Mummy Madness

I got married and had two children all in 3 years. My son, also my first child, was born with a health condition that required surgery and we spent our first 6 weeks of parenthood in a NICU at a children’s hospital. It was the most difficult time of my life. Even after he came home I struggled with anxiety, depression, fear and anger. I turned to writing and my words slowly allowed me to crawl out of the hole I had dug myself into. I was forever changed. I began to realize that I had the ability to help others who were struggling with their journey in parenthood. As parents, we all have moments where we aren't sure what we are doing. I continue to write and share my experiences in hopes that I can help part the clouds for someone who is struggling.

Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo, recently announced that she is not only pregnant with twins but that just as she did after her last baby was born, she will take a limited maternity leave after the birth this time around again. Of course the internet world has to object. Apparently the rest of us seem to know what is best for Ms. Mayer and her life. A mother of twins is quoted that Mayer has no idea what she’s in for. People are questioning her...

I’ve been reading articles lately pulling the whole parents kissing kids on the lips debate into the spotlight and shedding some controversy on the practice. Full disclosure. I kiss my kids on the lips. Let me be clear, it is not sexual in any way whatsoever. I kissed my babies on the lips from the time they were born, almost instinctively. I never thought I would kiss my kids like that before they were actually a part of my life....

Pregnancy evokes so many emotions in people. Not just for the woman who is actually experiencing the pregnancy but also for those who know them and love them and even for strangers who may cross their paths. For some reason, pregnancy causes people to do things they wouldn’t otherwise do; offer advice, tell stories, ask inappropriate questions. Most people don’t mean any ill will when they get a little too persona with a pregnant women...

Mr T. was two years and a day old when Ms. J burst into our lives. Two years and a day where it was just him. Him and us. We were a threesome and I worried how changing to a foursome was going to impact him. I had heard horror stories of toddler jealousy when new babies entered their lives. One friend even telling me of a toddler who tried to bite off his baby sister’s nose. I did what I do best. I worried. I tried to prepare him as...

Our baby’s gender was a surprise the first time around. In the months leading up to the due date Mr. C and I were making lists of baby names that we liked. Settling on a name for a baby girl was easy. In fact, I had a name picked out for a baby girl from the time I had to take care of a flour bag baby in high school parenting class. Lucky for me, Mr. C. loved the name and it ended up on our list. When Ms. J was born we had multiple names on...

My first pregnancy was a breeze. With the exception of a few days of nausea really early on, I glowed the entire 37 weeks. I went to bed every night with my hand resting dreamily on my belly and I woke up every morning with a smile on my face. I loved every second of being pregnant. I felt beautiful. I felt strong. I felt powerful. When I heard other women complain about being pregnant and how they just wanted it to be over I didn’t...

Bath time used to be my absolute favourite part of our routine with my babies. The smell of the baby soap, the way they kicked, splashed and giggled, focusing on them alone while I cleaned them up before bed. It was all so beautiful and special and I looked forward to it every single night. Mr. T. actually hated bath time when we first brought him home from the hospital. He was 6 weeks old and had only ever experienced sponge baths in his...

Summer is coming and you know what that means? It’s almost bathing suit season. We are a family that spends a lot of time in the water. Pools, beaches, lakes even splash pads; we love a nice cold dip on a hot sunny day. The very first bathing suit I ever had was a true eensy weensy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini. It was a little string number and my chubby little toddler tummy stuck out in the middle in the most adorable way. When I...

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I ran through a mental list of all the things I was going to teach him; how to tie his shoe, how to read and how to ride a bike were just a few. It never dawned on me that the lessons were going to run both ways. In the years since I anxiously awaited the arrival of my first baby I have learned so much. Never in a million years did I think my children were going to teach me so much about myself, about who...

I’ve only been playing this game of motherhood for six and a half years. I’m really still a rookie. I haven’t quite figured everything out and I have moments when, as the tears well up in my eyes, I wonder if I’m really cut out for this job. Yet I wake up every day and I keep going and sometimes I even think to myself, “I’m kind of getting the hang of this whole Mummy thing.” I often think of how much I stressed in those early...

She would have been born in May. It was too early to know the gender of the baby but I knew it was she. I felt it, deep within my heart. It’s funny what your instincts tell you. I knew that I was pregnant even before I took the test. I peed on the stick and anxiously awaited the two pink lines. As sure as I was that I was pregnant I was equally as confident that this baby wasn’t meant to be. I tried to avoid feeling anything at all. I told...

Looking for a daycare facility can be one of the toughest searches you experience. There is so much to consider and you always want to make sure you make the right decision when it comes to your little ones care. If you are going back to work because you want to or because you have to you will put a lot of thought into the daycare you choose and the choice won’t be as simple as centre, home daycare or nanny. There are some additional...