You will find her again mama. A stronger, wiser version of her. These stages of discomfort, self doubt and struggle - they are also stages of growth and transformation and do not take away from our worth in any way. Flowers don’t bloom all year round yet each stage of their growth is just as crucial to the next. Step into each stage and know you are enough - just by being you. . . . . . Quote by the amazing @thesinglewoman Mandy Hale. . . . . #stopcensoringmotherhood #motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodrising #nzmum #nzbusiness #newbornphotography #momlife #momsofinstagram #motherhoodsimplified #empowerment #parenting #parenthood #letthembelittle #nz #momblogger #pregnant #ig_motherhood #womenempoweringwomen #pnd #clickinmoms #storytellingmama #empoweringwomen #honestmotherhood #realtalk #mother #4thtrimester #postpartum #motivation #nlp
When hormones are in sync, we sparkle. . (Written by our TMP Clinical Nutritionist Gina Urlich as part of our TMP Village resources) . ‘When hormones are in sync, we sparkle, we feel energised, sleep well, look, feel & function at our best. When they’re not, we feel miserable & it impacts our quality of life, relationships & overall health. Hormones are produced in a complex process, but the priority is to build a healthy foundation. This is the optimal time to use food as medicine. Food is information that affects metabolism, your genes, & hormone production. 1. Our hormones depend on beneficial fats and cholesterol. – THINK avocados, coconut oil, butter, nuts, seeds, animal fats, olive oil, grass fed meats, eggs, and full fat dairy (for those who tolerate it). Good quality seafood is also a fabulous source of naturally occurring Omega-3s. AVOID vegetable oil, canola oil, soybean oil, margarine or other chemically altered fats. 2. Stay hydrated. The habit of drinking enough clean, filtered water (away from meal times) will help balance hormones. 3. Part with Plastics. Toxins containing chemicals that mimic hormones are problematic. Xenoestrogens or endocrine disruptors are a category of chemicals that alter the normal function of hormones. They have the ability to mimic our natural hormones. Oestrogen is a hormone that is important for bone growth, blood clotting and reproduction in men and women. The body regulates the amount needed through intricate biochemical pathways. When xenoestrogens enter the body they increase the total amount of estrogen resulting in a phenomenon called, estrogen dominance. 4. Limit the Caffeine. Caffeine increases cortisol, and whilst cortisol is vital to survival, having chronically high cortisol results in blood sugar fluctuations, low DHEA, stubborn belly fat, thyroid issues, altered metabolism of sex hormones – we commonly see progesterone steal. If you are stressed, anxious, not sleeping, wired & tired, I would recommend removing caffeine for a month. Slow down on the coffee girls. . . Cont. In comments... @nutritionbyginarose
“Dear Husband, As I sit in the recliner at the end of the day, I know what you’re going to see when you get home: amped-up kids, a living room that looks like a disaster area, and the smell of a processed dinner thrown together 30 minutes ago. Please allow me to explain what you may not notice beyond all the toys that cover the floor. What you probably don’t see, underneath all the mess, is the mental weariness of a mom who knows things aren’t done, but is having trouble finding motivation. What you don’t see is how overwhelmed I feel knowing that cleaning up at any given point is actually counterproductive. What you see when you get home is exactly what’s in this moment: the worst part of a long day. A day that exhausted the hearts and minds of stay-at-home moms everywhere with never-ending milk and snack requests. A day of refereeing arguments we didn’t even witness because we dared to go to the bathroom for 30 seconds. A day of trying to be fair to everyone in split-second parenting decisions. A day of failing to remember whose turn it was last. A day of cluster feeding our newborn baby and changing countless diapers and clothes full of spit up. What you see is an unflattering snapshot of what started out as a good day, with morning hugs and the promise of a clean slate for everyone. What you see is that day’s optimism long gone by dinnertime. I know what you’ll see when you get home, but I waved the white flag for my sanity an hour ago. My fellow stay-at-home moms and I are trying to raise happy kids, keep a clean home, and get dinner on the table, but sometimes we have to pick two out of the three. If the kids are happy and the house is clean, then it’s probably frozen pizza for dinner. If the kids are happy and a home-cooked meal is ready when you get home, please understand the kids destroyed the house while we made it. So like you, I see a sink full of dishes, baskets of laundry, and toys on the floor. But underneath it all, the kids are happy. And that’s the most important thing you’ll see when you get home.” . . (@Babble-Audra Rogers) Via @moomysmilk
We’ve got your back. TMP Village is for the mama who hasn’t done much for herself lately. We know what it’s like - we are all mothers too. You may only have one or two moments a week to do this. So we’ve brought together some incredible health practitioners to create a resource that can add so much value to your life as a mother. Psychologist, Nutritionist, Physiotherapist/Fitness coach and NLP Practitioner/Meditator. The resources stay on the website like a library and our Facebook group offers gentle nudges to remind you to do something for you, it’s also a beautiful support community. Each personal development strategy takes no more than 5 minutes. Each workout is around 20-25mins. Each recipe can be made with your children. Each meditation is around 10-15mins. Our webinars can be listened to when making dinner. Come and try a week free because mothers matter too x . . . . . . Image by @rachelburt.photography x . . #stopcensoringmotherhood #motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodrising #nzmum #nzbusiness #newbornphotography #momlife #momsofinstagram #motherhoodsimplified #empowerment #parenting #parenthood #letthembelittle #nz #momblogger #pregnant #ig_motherhood #womenempoweringwomen #pnd #clickinmoms #storytellingmama #empoweringwomen #honestmotherhood #realtalk #mother #4thtrimester #postpartum #selfcare #meditation
What steps have you taken today to look after your mental well-being? This should happen daily. Honouring your mental wellbeing looks different for everyone. Whether it’s taking some time out and sitting in the sun, having a bath, doing a meditation, taking a walk, listening to music, doing some exercise, repeating affirmations, reading self help books, listening to a podcast/webinar, taking medication, going to therapy, calling a friend, baking, cleaning, journaling - just find what works for you. Being aware and acknowledging how important our mental health is as a mother, is the first step. It is not weakness, it is in fact the opposite, it is strength, it is self respect, it is honouring a part of us that our family need. Do what needs to be done to make that happen, even if that means taking some time away from them. #honouryourself #mentalhealthawareness . . . . . . #stopcensoringmotherhood #motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodrising #nzmum #nzbusiness #newbornphotography #momlife #momsofinstagram #motherhoodsimplified #empowerment #parenting #parenthood #letthembelittle #nz #momblogger #pregnant #ig_motherhood #womenempoweringwomen #pnd #clickinmoms #storytellingmama #empoweringwomen #honestmotherhood #realtalk #mother #4thtrimester #postpartum
‘Reframing our Expectations as a Mother’ Written for TMP Village by our Psychologist Lineé van der Meer. (Link in bio) WE ALL HAD EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT MOTHERHOOD WOULD BE LIKE AND OF OURSELVES AS A MOTHER. From the moment that we find out that we are going to be a mother, our expectations start to take shape as we start forming a very clear image in our minds of the mother that want to be. What will I be like? How will I look? How will I act? Creating a ‘fantasy mother’ is how we psychologically prepare ourselves for the Big Unknown that is motherhood. HOWEVER, ONCE OUR BABIES ARE BORN, THE REALITY OF MOTHERHOOD OFTEN TURNS OUT TO BE A LOT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE’VE EXPECTED. Suddenly we find ourselves not cheerful, patient and happy ALL THE TIME like we thought we would be, and this leaves us feeling confused, guilt-ridden and can create a lot of unhappiness for us. Instead of letting go of the ‘fantasy mother’, we let her hang around and use her as a barometer for how we are doing as a mother, by constantly comparing ourselves to her. If you have ever felt like you are not good enough as a mother, feel like you’re failing, or felt disappointment or regret when you think of the mother you ‘turned out’ to be, it might be helpful to look more closely at your original expectations of yourself as a mother. Revisiting our expectations and reframing them, is a way of practising emotional self care that will allow us to be more accepting and supportive of the mothers that we are. IDENTIFYING YOUR ORIGINAL EXPECTATIONS AND REFRAMING THEM: 1. Bring to mind the memory of that perfect mother that you wanted to be. Make a list of every expectation you had around what she would be like, act like, look like. E.g She will always be kind and loving She will be slim and fit She will always enjoy playing with her child. 2. Now, focusing on each of your expectations individually, complete the following sentences... Cont. In comments. (Image @spiritysol) (@mamasinmind)