Mumday Monday with Angelina27.06.11

Mumday Monday is a series where I interview wonderful women about their parenting experience. I hope you will remember to drop by each Monday to read them!

Angelina and Jason have two children, Noah (3 1/2) and Sahara (16 months). Angelina is a naturopath and yoga teacher as well as a full time Mum to two active little ones! The family live on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

What shocked you most about becoming a Mum?
The lack of time for myself, suddenly taking a shower was a treat! The needs of the children, of course, become priority so having some time for myself is quite a luxury these days. Also the amount of LOVE you could feel for something that you had a hand in creating.

What is your biggest joy of being a Mum?
The unconditional love that you share with your children, the smiles, the innocence. Watching the development and changes in your child and small personality traits shining through.

Have you got supportive friends or family that live nearby? If so, how do they help?
Yes, moving closer to my family for the birth of my second child, it has been amazing to have in-disposable help on hand, especially when juggling both children. If the baby needs a change my mum jumps in while I see to the needs of my toddler and vise versa. It also gives us a bit more freedom in the fact that we can now leave them for a few hours to go out to dinner or do something nice together as a couple again which I think is so important and essential!

Do you/did you breastfeed? Can you share your experience?
Yes breastfed both until 15 months. I was quite lucky and it came quite easily to me. I am a total believer in the nutritional value of mothers milk, and I also found it a special time that I could just relax and take have some bonding time with the baby – Loved it! And of course it is practical, food on tap!

Do you think you have a parenting style?
When the babies were infants I basically let them lead and I responded to their needs but from about 6 months we began a routine for both which they loved and helped them sleep. I think you have to do what suits you best as a family and your beliefs.

Morning, Noon or Night – which is the best time of day for you and why?
Morning as I have my full energy and get to see my two beautiful faces smiling back at me. Night for my time to relax and unwind after a busy day of entertaining and catching up on life outside babyland and with time shared with my partner.

What are your coping strategies for combining work/study and parenting?
Make sure you do something for your self EVERYDAY! If it’s only a 15min nano nap or a yoga class or a warm bath at the end of the day, you need it, it is essential for your sanity and survival! I’m still working on practising what I preach on this one, but when I do manage it is bliss and makes my whole week so much easier and better.

How do you find having two children – is it harder/easier/more fun than one?
I have found this last year much harder with the two, although I had the help of family around me, the juggling of them both at different stages and needs has been very challenging at times. With the one baby, you can completely focus your energy and balance time with a schedule that works for you. You can still quite comfortably have an outing alone and fun and rest in-between life with your baby. Now one wakes when the other goes down, one is tired, grumpy, having a ‘moment’ and my hands are full from dusk to dawn – don’t even mention when they are both sick at the same time…but even with the panda eyes and new found wrinkles, it really is worth it.

Do you think you parent boys and girls differently?
Both my boy and girl have quite difference personalities so I think you have to adapt what works for you. Generally we try and teach them the same values and fulfil their individual needs as required – what works for one may not (and often does not) work for the other. When you are also able to find a nice balance in your parenting style with your partner then things can run smoothly.

How does your partner handle being a parent and how do you work together as parents?
It was an adjustment emotionally, physically and mentally and our relationship has been challenged on many occasions due to the different views we have on parenting. We have grown from this though and have loved the experience and togetherness that it brought to our lives – the pure love that we felt for each other and baby. We do tend to have our unique roles and although at times can have different opinions about things we do try and support each other when we are faced with the challenges before us. It really is all a big learning curve in the end on a personal level and for your relationship and family unit as a whole.

Do you have any must do/teach/show values that you want to impress upon your children?
I would like to expose them to as many positive experiences as I can and give them choices and options that may or may not shape them as an individual in the future. To create happy, confident beings who can share these positive attributes upon others and the world.

What do you like to do for ‘me’ time?
Yoga, seeing friends, going out to dinner or a movie, beach time, shopping…all the simple things you take for granted as an individual without kids.

What is your favourite family outing?
Walks down by the ocean. Sharing ice-cream (watching their faces pasted with ice-cream goodness, see picture above).

Can you recommend any products that have been really useful?
We loved the Swaddle Me Kiddopotamus when they were little as the easy snug wrap meant lovely peaceful sleep. I also bought a musical giraffe on eBay that we used that was noise activated, once the baby wakes it turns on and soothes baby back to sleep then automatically shut off…worked a treat. I also really love my Ergobaby carrier – it was super useful from infant until now when I can carry my 3.5 year old on hikes if I feel the desire.

Is there anything else about being a Mum that you would like to add?
Motherhood really is the hardest job ever, but the cliche rings true…nothing is really as rewarding as a smile or a cuddle from your little angel.

Thank you so much Angelina! Your little family is gorgeous. I completely agree with your suggestion of doing something small for yourself every day, it really refreshes your outlook on life and recharges the batteries just enough to keep you positive all day long.

Would you like to be interviewed for the Mumday series? Email me a quick note about yourself and your family via my contact form and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can with some questions for you to answer.