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A UK Pregnancy, Parenting and Lifestyle Blog
May 18, 2015

Why I Started Blogging

What feels like many moons ago I was newly pregnant and in need of some information and advice. None of my friends were pregnant at the time and I wasn’t living near family either. I randomly stumbled across a couple pregnancy blogs and was instantly hooked. I think the first ones I found were Lucie and the Bump and Hannah Maggs and I loved reading all their pregnancy updates and advice. It really helped me get through all the questions I had surrounding pregnancy and any ‘I wonder if this is normal’ moments.



So these are my top reasons for why I started blogging. I’ll probably do another post on why I continue to enjoy blogging at a later date too.
Advice
It was so refreshing to be able to read honest, straight to the point advice from another parent-to-be/parent’s perspective rather than the usual bog standard ‘help and tips’ on pregnancy and parenting websites. There are a LOT of things those websites don’t cover, let me tell you! It’s always reassuring to hear you are not the only one experiencing the very bizarre side effects of pregnancy.
Hobby
In a way the blog also started as a hobby. I knew I was going to be moving areas just before I had Isla and that I wouldn’t know anyone. I am terrible at being in my own company with nothing to do so the blog acted as something to keep me occupied whilst I was on maternity leave after we moved. It’s amazing what focusing the mind can do to stop negative thoughts! The husband is lucky I had it otherwise I would have bored on and on even more so about leaving London. It was also a fun talking point with new people and friends once they discovered it.
Memories
We are all about the memories in our household. I have always loved photos and videos and having a child has only added to my love for them. My parents took loads of photos and videos of us growing up and we love watching them back. My dad, the original vlogger haha. It’s amazing how quick you forget the little day to day things your baby does as the months roll on. All the different little sounds and characteristics. Blogging has helped me keep a pretty detailed record of everything so far and I love looking back on it all. Hopefully Isla will one day too. I’ll have to keep it up if we have more kids so I don’t look like I’ve favourited her!
To Help Others
Whether it’s a personal post of a product review of some sort, it’s always lovely to hear we are helping others. I get lovely comments and messages on social media saying thank you for sharing a certain topic or questions on products I’ve reviewed that people are looking to buy. I always looks to blogs and vlogs for advice these days and will never buy anything big without reading a real life review, if I can find one. It seems like parenting is just one big question after another and when we figure out some of the answers we love sharing and helping others. We’re all different but reading other people’s experiences definitely helps us out.
I can’t actually remember what I did with my spare time before I started blogging now, it’s mad! I owe a lot to this little project I started over a year ago. The main things would be allowing me to make some super amazing friends out of it and increasing my confidence as a parent.
Why did you start blogging (if you do!)? And if not, what is your main reason for reading blogs? I’d love to hear!
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thismamalife

Working mum to 2 👦🏼👧🏼
Wanderer/Military Wife 🌍
💌 sarah@thismamalife.com
💻 thismamalife.com
📽 YT: thismamalife
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Find me here!👇🏻

Kisses and cuddles with my faves 💖💫 Kisses and cuddles with my faves 💖💫
‘Each of us as citizens, has a role to play in c ‘Each of us as citizens, has a role to play in creating a better world for our children.’ - Nelson Mandela ❤️
It’s not enough though, is it? We’ve always h It’s not enough though, is it?

We’ve always had diverse toys in our house (not enough, but I’m working on it ❤️), but when questioned ‘why do you buy your kids Black dolls?’, I’ve faltered and answered incorrectly. I would respond saying ‘because that’s the doll Isla liked the best. What does it matter? We’re all human’, rather than questioning why that person is questioning it in the first place.

In a massive learning curve this week, where I am actively trying to become an anti-racist ally, not just anti-racist/non racist in general, I have found so many shortcomings in my effort to educate my kids and in my own attitudes towards race. But this isn’t about me. So here are some resources I’d like to share on top of the ones shared in my stories.

Some books to read:
Me and White Supremacy - Layla F. Saad.
Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge.
How to argue with a racist - Adam Rutherford.
Brit(ish) - Afua Hirsch.
White Fragility - Robin Diangelo.
I Am Not Your Baby Mother - Candice Brathwaite.
So You Want to Talk About Race - Ijeoma Oluo.

Diverse kids books:
Anti Racist Baby - X. Kendi.
Riley Can Be Anything -Davina Hamilton.
Look Up - Nathan Bryon.
Mae Among The Stars - Roda Ahmed.
The Mega Magic Hair Swap - Rochelle Humes.
Let’s Talk About Race - Julius Lester.
Welcome To Our World - Moira Butterfield and Harriet Lynas.
This Book Is Antiracist - Tiffany Jewell.
The Extraordinary Gardener - Sam Boughton.
Let The Children March - Monica Clark-Robinson.
Ruby’s Worry - Tom Percival.
A Kids Book About Racism - Jelani Memory.

Some things to watch:
When They See Us.
13th.
Who Killed Malcom X.
Time: The Kalief Browder Story.
Explained: The Racial Wealth Gap.
Dear White People.
I am Not Your Negro.

My to do list:
- Sign more petitions.
- Donate to more causes.
- Listen to podcasts and share.
- Encourage changes in the school curriculum so that my children, and their classmates, get a better, much more rounded and diverse education.
- Call things out.
- Have honest/open conversations.
- Share content.
- To keep educating myself, whilst never expecting others to do it for me.

It’s just a starting point.

Thanks for listening x
Black Lives Matter. I can never pretend to unders Black Lives Matter.

I can never pretend to understand, but I will always stand.

I’ve been on a huge learning curve this week and have, shamefully, come to the realisation, which I should have a long time ago, that it’s not enough to just not be racist. We must also be actively anti-racist and do everything in our power to ensure our children are too.

Today is a day to stop, listen, support, educate ourselves, donate, sign petitions, take action in any way we can, big and small, to make sure that everyone knows we stand with our fellow humans, family and friends. But we can’t just do this today. We must do it each and every day going forward ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻
And breathe! First day without both my babies for And breathe! First day without both my babies for the first time in 10 weeks today and it couldn’t have gone better. Both had wonderful days and were full of stories when they got home. I said over on stories last night, which got an incredible response so thank you to everyone who reached out, that I am completely comfortable with my choice to send the kids back to school and nursery but would never, ever judge anyone who felt different. We are all in different boats in this storm we’ve found ourselves in and what works for my family, might not work for yours. I have deliberately stayed out of the ‘are you sending your kids back or not?’ debate as it started to feel like another toxic discussion, in the media and on social media, that was resulting in yet another parenting divide.
I could have had the kids in this whole time, under key worker provision, but tried my best to hang on till the phased reopenings that I hoped would happen when they did. They were what I was aiming towards. Don’t get me wrong, I have LOVED having the kids at home together for such a sustained period, we have made lots of memories and learnt so much more about each other, but mixed in with the nature of my job and the fact that @thisdadalife is deployed and so I’m on my own with minimal support, I couldn’t have gone on much longer.
When I got in from dropping them off today, and as I went upstairs to work at my desk, I literally collapsed on the stairs and almost cried in relief. Relief that we made it through, as dramatic as that sounds. I don’t think I realised the toll it was taking mentally as I was constantly running on adrenaline.
I am so happy to get a bit more balance back and to, most importantly, feel like a better mum again. Not a snappy trying to juggle it all 24/7 with no break mum.
If you sent your kids back today, whether you wanted to or not, I’m with you and support you.
If you have kept them home in your bubble for longer, I’m with you and support you.
If you’re still unsure what to do and are undecided, I am with you and support you.
Nobody knows the full extent of someone else’s circumstances and we have to stop and realise that before we judge anyone else ❤️
Ibiza vibes in Puerto Gardeno today 😂☀️😅 Ibiza vibes in Puerto Gardeno today 😂☀️😅
This is the first year in YEARS that I have felt ok wearing a bikini. And I feel like it’s more down to how strong I feel, rather than how I look. Whatever it is, I hope it continues ❤️
On another note, how tanned does the @filterbymollymae fake tan make you look! 🙌🏻
(Both bikini and cover up are from last year).
#losingmyboobstho #youwinsomeyoulosesomehaha
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