Winning as a mummy
Welcome to the third week of our #InspiringMama blog series.
I’ve started these series with the hope that other mums will feel motivated, inspired and generally a bit more positive about life. The transition into motherhood can be tough but if I’ve learnt anything from these blog series is that it can also be an opportunity to start something new and to make positive changes in your life. This has certainly been the case for today’s guest: Emma.
Meet Emma, who shares her journey into motherhood and how it led her to start a beautiful personal project: Isabella and Us.
How did your journey as a mum started and how did it led you to Isabella and Us.?
My journey with motherhood and Isabella and Us. are intertwined. Isabella was born just before Christmas in December 2017, after a tough pregnancy I was hoping for the beautiful and ‘natural’ motherhood journey but motherhood was nothing like I had expected. I struggled with the transition and five months after Isabella was born I was diagnosed with PND. Nothing I was reading or looking at was sharing what I needed to read or see and I felt lost as a mum.
I started Isabella and Us. when Isabella was four weeks old. In the haze of new motherhood, I wanted to put something out into the world that was an honest depiction of motherhood but also it started as a passion project, that allowed me to be creative, use my skills and learn new ones.
I taught myself how to run a business, design and create new products, whilst learning out how to be mum, and figuring out what this journey was me for and my family. I began to really step in to who I wanted to be as a person and building my confidence to try new things within my business.
I had the idea of a ‘zine’ for mums, since I first launched Isabella and Us, but I didn’t have the confidence to do it. But in September 2018 I finally launched the first issue, which sold out within five days. I never could have imagined that I would have published ten issues and be running the magazine over two years later.
What has been the most difficult part about becoming a mum?
For me, it was my expectations that motherhood would be this wonderful and that I would take to it naturally but that was not the case for me. I struggled for the first year with the guilt of not bonding with my baby instantly, what I didn’t realise at the time is that so many new mums feel this way and it is completely normal to feel like this.
What advice could you give to other mums in these challenging times?
My advice for these difficult times would be to be kind to yourself, this is hard, because it is hard. We have never lived through something like this before and it is okay to be finding it difficult. Remember that your needs matter, celebrate those small wins, such as having a hot drink, getting everyone out of the house on time. Remember those ‘winning as a mummy’ moments and focus on them, not the things that haven’t gone so well.
Remember that your needs matter, celebrate those small wins … focus on them, not the things that haven’t gone so well.
Do you have any tips to keep a work-life balance as a mum? You're also working full time so, how do you do it?
I think that balance can be a difficult concept, I actually think it's about lowering our expectations of what we can achieve in a certain time. With working full time as a teacher, alongside by business, I've had to learn to lower my expectations of what I can achieve in my business every day/week/month. I plan things around my work and family and this can sometimes mean I can't fit things as soon as I would like.
One tip I do have is to plan, use a diary and make sure you plan things in, see where things can best fit in for you. One piece of advice someone gave me recently was to think about if whatever needs doing is urgent, if it isn't, schedule it in when you can and leave space for those urgent things that do crop up.
Please tell us more about Isabella and Us.
At Isabella and Us. I am all about promoting positive wellbeing in mums, celebrating our mum wins and making time for ourselves.
I am passionate about helping to raise awareness of maternal mental health through the #winningasamummy® campaign, the Positive Wellbeing Zine for Mums and the Positive Wellbeing Podcast for Mums.
The Positive Wellbeing Zine for Mums is a quarterly print publication of all things motherhood and positive wellbeing. It is more than ‘just a magazine’, it offers inspiration, information and relaxation for mums. The Zine is filled with a selection of articles around motherhood and positive wellbeing alongside beautiful illustrations and photography. Each issue focuses on mums being able to take time out for self-care.
The Positive Wellbeing Podcast for Mums, is a weekly podcast. Each episode is filled with topics all about motherhood, wellbeing and self care. Sharing honest stories of motherhood and talking openly on topics surrounding our motherhood journey, leaving you feeling supported, inspired and like you aren't alone.
About Emma:
Emma is a self care coach, teacher, editor and writer promoting positivity with her Winning as a mummy® movement through campaigns, the Positive Wellbeing Zine for Mums and the Positive Wellbeing Podcast for Mums.
You can find more of Emma and Isabella and Us.
