Getting it ‘right’

It was 3am and I was sitting feeding my baby, crying, so exhausted feeling like my own bedroom was a torture chamber. I was so tempted to put a pillow over my husbands head… how dare he be sleeping when I couldn’t, I was angry at him that he couldn’t help. Why had I chosen to breastfeed? I needed to give up. I needed to be able to hand her over and make sure someone else could feed her and she was getting enough. Surely I wasn’t giving her enough when she feed this often?

People that breastfed didn’t feel tortured like this, did they? I can’t be doing it right. She finished her feed, big plump cheeks dropped away, gorgeous face blissfully resting, milk drunk, so I lay her in her crib and got back into bed with my salty damp cheeks and fell asleep. 45mins later she woke again crying.

Sound familiar?

I look back on that time twelve years ago and can feel every emotion still. It was brutal.

I was a young mum, desperate to do everything ‘right’. I’ve since learnt it doesn’t matter if you’re 21 or 41 we are all desperate for that for some reason. What is ‘right’ is what is ‘right’ for you. Get off that self doubt train. That- ‘society says it should look like this’ mantra needs to be burnt out of your brain.

You do you.

A few days after the night above I was so exhausted I ‘gave up’. I went into survival mode and followed my instincts.

I had been fighting them. I couldn’t surrender.

I wouldn’t co-sleep, I’d be getting it all ‘wrong’ and would create ‘bad habits’, wouldn’t I?

Or would I? How was it wrong if we both slept?

We co-slept.

Suddenly it was so much easier, I could lift her out, feed while lying on my side and fall back to sleep.

We both SLEPT

We were both SO much happier

The ‘right’ way to do it, is your way

Don’t doubt it

#youdoyou #cosleeping #gentleparenting #parenting #positiveparenting #consciousparenting #mindfulparenting #attachmentparenting #peacefulparenting #motherhood #respectfulparenting #parentingtips #momlife #parenthood #naturalparenting #parentinglife #responsiveparenting #parentinggoals #connectedparenting #fatherhood #parentinghacks #family #childdevelopment #dadlife #parentingsupport #motherhoodunplugged #raisingkids #mumlife #parentinghelp #parentingcoach #parents #sleepy #notears #loveandsupport #sleepcoach #parenting #sleepbetter #bettersleep #tired #babysleep #sleepconsultant

International Women’s Day

As International Womens Day draws to an end I feel compelled to thank you all… Every amazing woman in my life. I am so blessed to be surrounded by such incredibly strong women, each full of love, support, encouragement and strength.

Surround yourself with those women.

Seek those women.

The ones who spark joy in your heart.

The ones who make you feel lighter when you leave.

I am so incredibly lucky to have a career supporting other women to walk the path on their parenting journey in a way that they feel is right. There are too many people out there throwing out comments that drag women down, make them doubt themselves and their intuition.

Week in week out I work with fiercely strong women pushing to parent their way, following their gut and intuition.

I support and guide them to reach their goals and I LOVE IT! I love witnessing the new height that woman reaches and how that floods out to their entire family. They are armed with that new knowledge, they are empowered and they share that and build up those around them. 💫

Women are amazing.

Happy #internationalwomensday

You are all incredible 💕

Parenting isn’t a Race, it’s a Marathon…

I went up to London yesterday to support a friend running the marathon. It was so emotional to see people pushing themselves to raise money for such amazing charities with thousands of people around them calling their names on their t-shirts, clapping, cheering, congratulating and encouraging.

It really got me thinking…

Without support would running a marathon be possible? Would people push through? With silent roads and just the sound of their feet hitting the pavement, heart pounding and mind wandering, would they make it to the finishing line?

Or what about spectators shouting ‘I wouldn’t go that slow you’ll never make the finish!’ or ‘your running style is a bit odd, widen your stride!’

Parenting isn’t a race, it’s a marathon.

You need supporters, people cheering you on while you do it your way, without judgement and when it gets tough they help you through, give you encouragement and run alongside you until you’re back on track.

My children initially called me embarrassing yesterday as I whooped, cheered and shouted encouraging words to faces I didn’t know using names from a t-shirt, until they saw the runners reactions- the smiles, the thumbs up and boost they got. They soon joined in cheering, calling names and high-fiving.

It’s uplifting, it’s powerful and we need more of it in the world. Love and support.

I love that so many parents don’t just want a plan from me, they want my support package- 10days of WhatsApp texts or emails while they implement the plan. They are supported by me every step of the way until they step over the sleep marathon finish line! We whoop and celebrate together and they are proud of their achievements!

I love that I get to do that every day of the week. The joy I get from finish line texts is second to none.

Congratulations to everyone that ran the @londonmarathon yesterday. You are amazing, inspiring humans! 🎉💕

And to all the families who have pushed or are pushing through their own sleep marathon… you’ve got this!!