual lullabies I wrote for my four youngest kids. My teenagers were already 11 and 13 when I adopted them so I never really had the tuck-in time with them I have with my middle kids, who were 4 and 5 when I adopted them, or the twins who I gave birth to. After lullabies I get the babies settled down for the night, wash some bottles, and relax in bed for a bit with my husband before I go to sleep.
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought: Pregnancy: my snoogle body pillow Child: the trampoline we got this summer Motherhood: my 8-passenger Yukon XL SUV; it holds the whole family with plenty of room for the double stroller in the back.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy: Stay fit, keep exercising as much as you safely can. And don't be afraid to be flexible with your birth plan. I planned on all natural but when my water broke at 34 weeks, Danny (twin b) was breech and I was in so much pain from the contractions that my doctor (who was a stand in for my regular doctor while he was out of town, so I had just met her while I was in active labor) advised me that my pain was causing stress on Danny and I would probably end up needing an emergency C-section if I didn't get an epidural. I took the epi even though the idea of it scared the crap out of me, and my labor was remarkably easy from there. Pushing was the only pain I experienced from that point on, although the pain when she turned Danny and delivered him feet first was intense enough that I would have definitely been in trouble without the epidural.
1 piece of advice for motherhood: Listen to your instincts. And let your kids have an age appropriate degree of control. I had the good decisions/bad decisions talk with my middle kids when they were 4 and 6 and to this day, they know that making good choices gets them rewards and making bad choices gets them consequences. If you see my 7 year old in a time out or with one of his toys taken away and you ask him why, you'll never hear "because mommy is mean" or "mommy said to sit in time out" or "mommy took it away." You'll hear "because I (broke this rule)." Kids need boundaries to feel secure, and they need to know that those boundaries are firm and that life within them is happy and peaceful.
Age: 30
Location: Denver, Colorado, USA
Job: Stay at home mom
Children: 6 - Seth, 16; Eli, 14; Reagan, 9; Gabe, 7; Sean, 6 1/2 months; Danny, 6 1/2 months (twins).
The best thing about being a Mum: Seeing the smiles on my children's faces and knowing I have the honor of loving, teaching, nurturing, and protecting 6 of the most amazing people I've ever had the honor of knowing.
What motherhood has taught you about yourself: I've learned so much. When I became a mother I hadn't been planning on ever having children. I adopted four traumatized, abused, and neglected children and they've helped me learn who I am as I've helped them heal and learn what it means to have a mother, a woman who will love and protect you, laugh with you, let you fall down and then help you get back up. I've learned that I'll never be able to make everyone happy all of the time, but that I don't have to be perfect to be good enough.
A day in the life of you: Wake up, feed the babies, get breakfast for the kids, either bring everyone to school and then run errands if it's during the school year, or go to the park or a museum if it's summer break, come home and cook dinner while the kids play on the trampoline, family movie after dinner, quiet time for the middle kids and chores for the teenagers, and then I sing individual lullabies I wrote for my four youngest kids. My teenagers were already 11 and 13 when I adopted them so I never really had the tuck-in time with them I have with my middle kids, who were 4 and 5 when I adopted them, or the twins who I gave birth to. After lullabies I get the babies settled down for the night, wash some bottles, and relax in bed for a bit with my husband before I go to sleep.
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought: Pregnancy: my snoogle body pillow Child: the trampoline we got this summer Motherhood: my 8-passenger Yukon XL SUV; it holds the whole family with plenty of room for the double stroller in the back.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy: Stay fit, keep exercising as much as you safely can. And don't be afraid to be flexible with your birth plan. I planned on all natural but when my water broke at 34 weeks, Danny (twin b) was breech and I was in so much pain from the contractions that my doctor (who was a stand in for my regular doctor while he was out of town, so I had just met her while I was in active labor) advised me that my pain was causing stress on Danny and I would probably end up needing an emergency C-section if I didn't get an epidural. I took the epi even though the idea of it scared the crap out of me, and my labor was remarkably easy from there. Pushing was the only pain I experienced from that point on, although the pain when she turned Danny and delivered him feet first was intense enough that I would have definitely been in trouble without the epidural.
1 piece of advice for motherhood: Listen to your instincts. And let your kids have an age appropriate degree of control. I had the good decisions/bad decisions talk with my middle kids when they were 4 and 6 and to this day, they know that making good choices gets them rewards and making bad choices gets them consequences. If you see my 7 year old in a time out or with one of his toys taken away and you ask him why, you'll never hear "because mommy is mean" or "mommy said to sit in time out" or "mommy took it away." You'll hear "because I (broke this rule)." Kids need boundaries to feel secure, and they need to know that those boundaries are firm and that life within them is happy and peaceful.
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/1873139_orig.jpg)
Name
Alyssa Bull
Age
27
Location
Tennessee. USA
Job
I'm a waitress, youtuber, full time college senior, a mother, and a wife ! Lol
Children (how many, names, ages) -2 angel babies we lost in 2013.. And my miracle baby Aiden 13 months old
I also have a vlog and YouTube channel about my life and endometriosis
http://youtu.be/7RRf08_lGg8
The best thing about being a Mum
Watching Aiden grow, and explore! I love how he always comes back for cuddles after playing awhile!
What motherhood has taught you about yourself
How to completely put someone else's needs above your own.
A day in the life of you
You can see a ditl on my YouTube channel!
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood you've ever bought
I have 2- 1)raw amber teething necklace..2) Sophie the giraffe teether!
1 piece of advice for pregnancy
Choose joy and love over fear. Too many women feel shame when they are unable to conceive quickly or if they miscarry! Ladies I promise you having infertility issues or pregnancy loss is not a scarlet letter you need to carry around with you. I know the grief makes us feel like everyone "knows" but don't talk openly about it. It won't stop being taboo until we spread awareness and support.
1 piece of advice for motherhood
Watch the Oprah show about the woman who "decoded" babies varying cries! It saved us so much that I learned what his cry meant so I could tend to his needs before he becomes overly anxious and frustrated.
Alyssa Bull
Age
27
Location
Tennessee. USA
Job
I'm a waitress, youtuber, full time college senior, a mother, and a wife ! Lol
Children (how many, names, ages) -2 angel babies we lost in 2013.. And my miracle baby Aiden 13 months old
I also have a vlog and YouTube channel about my life and endometriosis
http://youtu.be/7RRf08_lGg8
The best thing about being a Mum
Watching Aiden grow, and explore! I love how he always comes back for cuddles after playing awhile!
What motherhood has taught you about yourself
How to completely put someone else's needs above your own.
A day in the life of you
You can see a ditl on my YouTube channel!
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood you've ever bought
I have 2- 1)raw amber teething necklace..2) Sophie the giraffe teether!
1 piece of advice for pregnancy
Choose joy and love over fear. Too many women feel shame when they are unable to conceive quickly or if they miscarry! Ladies I promise you having infertility issues or pregnancy loss is not a scarlet letter you need to carry around with you. I know the grief makes us feel like everyone "knows" but don't talk openly about it. It won't stop being taboo until we spread awareness and support.
1 piece of advice for motherhood
Watch the Oprah show about the woman who "decoded" babies varying cries! It saved us so much that I learned what his cry meant so I could tend to his needs before he becomes overly anxious and frustrated.
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/9530242_orig.jpg)
Name
Starlita
Age
37
Location
USA Pennsylvania
Job
Miche bags Starlovegoodbags.miche.com
Children
Twins girls Debbie & Devin 1 yrs old
The best thing about being a Mum
Watching them grow and change
What motherhood has taught you about yourself.
I need to slow down. Things do not have to happen the way I want it and when I want it.
A day in the life of you.
We watch up at 8 am, diaper changes than off to breakfast, watch our favorite show Wendy Williams show, than naptime, lunch change to play outside, than free playtime while mommy cooks dinner, snack dance party,. Dinner bath, reading time than of to sleep.
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought.
Pregnancy. .my twins mom guide to pregnancy. Can't remember name. But I love the book. For the girls, their first dolls, it was so cute watching them play with her.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy.
Every pregnancy is different. You can judge your by someone experience.
1 piece of advice for motherhood.
It goes by fast. Take time to joy.
Starlita
Age
37
Location
USA Pennsylvania
Job
Miche bags Starlovegoodbags.miche.com
Children
Twins girls Debbie & Devin 1 yrs old
The best thing about being a Mum
Watching them grow and change
What motherhood has taught you about yourself.
I need to slow down. Things do not have to happen the way I want it and when I want it.
A day in the life of you.
We watch up at 8 am, diaper changes than off to breakfast, watch our favorite show Wendy Williams show, than naptime, lunch change to play outside, than free playtime while mommy cooks dinner, snack dance party,. Dinner bath, reading time than of to sleep.
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought.
Pregnancy. .my twins mom guide to pregnancy. Can't remember name. But I love the book. For the girls, their first dolls, it was so cute watching them play with her.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy.
Every pregnancy is different. You can judge your by someone experience.
1 piece of advice for motherhood.
It goes by fast. Take time to joy.
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/914122.jpg?800)
Name
Kristin Quartel
Age
26
Location
Swift Current, SK, Canada
Children
Blake Quartel, 1 month 3 days old
The best thing about being a mom
...is knowing that he is mine, that he totally depends on me for his care and that I can give that to him. I love that he knows I'm his mom and that I can comfort him and be there for him when he needs me. I am thoroughly enjoying his newborn stage with all his little noises, sleep faces, and even his cries for me, and basically everything about him!
Motherhood has taught me
...that I can function on less sleep than I would like (haha) and that this kind of love is like no other.
The best baby/mother thing I've bought is
...probably baby wearing gear is one of the best things I've purchased. Sometimes it's the only thing that calms him down! Also the Belly Bandit was amazing, it helped my uterus shrink back down in just a couple weeks and I had way less pp bleeding than I had anticipated.
Advice for pregnancy
Enjoy it while it lasts! Pamper yourself while you have the chance 😊 go out and do things because it will be a while before you can again, especially if you're breastfeeding.
Advice for motherhood
REST!!! Sleep while baby sleeps, and don't stress of things aren't going the way you want them to. All babies are different. Listen to them, go to them when they cry before they are hysterical try your best to tend to their every need. They depend on you to do just that for them!
Kristin Quartel
Age
26
Location
Swift Current, SK, Canada
Children
Blake Quartel, 1 month 3 days old
The best thing about being a mom
...is knowing that he is mine, that he totally depends on me for his care and that I can give that to him. I love that he knows I'm his mom and that I can comfort him and be there for him when he needs me. I am thoroughly enjoying his newborn stage with all his little noises, sleep faces, and even his cries for me, and basically everything about him!
Motherhood has taught me
...that I can function on less sleep than I would like (haha) and that this kind of love is like no other.
The best baby/mother thing I've bought is
...probably baby wearing gear is one of the best things I've purchased. Sometimes it's the only thing that calms him down! Also the Belly Bandit was amazing, it helped my uterus shrink back down in just a couple weeks and I had way less pp bleeding than I had anticipated.
Advice for pregnancy
Enjoy it while it lasts! Pamper yourself while you have the chance 😊 go out and do things because it will be a while before you can again, especially if you're breastfeeding.
Advice for motherhood
REST!!! Sleep while baby sleeps, and don't stress of things aren't going the way you want them to. All babies are different. Listen to them, go to them when they cry before they are hysterical try your best to tend to their every need. They depend on you to do just that for them!
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/8780706_orig.jpg)
Name
Karen Jervis
Age
34
Location
Co Durham, England
Job
Administration Assistant for charity that help ex - mineworkers and their families
Children
1 girl, sophie, age 1 but also step mum to 2 girls ages 7 and 9 and 1 boy aged 11
The best thing about being a Mum
So many best things hahaha but what tops the list is the sheer love in sophie eyes when she looks at me - it just melts my heart.
What motherhood has taught you about yourself
I'm a good mother haha - was terrified I wouldn't do a good job but she's just amazing and such a pleasure and so clever and she's learned it all from me
A day in the life of you
When I'm not at work a typical day would be getting up with little miss at 7.30am and after the usual change, bottle and breckie I blitz the house so I'm all done by 10am ready to have a fun filled day which can include anything from a trip out to the park/play centre to playing silly games in the house. We like to read a lot and teach new things as sophie picks things up so quick. At end of day we watch in the night garden (the one thing she watches on tv) then it's bottle, snuggle and bed. She leads me up the stairs by the hand and goes straight down to sleep. Then it's time to do tiny bit more housework, glass of wine for mammy and daddy and TV and relax.
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought
I was just saying to my husband the other day - we bought her a 2nd hand cot mobile which is so beautiful - patchwork dolls that turn and sing twinkle twinkle - it was only a fiver and she loves it to bits. I'm sure it's what has made her so good at going to bed haha.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy
Enjoy it - some days may feel hard but if you're like me you'll miss that bump once it's out haha. Also it's totally true what people say - mother instinct just kicks in so don't get stressed/worried about not being able to cope or not knowing what to do - you will just know.
1 piece of advice for motherhood
I have been quite laid back mam - no rigid routine - I let sophie kind of lead the way and just went with it (suppose it's that instinct thing again) and she ended up in a perfect routine straight away - go with the flow I say! Also, interaction with other children from a young age is great - with Sophie having her brother and sisters it's brought her on leaps and bounds.
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/6913215_orig.jpg)
Name
Hanna Williams
Age
30
Location
Beautiful Kelowna British Columbia Canada 😊
Job
Senior Travel Consultant - Ski Industry
Children
2. Aidrik who will be 7 August 18th and Steele who will be 1 July 27th.
The best thing about being a Mum
Watching your children grow and become little people. Knowing that even with the tough days it's always worth it. And realizing that it's totally amazing how much of your love can be put towards these beings that you created.
What motherhood has taught you about yourself
To never doubt myself as a mom and that I AM doing a great job 😘
A day in the life of you
Oh everyday is so different when you have two boys. Either there is crying, laughter, bumps and bruises, playing and more there's certainly never a dull moment. And with me being a working mom now, my days are going by so fast. I'm really trying to soak them all in while they are still little. Today it was really hot out so we set up the kiddie pool and mom was right in there with the boys playing 😉
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought
For pregnancy I would say the belly band. You can continue to wear your pre-pregnancy pants for a while with it. Baby, definitely the cradle & swing. I couldn't of lived without it in the first few months of steele's life. As for a motherhood, spanx! Hahaha cause lord only knows every mom needs a pair of these after having a baby.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy
Relax as much as possible. Especially if your pregnant with your first. You won't get that time back. AND never feel guilty for eating all the food you want!!
1 piece of advice for motherhood
Take time for yourself. Without kids, without hubby. Reconnect with who you use to be before being a mom. It's so important.
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/6443659_orig.jpg)
Name
Mallory Wanless
Age
27 (28 next month)
Location
Houston, TX
Job
High School Social Studies Teacher (currently looking for a new job)
Children
Connor Lyn Wanless 9.5 months
The best thing about being a Mum
Best thing...I'm gonna have to say every time my son sees me and smiles. When he first wakes up, or when I get home home school. That look of recognition and "hey, that's my mom" happiness. Makes my day every time.
What motherhood has taught you about yourself
I'm a lot stronger than I thought. And a lot more laid back. I thought I'd be one of those moms who practical wrap their kids in bubble wrap to protect them from the world. Turns out I'm more of the, "let's see what happens and how he handles it" type.
A day in the life of you: now that I'm on summer vacation my day is 100% Connor-centered. He wakes up, change him, get him in day time clothes, breakfast and Super Why on netflix. Hang out and play until his first nap, usually around 11. Mom tv during naptime (game of thrones, Bones, Teen Mom OG, etc). He wakes up around 1. Change him again, then lunch. Play, run errands, visit family, until his second nap around 5. Mom nap, workout, or more trash tv. Wakes up, change, snack, and hang out, make dinner and wait for dad to come home. Bottle, bath, and bedtime starting at about 830. Once he's down for the night, it's quality mom and dad time. Movies or video games or tv (supernatural, the flash, arrow, Gotham). Then mommy bedtime and we do it all over again!
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought
Giant body pillow! That thing saved my life (and my husband's) starting about halfway through. I freaking love it.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy
I know some days it really sucks, but the belly will shrink back (although it will never look the same) you're a freaking badass, making a HUMAN BEING! You might feel like crap, but it's all worth it. Especially when you can feel him/her moving around in there. I actually miss that now.
1 piece of advice for motherhood
Just keep breathing
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/3183037_orig.jpg)
Name
Esther
Location
I live in Ohio
Job
I work as a service writer/mechanic's assistant for Werner Enterprises and I sell Jamberry Nails esther1.jamberrynails.net
Children
I have a son named Titus who is 6 and a daughter named Fiona who is almost 9 months
The best thing about being a mom
...is all the hugs and kisses and big smiles
What motherhood has taught you
Recently motherhood has taught me that I can function despite having almost no sleep lol but it has also taught me that I have a ton of chutzpah when it comes to my kids. You don't mess with my kids.
A day in the life of you
Oh man a day in the life of me... well after about 2 or 3 hours of sleep I get up (husband's already at work) get Titus ready for school, get Fiona changed and fed, get both in the car and take Titus to school. Run to the store to do the grocery shopping, get home and put groceries away while Fiona naps in the car. If she stays asleep I get back in the car and nap lol then I do some house work and it's time to get ready for work. I get ready while Fiona gets into everything, go get Titus from school, get home, hand off the kids to my husband and go to work. Work til midnight (working with many people who are more work to deal with than my kids) get home, feed the baby and watch some tv while I get her back to sleep. Then, if I'm lucky I get a little sleep.
Best thing ever bought....
Hmm well it's not a baby thing but we bought a bounce house for Titus. It is awesome because it gets him outside away from the tv and video games and he gets so much exercise. He LOVE it. It was going to be 300 dollars to rent one and 350 to buy one off eBay so we just bought it.
Pregnancy advice
My advice for pregnancy would be to let others help you with day to day stuff. Being pregnant is exhausting and you don't need any added stress. If someone offers to help with something, let them! Especially if you already have kids because they just suck the energy right out of ya!
Motherhood advice
My piece of advice for motherhood is yo go into it with open eyes and an open heart. Your child is their own being, their own person. You need to foster thst being and that person. Let your child be who they truly are, not who you imagined they would be or who you want them to be. Don't expect anything, instead learn to love whatever life (or your child) throws at you. I have a son who is extremely emotional, loves the color pink, and likes to play with both guns and dolls. I know there are many people out there who judge me for letting my son be himself, but in the long run my son will grow up being happy and healthy and we'll adjusted so I could care less what others think. Let your kids be kids. Let them express themselves any way they (safely) want. And learn to dance in the rain!
Esther
Location
I live in Ohio
Job
I work as a service writer/mechanic's assistant for Werner Enterprises and I sell Jamberry Nails esther1.jamberrynails.net
Children
I have a son named Titus who is 6 and a daughter named Fiona who is almost 9 months
The best thing about being a mom
...is all the hugs and kisses and big smiles
What motherhood has taught you
Recently motherhood has taught me that I can function despite having almost no sleep lol but it has also taught me that I have a ton of chutzpah when it comes to my kids. You don't mess with my kids.
A day in the life of you
Oh man a day in the life of me... well after about 2 or 3 hours of sleep I get up (husband's already at work) get Titus ready for school, get Fiona changed and fed, get both in the car and take Titus to school. Run to the store to do the grocery shopping, get home and put groceries away while Fiona naps in the car. If she stays asleep I get back in the car and nap lol then I do some house work and it's time to get ready for work. I get ready while Fiona gets into everything, go get Titus from school, get home, hand off the kids to my husband and go to work. Work til midnight (working with many people who are more work to deal with than my kids) get home, feed the baby and watch some tv while I get her back to sleep. Then, if I'm lucky I get a little sleep.
Best thing ever bought....
Hmm well it's not a baby thing but we bought a bounce house for Titus. It is awesome because it gets him outside away from the tv and video games and he gets so much exercise. He LOVE it. It was going to be 300 dollars to rent one and 350 to buy one off eBay so we just bought it.
Pregnancy advice
My advice for pregnancy would be to let others help you with day to day stuff. Being pregnant is exhausting and you don't need any added stress. If someone offers to help with something, let them! Especially if you already have kids because they just suck the energy right out of ya!
Motherhood advice
My piece of advice for motherhood is yo go into it with open eyes and an open heart. Your child is their own being, their own person. You need to foster thst being and that person. Let your child be who they truly are, not who you imagined they would be or who you want them to be. Don't expect anything, instead learn to love whatever life (or your child) throws at you. I have a son who is extremely emotional, loves the color pink, and likes to play with both guns and dolls. I know there are many people out there who judge me for letting my son be himself, but in the long run my son will grow up being happy and healthy and we'll adjusted so I could care less what others think. Let your kids be kids. Let them express themselves any way they (safely) want. And learn to dance in the rain!
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/8269555_orig.jpg)
Name
Cherese
Age
27
Location
Manitoba Canada
Job
Mom
Children
3 kids girl 4, girl 1 and sex and age still unknown(no names please).
The best thing about being a Mum
Love, unconditional love!
What motherhood has taught you about yourself
I have learned motherhood is hard, very hard and i have very little patience, when my kids get hurt i get extremely angry.
A day in the life of you
Mornings start with baby in my bed saying drldldllrlrll and waiving her fingers on my chest meaning it is booby time. And for some reason my 4year old will open her eyes and before she even sits up she will say, i am hungry. Mommie kicks daddy out of bed to give her cereal. Only because im still laying in bed being a milk factory. I will have a full bladder laying and waiting for my one year old to sit up so that i can go. I will either get back in bed and cuddle some more wile the two sister fight and love one another. Most mornings go well, but you get one or two fights int that extra hour in bed. I will get their teeth brushed and tell the my oldest to go play a bit in her room. Hubbie will make coffee while i get the baby ready. Depending on how clean the room is we will allow the two to play in their room while we get some adult time. Then we go outside for a few moments before lunch then brush teeth and bed time for both babies. It depends whether baby is feeling sick or teeth coming in if she will only feed and sleep or use my sore pregnant breasts to pasify on for the whole nap time. The will wake anytime from 2 to 4 depending on how long they actually took to fall asleep. Then we will have a snack and some playtime in the shade. Between 5 and 6 is supper and 7 is bedtime. Then i can finally pack the dishwasher(if my one year old does not wake every hour till i get into bed with her). Somewhere in there will be a bathtime, coffee times and some yelling times. My days aren't organized nor is it perfect. Most of the house work will get done on weekends or befor lunch when daddy can help holding the 1year old. Like my grandmother said you have plenty of time for a clean empty house when your kids are out.
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought
The free nursing pillow, it was a life saver for my 2 hour ride home after the birth of my second. It is perfectly soft and fluffy to help on the bumpy ride home.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy
Pregnancy advice, enjoy it! Make it memorable
1 piece of advice for motherhood
Motherhood advice, pick your battles. There is no perfect way to rais your child, choose whith your heart and feel how it works with each child, otherwise you will be exhausted and your children bewilderd.
Cherese
Age
27
Location
Manitoba Canada
Job
Mom
Children
3 kids girl 4, girl 1 and sex and age still unknown(no names please).
The best thing about being a Mum
Love, unconditional love!
What motherhood has taught you about yourself
I have learned motherhood is hard, very hard and i have very little patience, when my kids get hurt i get extremely angry.
A day in the life of you
Mornings start with baby in my bed saying drldldllrlrll and waiving her fingers on my chest meaning it is booby time. And for some reason my 4year old will open her eyes and before she even sits up she will say, i am hungry. Mommie kicks daddy out of bed to give her cereal. Only because im still laying in bed being a milk factory. I will have a full bladder laying and waiting for my one year old to sit up so that i can go. I will either get back in bed and cuddle some more wile the two sister fight and love one another. Most mornings go well, but you get one or two fights int that extra hour in bed. I will get their teeth brushed and tell the my oldest to go play a bit in her room. Hubbie will make coffee while i get the baby ready. Depending on how clean the room is we will allow the two to play in their room while we get some adult time. Then we go outside for a few moments before lunch then brush teeth and bed time for both babies. It depends whether baby is feeling sick or teeth coming in if she will only feed and sleep or use my sore pregnant breasts to pasify on for the whole nap time. The will wake anytime from 2 to 4 depending on how long they actually took to fall asleep. Then we will have a snack and some playtime in the shade. Between 5 and 6 is supper and 7 is bedtime. Then i can finally pack the dishwasher(if my one year old does not wake every hour till i get into bed with her). Somewhere in there will be a bathtime, coffee times and some yelling times. My days aren't organized nor is it perfect. Most of the house work will get done on weekends or befor lunch when daddy can help holding the 1year old. Like my grandmother said you have plenty of time for a clean empty house when your kids are out.
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought
The free nursing pillow, it was a life saver for my 2 hour ride home after the birth of my second. It is perfectly soft and fluffy to help on the bumpy ride home.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy
Pregnancy advice, enjoy it! Make it memorable
1 piece of advice for motherhood
Motherhood advice, pick your battles. There is no perfect way to rais your child, choose whith your heart and feel how it works with each child, otherwise you will be exhausted and your children bewilderd.
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/4937189.jpg?250)
Name
Cassandra Whitney
Age
29, will be 30 in August!
Location
Kansas City, MO
Job
SAHM, actor, freelance graphic designer, wedding planner (www.zoriandesigns.com), college instructor. Oh also I'm a professional bellydancer (profile is Zoria Kali on Facebook) have been dancing for 10 years and danced right up until I gave birth
Children
One daughter, Dahlia, age almost 11 months (on June 11th)
Best thing about being a mom
Seeing her develop a personality and get excited about things, it's amazing to know that I created her and now she's taking life and running with it!
Motherhood has taught me that getting things done has to take a backseat to raising a child. They are in fact a 24 hour job, it's really taught me to re-prioritize, it's pretty impossible to get things done with a kid 😉
Day in the life of me
Co-sleeping starts at about 2am, get up to baby coos and chattering and the occasional cry at about 9-10am. Get myself dressed while performing a nearly acrobatic routine to ensure Dahlia doesn't cry/scream since I'm not holding her, change her diaper and get her dressed and head downstairs. If we don't have plans for the day we hang out in the living room pretty much all day and she nurses about 193,678 times during that period, tries to love on the kitty, and screams her little face off if I put her down to make lunch or use the restroom. If we have plans we hop in the car and go to the zoo, or storytelling, or playgroup, or any errands that we have. There is lots of baby wearing and breastfeeding in my daily routine.
The best pregnancy thing I ever bought
Maternity jeans (still love those things!)
The best motherhood thing
My mai tei, and the best child thing is a walker that makes lots of noise and plays music, Dahlia goes nuts for it!
A piece of advice for pregnancy
Pregnancy is HARD. You get to have challenges and be frustrated even if it took you years to conceive. You get to be human and not love every minute of this wonderful and extremely uncomfortable phenomena co-opting your whole body.
Advice for motherhood
This thing is hard! Don't lie to everyone and tell them it's going wonderfully if it's not. Breastfeeding is hard, sleep deprivation is hard, baby blues are real and take their toll, but you CAN do it. Get help from family, other mothers, your spouse, anyone, because it really takes a village. Join a mommy group, a real live one! They are great, they are mothers in your area that have children, if you're in a bigger city they likely have some that are the same age as your little one too. It's a life saver and can lee you busy on days when you really need to talk to another adult.
Cassandra Whitney
Age
29, will be 30 in August!
Location
Kansas City, MO
Job
SAHM, actor, freelance graphic designer, wedding planner (www.zoriandesigns.com), college instructor. Oh also I'm a professional bellydancer (profile is Zoria Kali on Facebook) have been dancing for 10 years and danced right up until I gave birth
Children
One daughter, Dahlia, age almost 11 months (on June 11th)
Best thing about being a mom
Seeing her develop a personality and get excited about things, it's amazing to know that I created her and now she's taking life and running with it!
Motherhood has taught me that getting things done has to take a backseat to raising a child. They are in fact a 24 hour job, it's really taught me to re-prioritize, it's pretty impossible to get things done with a kid 😉
Day in the life of me
Co-sleeping starts at about 2am, get up to baby coos and chattering and the occasional cry at about 9-10am. Get myself dressed while performing a nearly acrobatic routine to ensure Dahlia doesn't cry/scream since I'm not holding her, change her diaper and get her dressed and head downstairs. If we don't have plans for the day we hang out in the living room pretty much all day and she nurses about 193,678 times during that period, tries to love on the kitty, and screams her little face off if I put her down to make lunch or use the restroom. If we have plans we hop in the car and go to the zoo, or storytelling, or playgroup, or any errands that we have. There is lots of baby wearing and breastfeeding in my daily routine.
The best pregnancy thing I ever bought
Maternity jeans (still love those things!)
The best motherhood thing
My mai tei, and the best child thing is a walker that makes lots of noise and plays music, Dahlia goes nuts for it!
A piece of advice for pregnancy
Pregnancy is HARD. You get to have challenges and be frustrated even if it took you years to conceive. You get to be human and not love every minute of this wonderful and extremely uncomfortable phenomena co-opting your whole body.
Advice for motherhood
This thing is hard! Don't lie to everyone and tell them it's going wonderfully if it's not. Breastfeeding is hard, sleep deprivation is hard, baby blues are real and take their toll, but you CAN do it. Get help from family, other mothers, your spouse, anyone, because it really takes a village. Join a mommy group, a real live one! They are great, they are mothers in your area that have children, if you're in a bigger city they likely have some that are the same age as your little one too. It's a life saver and can lee you busy on days when you really need to talk to another adult.
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/8458360.jpg?250)
Name
Nikki Simm
Age
25
Location
Arbroath
Job
House wife
Children
Rory Simm, 5 weeks on Tuesday ☺️
The best thing about being a Mum
I love the way he looks at me. Even though he's not fully capable of making facial expressions yet, he looks into my eyes when I feed him until he drifts off into his milk coma and it is sometimes the only moment of our day where i truly feel like his mam and not just someone who looks after him.
What motherhood has taught you about yourself
I've not been at it very long, but I guess so far I've learned how much I can do on so little sleep.
A day in the life of you
We wake up between 7 and 8, put on daytime clothes and have a breakfast bottle before playtime on the octopus playmat. Then if I'm lucky, I can grab some breakfast too while Rozbats has a little nap and then make up his bottles for the rest of the day. Then he will wake up looking for his first lunch between 11 and 12, and then normally will have an afternoon nap. Sometimes I even join in. Around 3-4 he wants lunch two, and I will have a little something when he has a bounce in his chair, ready and waiting for daddy to come home. In the evening, daddy takes rozza for a bath after some playtime, while I get Rozbats some new pyjamas. He has bath, bottle and bed time at 8 pm, and that normally knocks him out until 3-4 in the morning. When he goes to bed, me and my husband sit and watch a film before heading to bed. We always make sure we get some us time before we go to bed.
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought
BT baby monitor. It's so good for peace of mind. It tells you the temperature, it has a really clear camera and screen, and so many great features like white noise and talk back features.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy
When people tell you to rest up, do it.
1 piece of advice for motherhood
You're baby will tell you what he needs. Not a baby book.
Nikki Simm
Age
25
Location
Arbroath
Job
House wife
Children
Rory Simm, 5 weeks on Tuesday ☺️
The best thing about being a Mum
I love the way he looks at me. Even though he's not fully capable of making facial expressions yet, he looks into my eyes when I feed him until he drifts off into his milk coma and it is sometimes the only moment of our day where i truly feel like his mam and not just someone who looks after him.
What motherhood has taught you about yourself
I've not been at it very long, but I guess so far I've learned how much I can do on so little sleep.
A day in the life of you
We wake up between 7 and 8, put on daytime clothes and have a breakfast bottle before playtime on the octopus playmat. Then if I'm lucky, I can grab some breakfast too while Rozbats has a little nap and then make up his bottles for the rest of the day. Then he will wake up looking for his first lunch between 11 and 12, and then normally will have an afternoon nap. Sometimes I even join in. Around 3-4 he wants lunch two, and I will have a little something when he has a bounce in his chair, ready and waiting for daddy to come home. In the evening, daddy takes rozza for a bath after some playtime, while I get Rozbats some new pyjamas. He has bath, bottle and bed time at 8 pm, and that normally knocks him out until 3-4 in the morning. When he goes to bed, me and my husband sit and watch a film before heading to bed. We always make sure we get some us time before we go to bed.
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought
BT baby monitor. It's so good for peace of mind. It tells you the temperature, it has a really clear camera and screen, and so many great features like white noise and talk back features.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy
When people tell you to rest up, do it.
1 piece of advice for motherhood
You're baby will tell you what he needs. Not a baby book.
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/5911249_orig.jpg)
Name
Jennifer Mcpherson
Age
35
Location
Fife, Scotland
Job
Ops change lead, Sky and full time mother
Children
Cameron, 18 and Robbie 13
The best thing about being a Mum
Pride you feel when your kids achieve something great.
What motherhood has taught you about yourself
That I am strong and resilient and will do anything for my kids
A day in the life of you
Work, clean, cook, stand in the wind and rain watching football most days and oh I'm the 24 hour bank lol
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought
A rocking cow for Cameron 's Xmas one year. Best toy ever!
1 piece of advice for pregnancy
Enjoy it! Hard work starts after 😊
1 piece of advice for motherhood
There are highs and lows but savour every precious second as they grow up so quick...then they are teenagers before you know it!
Jennifer Mcpherson
Age
35
Location
Fife, Scotland
Job
Ops change lead, Sky and full time mother
Children
Cameron, 18 and Robbie 13
The best thing about being a Mum
Pride you feel when your kids achieve something great.
What motherhood has taught you about yourself
That I am strong and resilient and will do anything for my kids
A day in the life of you
Work, clean, cook, stand in the wind and rain watching football most days and oh I'm the 24 hour bank lol
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought
A rocking cow for Cameron 's Xmas one year. Best toy ever!
1 piece of advice for pregnancy
Enjoy it! Hard work starts after 😊
1 piece of advice for motherhood
There are highs and lows but savour every precious second as they grow up so quick...then they are teenagers before you know it!
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/8322969.jpg?323)
Name
Jeanette Taylor
Age
48
Location
Scotland Perth
Job
Change manager in sky
Children
Charlotte age 8, Niamh age 7
Best thing about being a mum
Seeing the world through their eyes and having a laugh together
What being a mother has taught you about yourself
That life is richer with children
A day in the life of you
Let's do a sat - dropping kids of at various clubs, do my class, back home for lunch, and either stuff round the house or into town for the afternoon. The best time snuggle down time with a movie.
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought
A tent - the girls just love it
1 piece of advice for pregnancy
hat you will still look 4 months pregnant when you have just had your baby.
1 piece of advice for motherhood
What is important is the Time you spend with your kids not what you buy them
Jeanette Taylor
Age
48
Location
Scotland Perth
Job
Change manager in sky
Children
Charlotte age 8, Niamh age 7
Best thing about being a mum
Seeing the world through their eyes and having a laugh together
What being a mother has taught you about yourself
That life is richer with children
A day in the life of you
Let's do a sat - dropping kids of at various clubs, do my class, back home for lunch, and either stuff round the house or into town for the afternoon. The best time snuggle down time with a movie.
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought
A tent - the girls just love it
1 piece of advice for pregnancy
hat you will still look 4 months pregnant when you have just had your baby.
1 piece of advice for motherhood
What is important is the Time you spend with your kids not what you buy them
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/1764922.jpg?250)
Name
Gemma
Age
26
Location
Tyne and Wear
Job
Visual merchandiser/supervisor at mamas & papas
Children
Lucas aged 2 1/2, twins Eleanor and Isla aged 19weeks
The best thing about being a Mum seeing your children do something they are proud/ amazed by. The smiles are priceless.
What motherhood has taught you about yourself
Made me a better person and changed my life for the better.
A day in the life of you
All 3 kids get up at 7am, feed wash and dress, take Lucas to nursery and then tidy house and take babies to a baby group and pick Lucas back up on our way back then crazy hour at 6 getting everyone bathed and fed before 7 and bedtime. Then it's tea time for us and wine down.
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought
Pregnancy pillow and support band.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy
Listen to your body. Every pregnancy is different and follow what your body's telling you and don't push yourself too much!
1 piece of advice for motherhood
Every baby is different, only you know your baby. Treasure every minute!
Gemma
Age
26
Location
Tyne and Wear
Job
Visual merchandiser/supervisor at mamas & papas
Children
Lucas aged 2 1/2, twins Eleanor and Isla aged 19weeks
The best thing about being a Mum seeing your children do something they are proud/ amazed by. The smiles are priceless.
What motherhood has taught you about yourself
Made me a better person and changed my life for the better.
A day in the life of you
All 3 kids get up at 7am, feed wash and dress, take Lucas to nursery and then tidy house and take babies to a baby group and pick Lucas back up on our way back then crazy hour at 6 getting everyone bathed and fed before 7 and bedtime. Then it's tea time for us and wine down.
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought
Pregnancy pillow and support band.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy
Listen to your body. Every pregnancy is different and follow what your body's telling you and don't push yourself too much!
1 piece of advice for motherhood
Every baby is different, only you know your baby. Treasure every minute!
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/4117176_orig.jpg)
Name
Rachael Feechan
Age
30
Job
Boldon- Tyne and Wear
Recruitment Consultant
Children
Heidi (3) and Sienna (1)
Best thing about being a mum
Teaching my children new things
What motherhood had taught me
To have patience
Best item I have ever bought
Portable high chair made out of cloth
Pregnancy advice
Nourish your body and eat/ drink well
Motherhood advice
Don't be too hard on yourself, there's no rights or wrongs!
A day in the life of me
Wake up at 6am- quickly get ready- get the girls up and ready- breakfast made for everyone- take girls to nursery- go to work- collect girls from Nursery- bath girls- story time- girls to bed- make tea- wind down- quickly tidy up- bed by 10pm
Rachael Feechan
Age
30
Job
Boldon- Tyne and Wear
Recruitment Consultant
Children
Heidi (3) and Sienna (1)
Best thing about being a mum
Teaching my children new things
What motherhood had taught me
To have patience
Best item I have ever bought
Portable high chair made out of cloth
Pregnancy advice
Nourish your body and eat/ drink well
Motherhood advice
Don't be too hard on yourself, there's no rights or wrongs!
A day in the life of me
Wake up at 6am- quickly get ready- get the girls up and ready- breakfast made for everyone- take girls to nursery- go to work- collect girls from Nursery- bath girls- story time- girls to bed- make tea- wind down- quickly tidy up- bed by 10pm
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/9650385.jpg?250)
Meet Katie...
Name
Katie Sibbet
Age
26, but I'm sure I am still 21.
Location
Newcastle upon Tyne
Job
Full time Mum of Harry and partner in crime to my partner, Chris. CEO of www.katiesco.com and proud UK stockist of @littleurbanapparel @youngoneapparel @saplingchild and exclusive brand @littlewonderlandclothing.
Children
I have one little boy, Harry, born 1/11/14. He has captured my heart forever and is the daily dose of inspiration behind Katie's Co. I would love to have three kids, one more boy and a girl.
What's the best thing about being a Mum?
The best thing about being a mum is waking up every morning and going to bed every night knowing that there is a tiny little human in your life that loves you unconditionally. When he smiles (which is all of the time) he melts my heart and makes me the best person I can be.
What has Motherhood taught you?
Motherhood has taught me how to be patient, and how much my mum and dad must love me. You don't realise how much they do for you until you have a baby of your own.
What does an average day look like for you?
Most mums seem to have some sort of daily routine, but I don't! Everyday seems to be different. Harry's nap times and feeding times change all of the time, so I just go with the flow. The only thing that remains the same is my cup of coffee in he morning and my glass of red on a Friday night 🍷 x
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought?
The best item I have in the house is my 'cheap as chips' high chair from IKEA for £10. It's white and simple and fits my black and white kitchen. I have a blow up insert for inside the chair so when your little one can't sit up, but has started weening it keeps them in place. I also have to mention Harry's amazing mobile for above his cot. We got this as a gift from New York off two of the most generous and creative people I know. Again, it fits the simple design and style of the house, but most of all Harry loves it, and I have been able to do the hoovering many times while he lies and watches it (bonus) I have attached a pic.
Advice for pregnancy
Take it easy and enjoy the time you have with your partner before the little one arrives. It is precious. Your life really does change forever (but for he better) 😊
Advice for motherhood
Go with the flow, you will do an amazing job. Try not to listen to everyone's routines and advice. Everyone's baby is different, your baby will tell you what they want and when. Go with what makes you both happy.
Name
Katie Sibbet
Age
26, but I'm sure I am still 21.
Location
Newcastle upon Tyne
Job
Full time Mum of Harry and partner in crime to my partner, Chris. CEO of www.katiesco.com and proud UK stockist of @littleurbanapparel @youngoneapparel @saplingchild and exclusive brand @littlewonderlandclothing.
Children
I have one little boy, Harry, born 1/11/14. He has captured my heart forever and is the daily dose of inspiration behind Katie's Co. I would love to have three kids, one more boy and a girl.
What's the best thing about being a Mum?
The best thing about being a mum is waking up every morning and going to bed every night knowing that there is a tiny little human in your life that loves you unconditionally. When he smiles (which is all of the time) he melts my heart and makes me the best person I can be.
What has Motherhood taught you?
Motherhood has taught me how to be patient, and how much my mum and dad must love me. You don't realise how much they do for you until you have a baby of your own.
What does an average day look like for you?
Most mums seem to have some sort of daily routine, but I don't! Everyday seems to be different. Harry's nap times and feeding times change all of the time, so I just go with the flow. The only thing that remains the same is my cup of coffee in he morning and my glass of red on a Friday night 🍷 x
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought?
The best item I have in the house is my 'cheap as chips' high chair from IKEA for £10. It's white and simple and fits my black and white kitchen. I have a blow up insert for inside the chair so when your little one can't sit up, but has started weening it keeps them in place. I also have to mention Harry's amazing mobile for above his cot. We got this as a gift from New York off two of the most generous and creative people I know. Again, it fits the simple design and style of the house, but most of all Harry loves it, and I have been able to do the hoovering many times while he lies and watches it (bonus) I have attached a pic.
Advice for pregnancy
Take it easy and enjoy the time you have with your partner before the little one arrives. It is precious. Your life really does change forever (but for he better) 😊
Advice for motherhood
Go with the flow, you will do an amazing job. Try not to listen to everyone's routines and advice. Everyone's baby is different, your baby will tell you what they want and when. Go with what makes you both happy.
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/_5507965_orig.jpg)
It's #MOMday again, folks, which can only mean one thing...TIME FOR ANOTHER #MOTHEROFTHEMOMENT !!!
This week, we meet Dayna, our favourite Texan...
Name: Dayna Hickman
Age: 28
Location: Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
Job: I'm an educator, with a preference for teaching English and literature, but also a freelance writer and editor. And of course, a professional coffee drinker. You can follow me at www.thefrazzledcoffeelover.com (which is under construction at the moment).
Children: We have one precious, very fought-for, 10-month old son named Holt.
The best thing about being a Mum: This is a hard question to answer, and I don't think I can accurately answer it with just one thing. The best part is hiding somewhere between the unending adoration of my son and the depth of my pride in my husband and my ability to navigate parenthood. I think it's too hard to choose a best thing.
What motherhood has taught you about yourself: I've learned that I can run on less sleep than I thought possible. I've learned to see myself in my child, and dole out patience because I understand. I've learned to see my husband in our child, and dole out patience because I don’t understand. I've learned that I can love someone so deeply, that I forgot that person wasn't myself, but a piece of me outside of…me. I’ve learned that I can change incredibly in a tiny time span. I was a different human a year ago.
A day in the life of you: Wake up. Drink coffee. Stumble around wishing for more sleep. Drink more coffee. Attempt to play with the child. Attempt to play on Facebook. Attempt to write. Attempt to clean house. Realize I have left everything unfinished. Pray nap time lasts longer than it does. Drink more coffee. Eat chocolate. Rinse and repeat. Ha!
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought: There are three. First, a soft-sided carrier (Ergo). It was invaluable when he was tiny, sometimes it was the only place he would nap. It’s how I grocery shopped, went to church, and went for a walk.
Second, a walker. I don’t care who says not to let your kid walk in a walker. Or why. My son loved his, and suddenly I could let him run and play while I did dishes or tossed a ball for the dogs. It was (is) a lifesaver for me!
Third, touch and feel books. As a teacher, I see kids every day who don’t read. I believe early development is so important. Touch and feel books have provided hours of quiet bonding between my son and me, his daddy, and others. He enjoys getting in there and feeling the animals or prints. It fosters a very important love of books, and I hope that continues throughout his lifetime.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy: I struggled to get pregnant, and when I finally did, I lost my first two children in miscarriage. Because of this, my pregnancy with Holt was terrifying. I panicked on a daily basis, all the way until he was in my arms. Even then I struggled with the idea that something had to be wrong with him. There was no way he was okay, healthy, and perfect—even though he was. I finally had to take a deep breath and tell myself that even if something was wrong, I would love him no less than I do now. If I could go back and talk to my panicked self at 5, 25 and 35 weeks, I would tell her to take each day as it comes, and not worry unless there was true cause.
1 piece of advice for motherhood: My kid loves his walker, occasionally plays with my phone, and doesn’t eat homemade baby food because I’m too busy/lazy/overwhelmed to make it myself. He loves to sneak bites of sugar-filled treats, sometimes drinks apple juice, and wears sposies because I. Hate. Laundry. He nurses to sleep, co-sleeps, and takes a bath every night because he likes baths and he’s a dirty kid in general (no really, he is). I vaccinate on schedule, and avoid antibiotics if at all possible.
But we also read books every day, I’m consistent about bedtimes, I won’t give my son a binky or bottle, and I have yet to leave him for longer than an hour with anyone but Daddy. I cook dinner almost every night and allow my child to play outside every day.
My point is simple, take everyone’s advice, consider it, research it, and do whatever the heck is best for your child. Because your child isn’t their child, your family isn’t their family, and you aren’t them. It’s okay to not go by the books on some things, and okay to break the rules other times. Anyone who tells you that you’re doing it wrong can stuff it. You’re doing great.
This week, we meet Dayna, our favourite Texan...
Name: Dayna Hickman
Age: 28
Location: Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
Job: I'm an educator, with a preference for teaching English and literature, but also a freelance writer and editor. And of course, a professional coffee drinker. You can follow me at www.thefrazzledcoffeelover.com (which is under construction at the moment).
Children: We have one precious, very fought-for, 10-month old son named Holt.
The best thing about being a Mum: This is a hard question to answer, and I don't think I can accurately answer it with just one thing. The best part is hiding somewhere between the unending adoration of my son and the depth of my pride in my husband and my ability to navigate parenthood. I think it's too hard to choose a best thing.
What motherhood has taught you about yourself: I've learned that I can run on less sleep than I thought possible. I've learned to see myself in my child, and dole out patience because I understand. I've learned to see my husband in our child, and dole out patience because I don’t understand. I've learned that I can love someone so deeply, that I forgot that person wasn't myself, but a piece of me outside of…me. I’ve learned that I can change incredibly in a tiny time span. I was a different human a year ago.
A day in the life of you: Wake up. Drink coffee. Stumble around wishing for more sleep. Drink more coffee. Attempt to play with the child. Attempt to play on Facebook. Attempt to write. Attempt to clean house. Realize I have left everything unfinished. Pray nap time lasts longer than it does. Drink more coffee. Eat chocolate. Rinse and repeat. Ha!
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought: There are three. First, a soft-sided carrier (Ergo). It was invaluable when he was tiny, sometimes it was the only place he would nap. It’s how I grocery shopped, went to church, and went for a walk.
Second, a walker. I don’t care who says not to let your kid walk in a walker. Or why. My son loved his, and suddenly I could let him run and play while I did dishes or tossed a ball for the dogs. It was (is) a lifesaver for me!
Third, touch and feel books. As a teacher, I see kids every day who don’t read. I believe early development is so important. Touch and feel books have provided hours of quiet bonding between my son and me, his daddy, and others. He enjoys getting in there and feeling the animals or prints. It fosters a very important love of books, and I hope that continues throughout his lifetime.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy: I struggled to get pregnant, and when I finally did, I lost my first two children in miscarriage. Because of this, my pregnancy with Holt was terrifying. I panicked on a daily basis, all the way until he was in my arms. Even then I struggled with the idea that something had to be wrong with him. There was no way he was okay, healthy, and perfect—even though he was. I finally had to take a deep breath and tell myself that even if something was wrong, I would love him no less than I do now. If I could go back and talk to my panicked self at 5, 25 and 35 weeks, I would tell her to take each day as it comes, and not worry unless there was true cause.
1 piece of advice for motherhood: My kid loves his walker, occasionally plays with my phone, and doesn’t eat homemade baby food because I’m too busy/lazy/overwhelmed to make it myself. He loves to sneak bites of sugar-filled treats, sometimes drinks apple juice, and wears sposies because I. Hate. Laundry. He nurses to sleep, co-sleeps, and takes a bath every night because he likes baths and he’s a dirty kid in general (no really, he is). I vaccinate on schedule, and avoid antibiotics if at all possible.
But we also read books every day, I’m consistent about bedtimes, I won’t give my son a binky or bottle, and I have yet to leave him for longer than an hour with anyone but Daddy. I cook dinner almost every night and allow my child to play outside every day.
My point is simple, take everyone’s advice, consider it, research it, and do whatever the heck is best for your child. Because your child isn’t their child, your family isn’t their family, and you aren’t them. It’s okay to not go by the books on some things, and okay to break the rules other times. Anyone who tells you that you’re doing it wrong can stuff it. You’re doing great.
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/_5511876.jpg)
Meet Jami...
Name: Jami
Age: 33
Location: Edinboro, PA
Job: SAHM (Stay at Home Mom)
Children: Two!! D.J. (Derek Jr.) age 6 and Karli Grace age 4 months
The best thing about being a Mum:
My favorite part of being a mom is the smiles and the cuddles. Seeing my children happy and getting to snuggle them up fills my heart with such joy. There are times I just look at them in awe of their perfection and I think..."I made that!!"
What motherhood has taught you about yourself:
Motherhood has taught me that I'm much stronger than I ever imagined I could be. From staying up for 48 hours straight nursing a sick baby back to health to watching my little boy get on the school bus for the first time and fighting the urge to chase after him and not let him go. The love and devotion for my children has brought out this amazing strength in me that I'm very proud of.
A day in the life of you:
My day starts bright and early around 6:30 am with nursing the lil one and getting sweet cuddles. Then we wake up big brother to get him ready for school. We have breakfast (and of course the much needed coffee for mom) and we walk to the bus stop. Once big brother is gone, I spend my day cleaning, running errands and of course, most importantly, feeding, changing diapers and playing with my littlest bundle of joy. Some days are more play than work but that's ok! They are only this small for a short time and I will never apologize for soaking up as much of it as I can.
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought:
The best motherhood thing I ever bought was a journal for each of my kids. I write in it on special occasions and on random days in between. I love having something that holds so many memories, that I can look back on and one day pass on to each of them.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy:
A body pillow and Tums (antacid) will be your best friend by month 7. Take care of yourself. You're growing a human, that's tough work!
1 piece of advice for motherhood
Have fun and don't take yourself too seriously! Don't be afraid to get on the floor and get dirty. Your kids will always remember the time that you took to spend with them.
Name: Jami
Age: 33
Location: Edinboro, PA
Job: SAHM (Stay at Home Mom)
Children: Two!! D.J. (Derek Jr.) age 6 and Karli Grace age 4 months
The best thing about being a Mum:
My favorite part of being a mom is the smiles and the cuddles. Seeing my children happy and getting to snuggle them up fills my heart with such joy. There are times I just look at them in awe of their perfection and I think..."I made that!!"
What motherhood has taught you about yourself:
Motherhood has taught me that I'm much stronger than I ever imagined I could be. From staying up for 48 hours straight nursing a sick baby back to health to watching my little boy get on the school bus for the first time and fighting the urge to chase after him and not let him go. The love and devotion for my children has brought out this amazing strength in me that I'm very proud of.
A day in the life of you:
My day starts bright and early around 6:30 am with nursing the lil one and getting sweet cuddles. Then we wake up big brother to get him ready for school. We have breakfast (and of course the much needed coffee for mom) and we walk to the bus stop. Once big brother is gone, I spend my day cleaning, running errands and of course, most importantly, feeding, changing diapers and playing with my littlest bundle of joy. Some days are more play than work but that's ok! They are only this small for a short time and I will never apologize for soaking up as much of it as I can.
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought:
The best motherhood thing I ever bought was a journal for each of my kids. I write in it on special occasions and on random days in between. I love having something that holds so many memories, that I can look back on and one day pass on to each of them.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy:
A body pillow and Tums (antacid) will be your best friend by month 7. Take care of yourself. You're growing a human, that's tough work!
1 piece of advice for motherhood
Have fun and don't take yourself too seriously! Don't be afraid to get on the floor and get dirty. Your kids will always remember the time that you took to spend with them.
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/3/0/45307025/_3763632.jpg)
Meet McKenzie...
Name: McKenzie Austin
Age: 27
Location: Wisconsin
Job: Tattoo artist/co-owner of Tattoo Nouveau
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tattoo-Nouveau/511840562171632?fref=ts
www.ErrantParent.com
Children: One biological, Oliver, 11 months old. One stepson, Caleb, 11 years.
The best thing about being a Mum
My favorite thing about being a mom is reliving experiences through my son. He can see the world through this beautiful, untainted filter that helps remind me of how amazing the littlest things can be.
What motherhood has taught you about yourself
Motherhood has taught me that such a love does exist that can cradle your heart and cripple it simultaneously. The amount of love I have for my child is sometimes so painfully immense, I fear my heart might crush under the weight of it at any moment... but my heart also grows stronger every day I'm with him. It's an unusual balance.
A day in the life of you
It depends on the day. My husband and I work opposite days so we don't have to put our son in daycare. Sunday through Tuesdays are my days off with Oliver. We'll do anything from color, picnic, go to the park, or play inside with block towers. At 3:00 his big brother gets home from school to join in on the fun. We'll read, take a bath, and he's in bed by 8:00, all tuckered out.
If it's a Wednesday through Saturday, I'll wake up at 7:00 a.m., spend the morning with my husband and the kiddo, until I head to work at 10:00 a.m. I'll do my tattoo appointments and/or drawings for the day until all my clients are taken care of, then head home whenever I'm done. My schedule is beautifully flexible. I couldn't imagine doing anything else. Aside from my family, art is my life.
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought
My Medela Pump in Style Breastpump! That thing has saved me soooo much money on formula, and as a working mom, that was the greatest investment I could have made.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy
All people want to tell you are the horror stories. "My labor was horrible", "I tore in thirty places", "My kid didn't sleep through the night until s/he was eight years old", blah blah blah. They never tell you the beautiful things. And there are so, so many. Do not let their negative statements tarnish any part of your pregnancy or motherhood. It's too precious to be poisoned with someone else's words. Don't let their bad experience become yours... you have the power to make it great.
1 piece of advice for motherhood
Have something that is just 'you'. Regardless of what it is. I love my son with my heart and soul, but if I couldn't toss myself into an art project every now and again, I would lose myself completely to motherhood... and while motherhood is a huge and wonderful part of who I am, it is just that, a part, and unless the entirety of you is feeling fulfilled, the rest of your parts will surely suffer. Nourish every part of what makes you happy.
Name: McKenzie Austin
Age: 27
Location: Wisconsin
Job: Tattoo artist/co-owner of Tattoo Nouveau
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tattoo-Nouveau/511840562171632?fref=ts
www.ErrantParent.com
Children: One biological, Oliver, 11 months old. One stepson, Caleb, 11 years.
The best thing about being a Mum
My favorite thing about being a mom is reliving experiences through my son. He can see the world through this beautiful, untainted filter that helps remind me of how amazing the littlest things can be.
What motherhood has taught you about yourself
Motherhood has taught me that such a love does exist that can cradle your heart and cripple it simultaneously. The amount of love I have for my child is sometimes so painfully immense, I fear my heart might crush under the weight of it at any moment... but my heart also grows stronger every day I'm with him. It's an unusual balance.
A day in the life of you
It depends on the day. My husband and I work opposite days so we don't have to put our son in daycare. Sunday through Tuesdays are my days off with Oliver. We'll do anything from color, picnic, go to the park, or play inside with block towers. At 3:00 his big brother gets home from school to join in on the fun. We'll read, take a bath, and he's in bed by 8:00, all tuckered out.
If it's a Wednesday through Saturday, I'll wake up at 7:00 a.m., spend the morning with my husband and the kiddo, until I head to work at 10:00 a.m. I'll do my tattoo appointments and/or drawings for the day until all my clients are taken care of, then head home whenever I'm done. My schedule is beautifully flexible. I couldn't imagine doing anything else. Aside from my family, art is my life.
Best pregnancy/child/motherhood thing you've ever bought
My Medela Pump in Style Breastpump! That thing has saved me soooo much money on formula, and as a working mom, that was the greatest investment I could have made.
1 piece of advice for pregnancy
All people want to tell you are the horror stories. "My labor was horrible", "I tore in thirty places", "My kid didn't sleep through the night until s/he was eight years old", blah blah blah. They never tell you the beautiful things. And there are so, so many. Do not let their negative statements tarnish any part of your pregnancy or motherhood. It's too precious to be poisoned with someone else's words. Don't let their bad experience become yours... you have the power to make it great.
1 piece of advice for motherhood
Have something that is just 'you'. Regardless of what it is. I love my son with my heart and soul, but if I couldn't toss myself into an art project every now and again, I would lose myself completely to motherhood... and while motherhood is a huge and wonderful part of who I am, it is just that, a part, and unless the entirety of you is feeling fulfilled, the rest of your parts will surely suffer. Nourish every part of what makes you happy.