I had a big long chat on the phone to a faraway friend last night. She is going through a really tough time at the moment. Motherhood and being a partner, is a beautiful journey, filled with moments of joy and love, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges and tough times. She texted this morning to say sorry about the rant, but that made me feel terrible that she didn’t feel that she should talk to me like that.

 

We all know that motherhood can be overwhelming, and there are moments when it feels like the weight of the world is on our shoulders. During these times, it’s absolutely crucial that we reach out and talk about our feelings. Here’s why:

 

Emotional Well-being Matters: Just as we tell our children to express their feelings and emotions, we should practice what we preach. Keeping our feelings bottled up can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and even depression. It’s essential that we take care of our own emotional well-being so we can continue to be the best mums we can be.

 

You’re Not Alone: One of the most comforting things about talking when you’re down and overwhelmed is realising that you’re not alone in your struggles. Sharing your feelings can open up conversations with other mums who may be experiencing similar challenges. Knowing that you’re part of a supportive community can provide immense relief and strength.

 

Problem Solving: When we talk about what’s bothering us, it often leads to problem-solving. Other mums may have faced similar situations and can offer valuable advice or solutions.

Sometimes, just verbalizing our concerns can help us see them more clearly and find effective ways to address them.

 

Modelling Healthy Communication: Our children learn from us every day. When they see us opening up about our emotions and seeking support, we’re teaching them a crucial life skill: healthy communication. We’re showing them that it’s okay to ask for help and share their feelings with trusted individuals.

 

Reducing Stress: Talking about our feelings can be incredibly cathartic. It’s like releasing the pressure valve on a pressure cooker. It allows us to let go of pent-up emotions, reducing stress and giving us a sense of relief.

 

Building Stronger Relationships: When we talk to others about our struggles, it strengthens our connections with them. It fosters empathy and understanding, deepening our relationships with friends, family, and partners.

 

Seeking Professional Help: Sometimes, the feelings of being overwhelmed and down are too much to handle on our own. Talking about our struggles can be the first step toward seeking professional help, such as therapy or counselling, which can make a world of difference in our well-being.

 

Remember, mammas, taking care of ourselves is not a selfish act; it’s a necessity. Our well-being directly impacts our ability to care for our families. So, when you’re feeling down and overwhelmed, please reach out, talk to a friend, family member, or a professional. You are loved and supported, and there is strength in vulnerability.

 

Together, we can navigate the challenges of motherhood and emerge even stronger.

Mum friends…

Motherhood is one of the few occasions when groups of adults are thrown together and forced to talk to one another, enabling friendships to grow. Depending on when you have children, your usual friends could be fully immersed in other periods of their lives. This leaves you going through the most monumental experience of your life, slightly isolated from your normal support network. Bring on the mum friends!

 

How do you make mum friends?

To begin with, mum friends are the people around you who are going through the exact same micro experience as you, often developed through antenatal groups or local baby groups.  Chatting about post-partum problems, feeding, sleepless nights and teething troubles, a good mum friend will stay with you through all of the highs and lows of becoming a new mum.  Over time these things move on to learning to ride bikes, passing spelling tests and planning sleepovers. The best ones are still there when your children are attending nightclubs together, booking their first holidays without you and maybe moving out of home!

Now don’t get me wrong, you won’t become best friends with every mum friend you make. It’s crazy to assume that because your children are the same age you will become friends for life.  You will be going through many shared experiences together, some of which aren’t easy, and this will give you chance help each other through the tough times and gain valuable advice and support from your peers.  If you share similar views on the big parenting issues and your children get along well, you have found yourself a great, long-lasting mum friend!

A great way to meet mum friends is to come along to a friendly group like Adventure Babies where, as well as brilliant course content delivered by early years trained class leaders, there is lots of time for chat and bonding for babies and parents.

Have you told your mum friends about Adventure Babies yet?

Hear from Emma who founded Adventure Babies how important word of mouth has been for Adventure Babies…

“When Adventure Babies started in Manchester in 2013 I only had about three bookings for my classes. I was feeling understandably nervous about the reality of running a baby class!

A wonderful lady called Claire who ran a class called Pram Active, @forbabyandmemanchester did such a kind thing that I will always be grateful for. I loved Pram Active and regularly attended, as you can tell by my smile in the pic! Claire was asking about how my new classes were booking up, and then offered to tell her group of mums about Adventure Babies. Through word of mouth, recommendations and the mum friend network, Adventure Babies not only began but really took off!

Looking through our website now, 9 years later, I am still blown away by how many bookings come through friend recommendations. It must mean that you love our classes so much that you want your mum friends to come! That means so much to me.

Thank you everybody who has recommended Adventure Babies past, present and future!”

Emma xx