Before I became a mum, I thought that being busy was just having a job, socialising and tending to the needs of myself. Little did I know that once having children of my own, the words 'constant burnout' is applicable to the lifestyle that I now own! This blog post is not a scare mongering article to put you off stepping into motherhood, nor will it be sugar coated. It's intended to give you a raw, honest insight to what being a mum is like for me and how it got me thinking about all mothers, particularly those that are severely disadvantaged. And, it's not all bad - just read on and find out 😉
Becoming a mum is an enormous life long responsibility, and not a decision anyone should take lightly but the returns are immeasurable. If you are about to embark on the journey of motherhood, then get ready for the deprivation, commitment, elation, hard work, demands, pure joy, and unconditional love! And if you're like me - be prepared to put the needs (and wants) of your kids before you!
I believe that mothers have one of the most rewarding yet undervalued and 'societal pressured' 24/7 roles. The fact that motherhood is commonly labelled as a 'job' still baffles me today. Why?! Because being a mother doesn't come with an instruction manual, nor is it a paid occupation. The substantial variety of tasks that mothers engage in, be it small or large not just for the love but often the necessity of survival (think single mothers), involves operating roles without prior training or education! For example, nursing, mediation, sports coach and project manager etc.
I am going to be completely honest and say that; I struggle at being a mum 50% of the time! I find the the financial reality of motherhood a burden and the emotional demands can be exhausting. Throw in the dynamics of family relationships, marriage, pregnancy, financial pressures, jobs, education, and business - just to name a few and you have a mix of elements for the ultimate test! What I do realise though is that it's ok to admit you struggle at times and that motherhood is not a test to succeed or fail. It's a wonderful rollercoaster journey and one that you will not likely quit, particularly when you feel the immense joy of the life you have created!
So with all that being said, some of the aforementioned issues are quite trivial when you think of mothers who are much more disadvantaged. I feel extremely grateful to have been able to have my children in Australia, where we have access to a pretty darn good health system and the basic necessities such as clean water and a safe maternal environment.
With Mother's Day approaching soon (Sunday May 14), this year I've decided to do something very worth while and contribute to a wonderful cause; Birthing Kit Foundation Australia (BKFA).
Some background info about BKFA:
"It is estimated that over 300,000 women die annually in childbirth, many from preventable infections. That’s over 800 women every day. BKFA assist women in the most challenging of situations – those who for reasons of isolation, cultural choice or poor transport have little or no assistance during childbirth, often giving birth at home. By providing a clean birthing kit these mothers have the resources to reduce infection."
This wonderful, heartfelt charity organisation helps women in developing countries by providing a clean and safe birthing environment to reduce the incidence of infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. They do this by raising funds for and distributing Birthing Kits. For more info head on over to their site and read more: https://www.bkfa.org.au/
Of course I've also hinted some beautiful green beauty gift ideas throughout this blog post to help your mum feel super significant this Mother's Day! By shopping at our store this month you are making a difference with contributing to this cause, because for the month of May, we will donate $3 (cost of a Birthing Kit) of all orders over the value of $70 to the Birthing Kit Foundation Australia. Plus a $50 Mother's Day Gift donation will be made to the foundation in honour of all Mothers!
Happy Mother's Day!
Shop Mother & Baby, Natural Body Care, Green Beauty
References:
https://www.bkfa.org.au/about-us/
Mother and baby image via unsplash
