Liefkind

11/05/2024

Just because I love being a mom, doesn’t mean I don’t sometimes miss the carefree days when I only had myself to worry about.

And just because I feel nostalgic for those days, doesn’t mean I would ever, ever let my babies go.

Just because I talk about the hard parts of motherhood—the parts that keep me awake at night and make me cry ugly tears—doesn’t mean it's not all worth it.

And just because I know it’s worth it, doesn’t mean it’s not really dang tough sometimes.

Just because I say marriage is so much harder than I ever imagined it would be, doesn’t mean I wouldn’t choose my husband over and over again in a million different lifetimes.

And just because I love him so, doesn’t mean we don’t have growing pains that are sometimes hard to see past.

Just because I’m so, so very grateful for the endless blessings I’ve been given, doesn’t mean I can’t be frustrated that my house is never clean and my life feels so disorganized.

And just because I sometimes feel exhausted and utterly defeated by those things, doesn’t mean I don’t realize how ridiculously lucky I am.

We can feel both things, mamas. We can feel ALLLL the things.

One emotion doesn’t discount the opposite.

Venting doesn’t make us ungrateful.

Crying doesn’t make us blind to the beauty.

Struggling doesn’t make us too weak to hold the weight of this crazy, breathtaking, worry-filled, heart-filling role.

Just because I love being a mom, doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy sometimes.

And just because it’s heavy, doesn’t mean I would ever, ever give it up.

12/04/2023

From The Therapist Parent
❤️

02/04/2023

I used to feel really ‘judged’ when met with misunderstanding or expectations that my children and I just couldn’t meet. I knew what worked for us… but it was different from other families. My children were different. I am different. It’s no wonder it never worked. But we felt obliged to try. And kept failing. It took far too long for me to realise that, as neurodiverse families, we should do what works for us and not feel guilty that we are not meeting the expectations of others.
My family comes first. Your family comes first. Don’t feel guilty for doing the best for you and your family. ❤️

22/03/2023

I don’t miss the woman I was before kids.⁣
⁣
Because now my days have a different purpose.⁣
⁣
Yes, I had “me time,”⁣
because now I have little feet following my every move,⁣
little noses smooshed against the glass while I shower,⁣
little hands tugging on my shirt as I brush my teeth,⁣
needing something.⁣
⁣
Yes, I got to sleep in on weekends,⁣
because now I wake up to my children’s voices screaming “MOMMY!” at the crack of dawn.⁣
⁣
Yes, I got to go for a jog whenever I felt like it⁣
because now I take walks with my children and it’s not as peaceful.⁣
⁣
Yes, I could dine out with my partner on a whim,⁣
because now, I tuck my kids in and read them a story.⁣
⁣
But I don’t miss the woman I was before kids.⁣
⁣
Because being needed is a gift,⁣
their voices light up my world even in the early hours,⁣
seeing nature through their eyes is pure joy,⁣
and getting to be the last words they hear before they close their eyes is a highlight of my day.⁣
⁣
Motherhood has made me into a better me. ⁣
A me, who appreciates the small moments,⁣
where “I love yous” fill my ears,⁣
where hugs and kisses make my heart burst,⁣
and where I connect with my mom on a whole new level.⁣
⁣
And these moments beat out the ones where I want to run away, am exhausted, and feel like I’m doing it all wrong.⁣
⁣
The truth is I’m forever changed because of my kids,⁣
and though I miss small parts, because motherhood’s a lot at times,⁣
I don’t miss the woman I once was.⁣
⁣
Because in mothering, I found a better 𝘮𝘦.

📸: Amanda Oleander Art
....................................................⁣⁣
My Children’s Book 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘖𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘖𝘬𝘢𝘺: 𝘈𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴 𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘛𝘰𝘰 is out everywhere: https://amzn.to/317TvVc

11/03/2023

Quote of the Day

11/03/2023

02/03/2023

"They say you’re a “mummy’s boy”.
⠀
You look for me everywhere.
You cry when I turn my back to you.
You beg me to hold you.
⠀
You have a softness about you right now.
And it’s beautiful.
So natural.
A reflection of who you are becoming.
⠀
You love to cuddle.
You ask for kisses.
You can be so gentle.
⠀
And I hope it never fades.
Even when you’re older,
Even when you’re no longer a little boy.
Especially when you feel like being called a “mummy’s boy” is no longer a compliment.
⠀
Because you will always be my boy.
I will always be your mum.
And we will always have parts of each other.
⠀
So my darling boy,
My little lad,
My one-day-your-own-man,
It makes no difference.
⠀
My arms will always be open.
My heart will always be waiting.
You will always have a key to my front door.
⠀
Because I’m your mum.
And no matter what,
I will always love you."
⠀
Words: Emma Heaphy Words of Emma Heaphy

Art:

Words of Emma Heaphy

☀️Our gorgeous issue 49 is on sale in both NZ, Australia and the UK Every store-bought copy comes with a special Journal to document your baby’s first year and note down those special moments! There’s milestone cards, a beautiful first year experiences colouring in section and lots of space to write. Issue 49 is also available to purchase locally and internationally online: https://thenaturalparentmagazine.com/product-category/shop/magazine ☀️

26/02/2023

Nóg 'n kopskuif wat nuwe tuisskolers moet maak is die een van skooltyd tot leefstyl van leer. Oor die algemeen, gebeur skool tussen 7:30 en 14h00. Dit is waar die leer plaasvind. In die skoolgebou. Huiswerk is blykbaar hersiening, (alhoewel ek weet dit al hoe meer nuwe werk en projekte

02/10/2022

"Ek sal my bes probeer"

Ek het hierdie boodskap vanoggend vir my man gestuur, met trane wat prik in my oë.

Met 'n hart so swaar soos lood.

Te moeg om die dag vorentoe aan te pak, met 'n nag van onderbroke slaap agter die rug, en die bakleiery, die gehuil en geteem, die middagete wat niemand gaan eet nie, wat nog voorlê. En die druk wat ek op myself plaas.

Dit was nog nie eens 09:00 nie en ek reeds die ondraagbare druk van die dag op my skouers gehad. Ek het klaar opgegee aan die reënwolk wat heeltyd oorhoofs dobber, opsoek vir 'n plek om uit te sak.

In my kop is daar die stoei van stemme wat my nogtans vertel hoe gelukkig ek is.

Maar daardie stemme dra nie die onsigbare lading van die dae en weke wat ek al moes deurmaak nie.
Wanneer die skitterblink aanlyn-wêreld se perfeksie jou deur die gesig klap en negatiewe vergelykings in jou kop laat maal nie. Wanneer jou intuïsie so bewolk geraak het dat die pad vorentoe deur mis slinger nie.

Partykeer doen ek my bes deur net deur die dag te kom.
Partykeer is my bes om diep asem te haal wanneer die aanhoudende gehuil my bors laat toetrek.

Partykeer is my bes om myself nog 'n keer op te tel nadat 'n dag van moederskap my op my knieë gedwing het.

Toe die druk vandag te oorweldigend raak, het ek met hulle gaan stap en myself in 'n winkelvenster raakgesien – 'n onherkenbare deurmekaar meisie, moeg tot in haar siel.

'n Paar oomblikke later het 'n ouer dame na ons toe aangestap gekom, haar oë reeds aan die skitter oor my twee lyfies in die stootwaentjie.

Sy het vlugtig by ons gestop, na my gekyk en gesê 'Knapgedaan, jy doen so goed."

Daar was geen manier vir haar om te weet nie, maar in daardie oomblik het dit nie saakgemaak nie.

Sy het my net toegelaat om myself deur haar oë te sien, en miskien is dit hoe dit werklik lyk wanneer ons as ma's ons bes doen. Die dae wat ons verdrink in ons moederskap definieer ons nie as ma's nie.

Dit het my herinner daar is ongelooflike krag in klein gebare.

Dat al wat somtyds nodig is, is dat 'n ma moet hoor dat sy besig is om dit goed en reg te doen.
Dat ons bes meer as genoeg is. .....................................

Woorde: (vertaal na Afrikaans deur )

Kunswerk:

04/09/2022