Real Mums – Odd Socks and Lollipops

I started this feature to celebrate real mums. Mums are amazing and come in all shapes and sizes but sometimes we can feel alone, we can feel as though we are the only ones struggling to keep on top of things. I want to lift the lid on motherhood so we can all feel part of a sisterhood, to feel proud about our own achievements and know that we are doing the best we can!

Without further a do let me hand over to Jenni!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.

Hello! I am Jenni, I am a 29 year old mummy to one daughter Boo who is 15 months old, and step mum to two boys who live in Denmark, C and M who are 11 and 10.  My husband is Danish/Dutch and we live in the Midlands.  And I have just realised we don’t have many photos of all three of us at all!! How pants is that! Must get working on it!

Describe a typical day in your life

We get up, well Boo wakes us between 5.30 and 6am usually, and I will feed her and then we get up for the day.  The hubby, Boo and I all eat breakfast together and then he goes off to work.  Boo and I get out of the house each day, I don’t drive but we are lucky that we have some great places in walking distance and that the buses are quite good round here too.  Boo has never fed on schedule from day one I breastfed her on demand, she still has a couple of feeds during the day, usually mid morning and mid afternoon.  Boo has a nap about 9 – 10am and then another hour in the afternoon but that falls sometime between 1-4.  We don’t really have a routine as such we just do what we feel like, the only thing we try to stick to is bedtime routine.  After my husband gets home and we have tea together we watch In the Night Garden, then Boo has a bath, a story and then bed for 7.30.  At that point I collapse on the sofa and watch TV, blog etc.

What is the best thing about being a mum?

The cuddles, watching them sleep, each milestone,  it’s all fantastic.   The first time I heard Boo say ‘love you’ was to her daddy and it was heart melting.

What have you found hardest about motherhood?

I found breastfeeding in the early days very tough, especially coupled with Boo’s silent reflux.  I have to say the newborn days I found fairly relentless, almost as much as suffering with hyperemesis gravidarum whist I was pregnant.

How has your body changed?

I have more stretch marks that I can count, which I find a bit unfair as I used all sorts of creams to prevent them and even lasted until about 36 weeks without getting any!!

Do you wear makeup? If so what does your routine look like? 

Foundation and a little bit of mascara is about my limit these days, (simple face wash and moisturiser is my beauty routine)

What’s in your handbag? 

No handbag anymore, but my changing back is filled nappies, wipes, Vital Baby Sanitising Water, Anti Bac Gel, my purse, keys, snacks for Boo, plastic zip bag, changing mat, a few toys, a few changes of clothes for Boo.

What is your relationship with housework?

I have a hate, hate relationship with housework, I particularly detest washing the dishes, I do try to keep on top of things and luckily my husband loves to do the cooking so that is something I don’t have to think about!

How do you relax?

Sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea and some cake, or biscuits or chocolate, watching a good series or a movie – I am currently loving Criminal Minds.  I watch in during Boo’s afternoon nap which is nice to have some time to relax during the day.  I also love to read, and my kindle is fantastic.

What’s the best parenting advice you have ever been given?

Go with your instincts.  I had to take Boo back to the dr’s  4 times in a week  and take Boo to the hospital twice in that same week because I knew something was wrong, the oral antibiotics weren’t helping and she was just getting more and more poorly, before she was finally give the treatment she needed (and overnight stay on IV fluids and antibiotics).

For any new mums out there, what would you like to tell them?

Go with your instincts, it’s the best thing I was told so I would pass that on.

What makes you happy?

My little family makes me happy, (and chocolate).

And finally, complete this sentence:

I am a great mum because….. I always do what I think, in my heart, is best for my daughter.

Thank you so much for taking part Jenni! Little G had silent reflux so I know exactly what you would have gone through! Hope it is all ok now. x

You can find out more about Jenni and her world over at her blog Odd Socks and Lollipops.

 She is also on Twitter so go say hi

If you would like to take part in my Real Mums series then email me at katy@whatkatysaid.com. x