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Emma sent me through this blog post today about 'babymooning', and it has really caught my attention. 

http://www.practisingsimplicity.com/how-to-plan-a-babymoon/

I had, like this article references, always thought of a 'babymoon' as the weekend or week away you sneak in before the baby is born. And I have been lamenting the fact that it is looking highly doubtful we will be able to fit one in before baby #3 arrives. WOE IS ME.

But reading about this concept of bunkering down for a few weeks after the baby is born, to bond and heal and devote yourself to family, to minimise visitors and the expectations of the world outside the home... it has really struck a chord with me. 

I am not a natural homebody. My own mother has been known to say I am not a real 'stay at home mum' because I leave the house too much. (yes, heated words followed haha). But it's true in a sense that I don't relish on lazy days spent at home but prefer to be out in the world, where the people are!
But I am trying to learn to be more content in my own home, amongst the domestic duties and mundane parenting tasks, taking more time to notice the beautiful moments of this stage of life - book reading, tickling, cuddles and kisses and chats- before it's five years from now and all of my children are at school. I was looking at the school uniform we will be soon purchasing for our almost five year old and it really hit home how fast the years have gone (despite how long the days).

Emma and I chatted today about how we want to be more present in these years and have a sense of peace that the time for 'more' will come. It is so much easier said than done and I cringe when I hear myself tell people I am 'just mainly being a mum' when they ask what I am up to right now. Truly there is no 'just' about it. In the last five years I have created THREE HUMAN BEINGS (one soon to arrive..but still!) and am pouring myself into providing them with the best foundation possible for their entire lives to be built on, while still growing myself, learning more about my own passions and dreams and identity, and attempting somewhere in the mix to be a great partner to my husband, a loving daughter, a caring friend, a compassionate and kind citizen of the world. (excuse me while I have a little lie down).

So in saying all this, I wonder, is a 'babymoon' possible after the birth of a third child? 
There will be Kindy drop offs and pick ups and inevitable trips to the park for a restless two year old BUT perhaps I can make our world a bit smaller for a few weeks, say no to more visitors for a few weeks, say yes to more offers of help for a few weeks and focus on making a warm quietened cacoon for the baby, my girls, hubby and myself to snuggle up into for a short period. 

After Harper I beautifully babymooned for a couple of weeks, supported by our amazing Church community, friends and family. After Sadie, I had all the same support but I was restless and anxious to stay 'the same' for Harper that I now realise I tried to get back to 'normal' much too quickly. 

I'm going to spend these last weeks of pregnancy with intention preparing for a babymoon with this new love of my life. I'll keep you posted as the journey unfolds. 

I would love to hear how you have spent the first weeks following the birth of your children? What did you love, what would you love to try differently?

x Michal





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What's your story? I'm a 23 year old wife, mother to one (a 15 month old girl, Adeline) and a (very part time!) veterinary nurse. What have your children taught you? In my short time in being a Mumma, Adeline has taught me to not sweat the small stuff and to stop and smell the roses (literally too!). I've also come to appreciate all that my parents have done and do for me even more now that I'm a parent. What is your parenting 'mantra'? "Each to their own" You do you girlfriend! What's on your mind? Should I be saying something profound here??Because right now it's what on earth can I be bothered making for dinner and my very tired wee rascal shouldn't still be awake! What's your favourite thing to do or place to go with your children? I love drinking a good coffee or going out for breakfast on a crisp but blue skied and sunny day with my family. We also love going to the farmers market or lately to the amazing Margaret Mahy Playground. What is your favourite child related item all parents should rush out and buy 20 of?
Books! I absolutely adore sitting down and reading and looking at beautiful illustrations with Adeline even if it only last a couple of minutes! What are you listening to at the moment? Trollz and Moana soundtrack because let's be honest who really runs the house when theres a toddler living in it! But MY go to is the old 2008 Hillsong worship album "this is our God", also I'm really enjoying Harry Styles new album (who would've thought), can't go past a good dance song from the top 40 and of course PMB!! And yes my baby is still awake well past her bed time.... don't sweat the small stuff right?!
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Alicia.

What's your story?

I am a married stay at home mama of 5!
4 planned and 1 wee surprise (or epic fail)!
Our eldest has just turned 10 (that's 3650 sleepless nights) and our youngest is 10 months! Our first three are all boys and then we had a wee girl. We joke she was the icing on the cake and now we have the cherry too!
What have your children taught you?


Taught me to be humble!

We are raising these individual wee humans with different personalities and temperaments all going through different ages and stages. We have this ideal of what a good mama looks like the reality is there is more than one person involved in this parenting business. There is so much out of our control and I am learning more about myself everyday...some I'm proud of some not so much. 
What is your parenting advice?

Just when you think you've got it sorted you don't! My husband and I often joke that we should publish a book with that one piece of advice for new parents. 

It's like when you think your wee poppet is sleeping through the night and then a tooth arrives! Or you think they are amazing eaters and then they get poorly!
What's on your mind?

Recently I have been thinking about how important it is to be real with each other. It's really tiring trying to be something you are not. It would be do nice if we could just celebrate our differences because that's how God has created us to be. We all have strengths and weaknesses and we are designed to do this crazy life together not to critique one another. You are an amazing mama just the way you are and thankfully we are all a work in progress!

What's your favourite thing to do or place to go with your children?

Our favourite family hang out has got to be the river...we definitely don't get there enough but we love when we do. It's just such a nice place to simply BE...and enjoy being together. Our go to picnic is plastic cheese, ham and chips on some good old white bread rolls!

It's all about creating memories to last a lifetime!

What is your favourite child related item all parents should rush out and buy 20 of?

My favourite baby must have is a merino kids gogo bag...we love them! I'm just trying to justify a new one for Otis. It would be so good to have spare for the days the wets through or worse! I am loving the look of the sherpa one especially on these chilly Canterbury evenings! 
What are you listening to at the moment?

At the moment ALL I listen too is whatever my children are listening too...so you could say it's quite eclectic!







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Maggy (Emma's Mum)

What's your story?


I am a French mother of 6 , grand-mother of 9 , retired from Air-France airline , My principal occupation now is baking and cooking for my family and friends, and restaure an old 18 century house in the middle of Cognac vineyards.

What have your children taught you?


As the eldest of 7 to have a big family made sense to me, each baby I had was a gift , I was 20 years old for the 1st and 40 for the last , so learning was my topic ! learning patience, surrender, confidence specially when you have a baby covered in eczema and which treatment meant hours in the bath. ..!

What is your parenting advice?

I had learnt from my mistakes, and my conclusion is never try to be THE perfect mother, My love and my instinct lead me, no sophisticated book or new method about parenting ! I took from my mother and grand-mother and made it my own.


What's on your mind?

Now I think how to help my children and great children as well as I can ! children are for life !

What's your favourite thing to do or place to go with your children?

We loved each winter to go to the Pyrénées to ski or just having fun, now with my grand-children we love to go to the rope park and baking


What is your favourite child related item all parents should rush out and buy 20 of?

I recommend instead of pacifier Petite music box CD ...20 of them !! at home, in the car , for a nap or calm an evening sorrow .

What are you listening to at the moment?

At the moment church bells, horns and children shouts from the avenue of my son's flat in Paris ! 18 century classic and baroque music when I bake or cook Christian songs , Jazz and Didier Squiban a Breton composer in my car....





Vicki (Michal's Mum)


What's your story?

I have been married to the love of my Life Tony for 34 years. We have two children, our daughter Michal and son Andrew. We have a wonderful son-in-law Matthew whom we love having in our lives and Andrews partner Eva who is a ray of sunshine. Michal and Matthew have given us the wonderful gift of two Granddaughters Harper and Sadie and an eagerly awaited wee baby in a few weeks who already has a place in our hearts.

My Mother has Alzheimer’s who I am slowly losing week by week as I become a stranger to her, so daily visits to her have become precious as every goodbye maybe her last to me knowing I’m her daughter. My hope is that she will still allow me to hug and cuddle her and tell her I love her.
As 60 approaches I count my blessings which is Family

What have your children taught you?


My children have taught me over the years from when they were babies to now as adults. They have taught me patience and forgiveness and trust. How to be grateful and how to negotiate, how to love unconditionally and how to feel loved. How to smile when all you want to do is cry. I think we can always continue to learn from and respect each other.
What is your parenting mantra?

Bed, bath, tea (not me, the children) always routine.

What's on your mind?

My Mother and My daughter. 


What's your favourite thing to do or place to go with your children?

Sounds a bit ‘All about me’ but coffee and Fluffys with Harper and Sadie. They are so well behaved and a joy to hang with. Harper and I go to ‘Ballantynes for morning tea and we make it a very girly outing, raising pinkie fingers and calling each other ‘Darling”. We love it. Ask Harper. She even curtseys when we walk in the Ballantynes doors. I don’t!

Also one on one time with my children, always special.

What is your favourite child related item all parents should rush out and buy 20 of?

photo frames and albums ( not usb sticks) to hold all your memories because your babies will grow up in a heartbeat and if you are blessed with grandchildren you get to fill more frames and do it all over again.

What are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve discovered Spotify so I play whatever my mood feels like and I listen to late night talk back’ ( don’t mock) when I can’t sleep because I am thinking about  Family.


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Kristy.

What's your story?
I'm a kiwi mum of a nearly four-year-old girl and an 18 month old boy (+one more on the inside). Originally from Christchurch, we have been in Wellington for five years crazily raising these guys away from family. What's wrong with us?!? I'm one of those hybrid work part time and do the other days at home mum. What have your children taught you?
How to eat food secretly. Also if I had not already known the alphabet, they definitely would have taught me that by now. What is your parenting 'mantra'?
I have heard this one go around and it is probably a bit cliche by now but 'the way you speak to your children becomes their inner voice'. I've found it has helped quite well with sibling rivalry. What's on your mind?
Ugh, what to make for dinner and how to do Christmas this year (it's only May) #parentlife. Also, deep profound things. And, how glad I am that we now have a dryer. What's your favourite thing to do or place to go with your children?
We are super lame homebodies most of the time. But we do usually have music on so we like to dance (like Emma). The best is probably visiting friends though and letting the kids play together. What is your favourite child related item all parents should rush out and buy 20 of?
Mundane household items like kitchenware, toothbrushes and backpacks. Oh look, you already have those. Go out and buy some cake then, and chocolate, and wine, there can never be too much of those. To be serious though, a frontpack. Dont bother trying to put that newborn down, just strap them on and count it a bonus if you ever have time with free arms. What are you listening to at the moment?
Indie Worship playlist on Spotify seems to be doing the trick for us at the moment. Also, audio books - I'm really into my granny knitting time so it works well for me.



























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