I was tagged by Twicemicrowaved Tea to answer 15 questions about being a mum. So here we go:
1. Favourite mum hack?
Sibling competition is a great way to get things done. Praise one child for tidying up and suddenly they all want to do it to get positive attention too!
2. Most embarrassing mum moment?
Just after having Zach I went shopping and left him outside with my mother in law. The shop assistant asked when I was due and I pointed to him outside. She was soooo embarrassed but I didn’t mind too much!
3. What part of the day do you love the most?
The school run and dinner time as we have the chance to chat, makes plans and enjoy each other’s company.
4. What part of the day do you like the least?
The nights. Either the children not being able to get to sleep so I miss out on any evening time to myself, or being woken up in the middle of the night or early morning (often all 3 are awake by 6!)
5. The worst thing someone said to you while you were pregnant?
I can’t remember any negatives.
6. Baby name you didn’t agree on?
My ex wanted to give Anya the same name a friend had just used for her daughter: errrr, no way!
Chris and I agreed on girls’ names straightaway but boys ones were a little more tricky. I liked the name Jack for Zach but Chris didn’t so we compromised.
7. Do you co sleep?
Not intentionally! Zach has sneaked in a few times and I haven’t noticed until the morning or else I’ve fallen asleep while trying to get him back to sleep in the middle of the night. When I was breastfeeding, I fell asleep with all three due to sheer exhaustion but it was never a conscious decision.
8. Something you bought but never used?
Baby sling: I have just never got on with them.
9. Three hospital bag must haves?
I had two bags packed: one for me and the baby for the first day, and a second one with extra clothes in case of a stay. Luckily I was out within 24 hours with each birth (less than 6 hours for Anya and Zach) so never needed the second bag.
Flip flops (easy to clean in case of bodily fluids splashing about). Comfy clothes for giving birth but that are ok for photos! Snacks due to my allergies.
10. Are you a routine mum or a ‘go with the flow’ mum, and what does bedtime look like?
I’m all about the routine but slight deviation from it is ok, such as delaying bedtime by an hour to watch a film at the weekend. Zach is a nightmare at bedtime and has to be cuddled to sleep. My older two were successfully sleep trained by the age of 2 so troublesome Zach has been a bit of an eyeopener!
11. What type of labour did you have? What pain relief did you choose?
Matthew: I was in early labour for over 24 hours. I went in when the pain got unbearable but little did I know that it would get worse! I was given gas and air and then had pethidine which started to send me to sleep and my family went home. Minutes after they’d gone, my waters broke. The problem was that I had no urge to push. The midwives were trying to get me to push but I had no sensation at all and didn’t know which muscles to use. They threatened me with an assisted delivery or caesarian as he was getting distressed and I somehow got him out.
Anya was breech until 37 weeks then had I had an ECV to get her head facing down but she kept trying to turn back again! That meant she didn’t engage until I was in labour. I just had gas and air and this time felt the urge to push which was incredible. My body completely took over and my waters went minutes before she arrived.
Zach did not want to come out so I had an induction. Once my contractions were strong after 6 hours, I was moved to the delivery suite and had my waters broken. Once again I coped with just gas and air and had the urge to push so he was born 45 minutes later and Chris missed it!
12. Have you ever been mum shamed?
Aged 2, Matt had a tantrum in a shop and a woman came over and told me she was a nanny and that I was parenting him wrong. I was devastated and angry.
13. The biggest challenges you’ve faced since becoming a mum?
Being a single mum for the first 4 years (but huge thanks to my parents for their support). Second guessing myself all the time. Feeling like I’d lost my identity. Balancing work and home.
14. The best bit of advice you have ever been given – biggest piece of advice you’d give to a new mum?
Pick your battles and be consistent.
Always follow through on threats and promises. Sometimes Zach refuses to get dressed so I will take him out in just his pants and he begs me to dress him before we get to the end of the drive!
Give limited options so they feel in control: for example ‘would you like toast or cereal for breakfast?’ ‘would you like the blue or red t shirt?’
Let your children see you are human, admit your mistakes, don’t be afraid to cry.
15. Who’s your mum crush?
I have so much more appreciation for my own parents now I know how hard it is!
7. Do you co sleep?
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