ISSUE NUMBER 4
Mamma
LET'S BE
ES €2.50 IT €3.00 FR €6.00 GB €3.00 USA $6.99
NOTE FROM PAULINE
Well it's been a crazy time for everyone this year. I think this year no mum has ever doubted, rethank, worried, loved, supported more. Although we are currently living in some crazy times, it's so important to remember how truly amazing you are! You are taking on the roles of so many and seriously kiling it mamma! You have got this!
Pauline
LMB issue 4 Sept 2020
Editorial Pauline Da Silva Editor Contributors Jessica and Yessica, Montse Azaguirre, Sarah Conte, Elise Mcgregor, Tiffany, Lisa Gatt Marketing Pauline Da SIlva
Advertising Pauline Da SIlva letsbemamma@outlook.com Subscriptions Visit www.letsbemamma.com.au letsbemamma.com.au The opinions expressed herin are not necessarily those of the publishing staff. Reproduction in whole or part is strictly prohibited unless permission is given from the publishers.
Health related articles are designed to be informative and educational. They are not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace one-on-one health advice from your medical practitioner. Please always consult with your doctor prior to using any health advice.
Letsbemamma.com.au letsbemamma@outlook.com
LBM
Published bi monthly by letsbemamma All Rights Reserved.
Artist
COVER
We were so lucky to have the beautiful talented Linzie Ellis to create an exclusive cover for this issue of Let's be Mamma. We are so humbled by the amazing talented mammas who contribute to this magazine month in and out. We asked Linzie to tell us a little about herself.
I’m a trained artist and a mum of three small kids living in regional NSW. I’m originally from Canberra and studied fine arts at ANU and The Slade School of fine art in London. I have exhibited my work throughout Australia and overseas. My art is inspired by my everyday experiences. My latest art works are about being a woman, motherhood and my interest in meditation and mindful living. My hope for these works is to inspire other women and mothers to slow down, practice self care and feel good! YOU CAN CHECK OUT MY LATEST WORK @LINZIEJOANNEARTIST.
present
GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD & INTO THE
Get out of your head & into the present 3 easy 1 minute meditations to get you started
Meditation is hard!
BY YESICA & JESSICA— MEDITATION, MINDFULNESS AND MINDSET COACHES
“As the bowman makes straight his arrows, so the wise man straightens his unsteady mind. This mind is like a fish out of water, that thrashes and throws itself about. Such a wondering mind is weak and unsteady, attracted here, there and everywhere. How good it is to control it and know the happiness of freedom.”
We get it ya’ll. If meditation were easy, we’d all be Zen masters who never lost their shit at their kids. The reality is, as mums we’re all pulled in a million and one different directions. So, staying calm is in our best interest. Oh, but did we mention…how hard it is to stop thinking? As much as it may seem, the aim of meditation is not to stop thinking, but rather it’s about training the mind to be aware, one pointed and still. Yes, as you become more present and anchored in your true self, this is an amazing side effect. You’ll find thoughts don’t constantly climb up your leg, like your two year old, when you’re trying to go to the toilet! Think about meditation like training. Just like you go to the gym, your mind is a muscle that needs work if you want to strengthen it and thrive.
What we love about meditation is that it’s the foundation for awareness. By regularly bringing your mind under observation, you start to realise you have choice! You get to choose what to focus on and how to live your life. This is SO powerful! But most of all, it’s to remind you of home. That space within you that no one, no drama can touch.
That constant return home, is what opens up infinite possibilities within and brings peace, joy and insight to your life In the Dhammapada, Buddha shows us just how unruly this mind is, but just how much joy and peace can come from it.
Take imperfect action— 1 minute meditation None of us are perfect, so why do you expect to take perfect action? You don’t have to sit down and start chanting. But you can access one minute within yourself EVERYDAY. Be it lying on the floor trying to get your kids to sleep, sitting in the school pick-up line, or when you get to your carpark at work. So commit to yourself, to peace and to joy now. Remember, 1 minute of meditation is better than NO minutes. Stop scrolling, get the timer out and clock in 1 minute! You can do this!
Follow these simple steps: Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your nose. Do this for 1 minute. Feel the cold air as it enters your nose. Feel the warm air as it leaves your nose. Just focus on the breath entering and leaving the nose and the sensations that come with it. If you see the mind wander, return to the sensation at the nose. If your mind wanders again, notice the rise of your tummy on the inhale. Notice the fall of your tummy on the exhale. Close your practice with the acknowledgement that you took imperfect action. Anxiety buster—1 minute meditation Breath is powerful because its connected to the mind. By slowing down the breath, you slow down the mind. This is the only scientifically proven method for getting your body out of fight, flight, freeze or fawn mode! We’ll talk about that in upcoming columns.
But for now:
Become mindful—1 minute meditation Mindfulness is such a huge part of how we teach meditation. Being mindful is really about being present and connected to what is in front of you. Today, for 1 minute connect with one of your 5 senses: touch, sight, smell, taste or sound. Let’s get started:
Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your nose. Do this 3 times. Tune into the sense of touch. You’re making your tea/coffee. Feel the mug in your hand. Feel the paper between your fingers as you put your tea bag in the mug. Feel your finger as it touches the switch on the kettle. Hold your mug and feel the texture and shape of it. If you notice any thoughts, acknowledge them but come back to the sense of touch. When you pour your water, feel the mug become warm. Did you notice other senses? Did you notice the sound of the kettle boiling? What other senses did you observe? Close your practice with the acknowledgement that you are connected to this infinite world through the power of your beautiful senses.
You can do this! We know, because we use these techniques ALL the time to anchor ourselves in presence. This stuff works, give it a try and see how your life can change, moment by moment. Remember, take imperfect action, breath and connect with your senses.
Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your nose. Do this 3 times. Now focus on the breath, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. Make sure the exhale of each breath is longer than the inhale. Do this for 1 minute, or until you feel your anxiety reduce. Close your practice with the acknowledgement that you took action and have power over how you think and feel.
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @YES_AND_JESS FOR REGULAR MEDIATION, MINDFULNESS AND MINDSET INSPIRATION.
Play
INDEPENDENT
BY TIFFANY FROM @INSPIRE.LEARN.TEACH
Independent play … the pinnacle of parenting! But the reality is a child hanging off one leg, the other rummaging through the bin for chocolate and a messy bun wearing uncaffeinated mama! I’ve been there, we are all searching for that 5 minutes of peace to recharge, coffee in hand and it can be done. You have got this! So how do we get the kid off our leg, out of the bin and playing peacefully?
Start early. The best advice I have ever received “it is not our job to entertain our children” go on read that again, let it sink in. It is NOT our job to entertain. Start small and early, place your child on the floor when they are content and let them learn from an early age how to be on their own.
Prepared Environment. In a moment of pure frustration, I threw out all the toys … you read that right.. I was over picking them up, cleaning up, tripping on them. So out they went … and the world didn’t end instead play became more focused on what we had, intentional and independent. Too much was creating overwhelm and creating an environment that my child needed me to help navigate, with less she had the confidence to do it alone.
One-on-one time Okay, I know this sounds like I’m going backwards but hear me out … fill their cup with attention so you can fill yours with coffee. If children, feel disconnect from us they will actively seek this connection, whereas if it is predictable in the routine and they are feeling connected then they will explore more on their own. This might sound counter-intuitive; however, this is golden. The more you can build this into the routine and rhythm of the day, the more predictable it is and the higher your chance for a cuppa.
“PLAY IS OFTEN TALKED ABOUT AS IF IT WERE A RELIEF FROM SERIOUS LEARNING. BUT FOR CHILDREN, PLAY IS SERIOUS LEARNING.” RODGERS
Value their play Think about the language that is used when discussing play, “oh they are JUST playing”. This forces us to rush them and for our children to believe that this isn’t worthy of their time. We need to let our children know that we value their play and as such that it is worth investing in.
If we all value it, placing
it as critically important, it moves from being something they ‘just do’ to a worthwhile way to spend their time.
Simple invitations to play No need to run out and search Pinterest just yet, rather, place a puzzle unfinished, put out some water and jugs, get the playdough out. Simple invitations invite children into a world of exploration, not flashy toysor epic DIYs needed here. In reality the simpler the better, the more open ended and free for interpretation the more play can evolve.
So, where to start? Start small, fill their cup, remove the clutter and provide space for play. Building independence in play, not gives you time for a cuppa but also provides valuable learning opportunities for your child to test their knowledge and construct their understanding of the world.
Follow Tiffany for more tips on Instagram @inspire.learn.teach
Story
WRITE YOUR
MONTSERRAT AZAGUIRRE
HEY MAMA, WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT? LET’S FRAME IT! THIS IS YOUR STORY. Dreams and brilliant ideas get lost in the bills, the dinners, the laundry and the never ending responsibilities. It’s no real surprise our ‘everyday’ becomes dull and lacking in colour, especially right now during Covid when our ‘Elastic hearts’ have stretched so far, we might snap! So today, right this minute, we can learn to frame up a picture, a story of what YOU want, what YOU actually desire and start putting tiny steps into Camera, Lights, Action. Some of you might know that I have worked in Television for twenty years. I have been a part of documentaries, News, kids TV and many popular TV shows and the one thing they all have in common is that they have a ‘focus’. They don’t just have a random idea and film random scenes and hope it all comes together perfectly. We start with an idea, then work out how it might come together, envision who’ll be a part of it and what we should film to make it a compelling, memorable story.
Your life can be the exact same. In fact, I implore you to never just let ‘random’ control your storyline. There’s a difference between random and ‘going with the flow’. Life – your life – is how you FRAME it! I mean, do you honestly think that a chef has no clue and suddenly puts an incredible award winning dish together or a manager just throws luck to the wind and hopes that merger happens seamlessly? No, of course not. So why do we hope that life will be great and different and exciting if WE don’t create a path for it? Every single minute you are awake, you are producing and directing your own documentary. You are the lead character, you are the hero and yes you will come across challenges and you will have to make decisions. That is the journey. Right now, today - you are already saying yes or no to things that might change your life, you are focusing on a certain person or a goal and hoping they turn out the way you want. You are telling yourself to be stronger or think differently. That my friends means; you are ‘directing’ yourself everyday.
As the producer and director, you always have the choice to change your path, even if it’s one tiny thing like clearing 10 minutes of you day before everyone gets up – where you get to set a plan for the day. Now I can’t guarantee, that even after you flesh out an idea of where you’d like the day to go, something won’t come up…but that’s exactly the beauty of it, of our ‘reality’ show. These ‘dramas’ or unsavoury characters or unfair hardships are the scenes in a great film or reality show that surprise you, teach you and hopefully inspire you. So, grab a pen and let’s frame it up. First, let’s get CLEAR ABOUT YOUR VISION. What goals do you have for your career or life and what personal inner changes have you always wanted to manifest? For example, you may want to find a new career that suits your post baby life or you crave to be more adventurous or fit. Next, get clear about your WHY. Why do you want this change? What would it bring? Perhaps you might feel more confident or independent or simply make you feel like your old self. Being honest about your ‘why’ will make pushing through the hard times easier because you know why this is so important to YOU. So now you have set a scene of where you want to be and why, so as the hero of this story, what will you do next? You might take an online course or start walking in the mornings or even get that new haircut you’ve dreamt about. There is no change without movement and as you make that move, I invite you to do the most important thing of all.
FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE, even if they are the tiniest of steps, like making a vision board, finding 5 minutes in the shower to say what you are grateful for and letting yourself daydream while folding clothes. And finally, I implore you to CELEBRATE. I realise as mums we often celebrate the success or dreams of others and set ours to the side, but as of right now, celebrate what you have accomplished. Believe in yourself like you were your own best friend and crack a smile every time you get the kids to school on time or make time for a walk or a coffee with a friend or anything that gets you closer to your new vision. I have worked on the biggest shows in Television and being a mum, is by far the hardest job of all. We don’t get paid for it, we don’t see the benefits of our hard work until the kids leave the nest and we never feel good enough at it. So…what are we going to do about that? We are going to rewrite our life script. We will stop being the sidekick best friend and start being kind to ourselves. Cut yourself some slack. In Mindfulness, the first four principles give us a guide – Stop judging, stop striving or pushing so hard, accept what’s happening and let go of what we can’t change. You are the most awesome, beautiful and courageous human I know. You are a mum, a friend, a worker bee and the person that inspires the next generation every day. Your story counts. Let’s frame it right!
COVID
GIVING BIRTH DURING
BY ELISE MCGREGOR
Motherhood and starting a family have always been high on my life’s to-do list.
The day I was booked in for my
But when we started this journey, I did not
caesarean. This meant, no leaving
envision the birth of my first child having
your house unless seeking medical
so many complications, tears, uncertainty
assistance or going to the grocery
and loneliness associated with it.
store. No visitors. No support. Nothing. I couldn’t even be happy that
For the past 5 years my husband Jordan
I was about to have a baby, something
and I have made Auckland, NZ our home,
I wanted my whole life. I was excited
away from both of our Sydney based
to meet bub but this was not what I
families while we chased employment
envisioned.Getting into the hospital
opportunities. After our wedding in 2019,
was like trying to get into Fort Knox.
we decided to start our next chapter,
Police, security, questioning, that by
starting a family. I had a reasonably
the time I got to the Maternity Ward I
straightforward pregnancy, the morning
was in tears. I was so overwhelmed.
sickness in the early weeks, the changing
The last few weeks had completely
body with all the aches and pains that go
caught up with me.
along with it but overall I actually was enjoying the process. That was until 32
My husband was my rock and
weeks.
supported me through the whole process wiping
At a growth scan at 32 weeks showed that
away the tears and talking about the
our baby was breech with a large
excitement that was to come, keeping
abdominal cystic mass – measuring 4cm at
my mind off the stress. That stress was
its longest point. Needing further review
a memory as soon as the Obstetrician
we were referred to the NZ High Risk Fetal
said “Right you’re about to have a
Medicine Clinic where we saw specialists
baby, Dad do you want to stand up
to learn further details on the abnormality
and watch”. The moment was
and come up with a plan for the birth and
incredible. Seeing our baby girl for
subsequent monitoring. But the cyst and
the first time was such a special
bubs breech position meant my birth plan
moment for us.
of a natural birth was no longer a possibility due to high-risk of complications during delivery.
Wrapping my head around the cyst and change in birth plans was one thing, but in hindsight that was just the start. In the week that followed (yes this actually happened in the space of a number of days), the COVID-19 situation was labelled a global pandemic, the NZ borders were closed preventing our family from arriving in NZ for the birth and my high risk pregnancy prevented me from travelling home to Australia. But it didn’t stop there. 3 days prior to the birth I receive a call that my Grandfather had passed away suddenly and the same day Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced we would be moving into level 4 lockdown commencing
Unfortunately due to the restrictions my
We eventually found our groove and
husband was ejected from hospital 15
things were looking up, but we still had
minutes after the birth, unable to return
the unknown of the cyst hanging over
until we had been discharged. It was harsh.
our head. After numerous appointments
We hadn’t even had the chance to discuss
and scans, the specialists advised us
her name or properly call our families to
that ultimately Billie would require
share the news with them. So before I knew
surgery. So at level 1, with my support
it, I was alone in a room with my baby,
in Jordan our 14 weeks old underwent
unable to move due to the surgery and with
surgery to have her mass removed.
no one around me for support. I had never
Surgery went 80% to plan and hopefully
felt so alone in my life. But Jordan was
she shouldn’t have any long term
there to support us, via FaceTime. FaceTime
complications.
for the 2am feeds, the nappy changes, the specialists visits. It wasn’t as good as a
COVID-19 certainly impacted on our
cuddle but it was support. It also gave us
experience in becoming first time
the chance to name our baby girl – Billie
parents. It wasn’t a situation we ever
Grace. The days and weeks that followed I
imagined being in, and it pushed me
was in a pretty dark place. I don’t
physically and mentally harder than I’ve
think at the time I realised just how bad I
ever been challenged in my life. I firmly
was but looking back, it
believe some of the challenges we
wasn’t good. I was putting on as brave of a
experienced would not have happened
face as I could, but inside I
should things have been different and
was broken. I was exhausted, I had no idea what I was doing and really I just needed help, help from family, help
there were normal levels of support but it is what it is and I’ve learnt a lot in the process. Theres been ups and down,
from friends and more support
tears and tantrums but I love being a
from professionals. It got to the point
wife, I love being a Mum and we are all
where we ended up in hospital. Me as a
happy and healthy despite it all. It’s
result of complications from the caesarean
hard to see now, but I know I’ll look
and Billie due to lack of weight gain.
back in years to come and be so proud that despite all that we went through, and with such little support, we got through it.
Go
LETTING
HUBAN HEALTH
RACHEL IS CERTIFIED AS A NUTRITIONAL THERAPIST FROM THE INSTITUTE OF HEALTHSCIENCES IRELAND. HER PASSION FOR WHOLE FOOD PLANT-BASED NUTRITION & PREGNANCY LED HER TO FOCUS ON TAKING THE FEAR OUT OF HAVING A HEALTHY PLANTBASEDPREGNANCY. WITH MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN IRISH HEALTH STORES, RACHEL’S SEENHOW MAKING DAILY TWEAKS TO YOUR FOOD AND LIFESTYLE HABITS CAN HAVE A HUGEIMPACT ON YOUR HEALTH. SHE IS HEAVILY FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING MIND-SET ANDEMPOWERING YOU TO RE-FRAME HOW YOU THINK ABOUT YOURSELF.YOU’LL FIND HER ON INSTAGRAM @HUBANHEALTH AND WWW.HUBANHEALTH.COM
Have you ever noticed that when you let go in moments of unease,EVERYTHING gets easier. There's so much freedom in knowing that we have a choice to let go of whatever we're grinding on. It might be... Something that was said to you this morning. Worrying about whether you'll be able to breastfeed or not. What you think your pregnancy should look like.
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No matter what the context is, allowing yourself to stew on the situation is only going to bother you even more. You've two options; 1. Speak up.Ask for help.Createboundaries. 2. Let it go.Drop it. (the story)Move on. Pregnancy planning can lead to having expectations and then struggling to letgo if there's a change in what you hoped would happen. Remember to... Trust the changes that unfold Be prepared to throw your plan out the window Know that we're all learning from experiencesIsn't there SO MUCH freedom in trusting that you've done your best?
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Conversations
PLAYGROUND
BY INGERLISE SVALENG
Ingerlise Svaleng lives in Sydney with her husband and two daughters. When she’s not busy incorporating positive psychology into workplace cultures, she is spreading joy through her not-for-profit 21 Gifts. To rewrite the opening act of a Down Syndrome diagnosis, she’s teamed up with hospitals across Australia and New Zealand who deliver her free “suitcase for a new adventure” to new families at birth/diagnosis. To join this kindness project, sign up a hospital or learn the happy facts about life with a little extra.
DID YOU KNOW ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA LIVE (AND THRIVE!) WITH A DISABILITY? OR THAT EVERY SECOND HOUR, A CHILD IS DIAGNOSED WITH AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY? THIS MEANS THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR US MAMAS TO TEACH OUR KIDS THAT WE’RE ALL UNIQUE IN OUR OWN WAY. HERE, INGERLISE SVALENG SHARES HOW SHE TURNS THE THREE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED PLAYGROUND QUESTIONS ABOUT HER DAUGHTER MAIA INTO A POSITIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY.
1. “Is she sick?” Not at all, why do you ask? Oh - because she looks a little different with beautiful almond shaped eyes? Did you also notice that you and I look different? We are all unique and different… And you're right, Maia does have something extra special about her! She has something called Down Syndrome, although I wish it was called Up Syndrome because she lights up our days! There's nothing down about it, and it's not a disease. It’s just a tiny, tiny part of her.
2. “What is it, then?” I'm glad you asked! You know how your body is made up from tiny building blocks..? Well, Maia has an extra building block in her body called a chromosome. It makes her really great at some things like sensing who is sad and needs a hug, and other things she needs a little help with because her muscles get tired easier than yours. That's also why it takes her longer to talk. Is that what you noticed? 3. “Can she speak?” Yes, and did you know that we can all speak with more than our voice?! Maia can talk with her hands – just like Emma in the Wiggles! If you listen very carefully you may hear what she says using her words too, but she may be talking Norwegian! You see, she speaks three languages – English, Norwegian and sign language. Want her to teach you some signs? This is how you sign “play”.
And yes, of course she understands what you
say! Every. Single. Word. Maia is just like you with feelings and dreams; and she loves to sing, play basketball, go bushwalking and play on the beach. And books! She loooooves to read. You do too? That's great! I bet if you get to know each other, you'll discover you have lots in common. Oh, look - Maia's heading for the slide. Wanna join? She's lots of fun and a great friend!
CHECK OUT THEIR INSTA PROFILE @TWENTYONEGIFTS OR WWW.TWENTYONEGIFTS.CO
A COLLECTION OF RAW NATURAL IMAGES MIXED WITH STUNNING STUDIO IMAGES. SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.
My name is Devina and I am a multi international award winning professional photographer who specialises in beautiful wall art, prints and albums.
Raw, natural images are my passion. I love to show emotion in my images and produce quality albums and wall art for families and loved ones to cherish for a life time.
I travel between Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast and further to Byron Bay at additional cost.
WWW.WILDRIVERPHOTOGRAPHY.NET
PROVIDING THE BEST QUALITY OF DRIED & ARTIFICIAL FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS. PRE MADE & CUSTOM REQUESTS.
Sarah
SELF LOVE WITH
Hello Beautiful Mum, Life can be extra busy with little ones, so my question to you today is....
When was the last time you took timeout for some self love for you???
My little one, Orlando is 3 months old now and every minute of my day is spent fussing over him, feeding, nappy changing, educating, playing, cuddling and the list goes on. No matter what age your little one is, I bet you can all relate.
Although it is beautiful & all Mums truly love watching every growth & milestone of their amazing children, truth be told the old saying on an aeroplane is completely true.
"Put your oxygen mask on first, before helping others", indicating that you can't help others if you're not ok.
So if you find yourself giving only to your family & forgetting about yourself, it's only time before you have a breakdown or feel completely unworthy, not enough or unappreciated.
You need to fill up your cup with some self love time.
For the first month of little Orlando being on earth side, I had pinched my shoulder which was causing chronic pain. Feeding Orlando, picking him up and even sleeping was challenging for me. I couldn't look after my baby properly unless I took care of my shoulder, so I prioritised seeing my Osteo, having magnesium baths & completing activation exercises for my back. It wasn't easy leaving him for the hour of treatment but I knew that it would benefit both of us in the long term.
Why am I telling you this ??? Because, it shouldn't take an injury to prioritise YOU, so at least once a week or even more... set yourself a self love activity that makes you FEEL good about yourself.
My favourite self love activities includes: • A magnesium bubble bath with some candles • Reading a book with a hot herbal tea • Brunch with the girls or even better a cheeky wine over girly chats (during covid this could be on skype) • Exercise, this can be hard to find time for, but free workouts on YouTube in the lounge room is a good start • Getting your nails done or any pamper session
It is common for Mums to feel guilty for any of the above or whatever your self love treatment is, BUT the secret is.... if you put yourself first even once a week if not once a day... you will be a happier, healthier more attentive Mum.
So my challenge to you is take a moment, find an activity for you & reset your energy.
With Love, Sarah xoxo
Mamma
MINDFULNESS FOR THE BUSY
Mindfulness is not just about meditating or going on a spiritual journey. It is for everyone and can be practiced every single day at any moment. This includes you too Mamma! Practicing mindfulness will help you be more present, self aware, less reactive,
Tip #2 – Get in touch with your senses. If you are at the park with your child or out for a stroll take notice of – 5 things you can hear 5 things you can feel 5 things see
less emotional, more compassionate, productive and loving.
It is about becoming more aware of your surroundings and paying your full attention to whatever task it is that you’re doing at that very moment.
Bringing your full attention to this very moment means that you are not thinking about the past or the future. You are fully focused on whoever you are with or whatever you are doing right now.
Sound easy right? Wrong.
Try focusing on anything when you have a screaming toddler at your leg right?
It is not uncommon that we are thinking about a million other things while we are doing one thing.
So how can we start our mindfulness journey?
Here are a few tips to get started!
TIP #1 – Conscious Breath Use your breath as a tool to bring you back to the present moment.
Tip #3 – Take a Social media break if you notice yourself getting triggered by social media or that your attention is being pulled away from your family or the things that you are doing. Consider switching your data off when leaving the house, or maybe giving yourself ‘scroll time’ once or twice a day. Tip #4 – Make time for you! Self-care is one of the most important things not only for mama’s but for all of us. You are important too and will do a much better job at looking out for your loved ones if you are being looked after yourself. Make time to exercise, to vent to friends, to get some fresh air or take a bath. Yoga is a wonderful way to not only stretch out and strengthen those stiff, achy muscles, but to learn meditation and other helpful mindfulness techniques. If you would like to practice some yoga with me please visit – www.whispawellness.com.au or follow @whispawellness on Instagram. And the great thing about all these tips is you can start right now so enjoy the moment you’re in!
Practice taking conscious breaths in the shower, toilet, while driving or whenever you have a spare minute or moment! Breathe in for a count of 6, breathe out for a count of 8. Whenever you notice yourself getting caught up in thoughts or emotion, one conscious breath in and once conscious breath out is all it takes.
WWW.WHISPAWELLNESS.COM.AU
Spotlight BRAND
LOVE CUBS
Loved Cubs was officially launched in January 2018 by Kristy & Emily, the original owners. After being a brand rep for these beautiful ladies and seeing them advertise Love Cubs for sale because of their busy schedules, there was no way that I could let that opportunity pass me by & I re-launched Love Cubs as my own in March 2019. I have two daughters; a teenager and a toddler (crazy right?!). There is a big age gap between my girls as I had secondary infertility; I had 3 ectopic pregnancies, which lead me to losing both fallopian tubes before
Love cubs has one mission, to inspire as many little people as they can. Mum of two Leisa is on a mission to help you on your parenthood journey by providing incredibly beautiful products that can assist you in providing and building a solid foundation for your children to believe in themselves as much as you believe in them - one of the most amazing and influential gifts as parents we can give to our little ones
starting IVF. Our first round ended in an early miscarriage and we fell pregnant with our ball of energy, Ava, on our second round.
Why to Use Affirmations: Affirmations are an incredible tool that can change your mood, mind and manifest the change you desire. One way to help empower our children is with words. In particular, “I AM”. These are two of the most powerful words, for what you put after them shapes your reality. Consistently speaking ‘I AM’ will allow your subconscious to accept the statements as truth. The language that we use around our children sets the tone for their internal belief system. Children who are spoken to with negative language are more likely to have limiting beliefs about themselves and the world, whereas children who are spoken to with a positive language are more likely to develop a positive mindset. However, sometimes using empowering language doesn’t come naturally and we need some assistance in doing so. The more we can use empowering and positive language around our children, the more empowered and positive they will hopefully be as adults.
How to use Affirmations Say the affirmations with your little ones and if they can, ask them to repeat the statement after you. If they are unable to repeat it, it is very important the ‘I’ isn’t replaced with ‘you’. The ‘I AM’ part of the statement truly is powerful. Incorporate the cards into your child’s nightly routine. There is nothing more powerful and empowering than being reminded how amazing you are before drifting off to sleep. Use the I AM Collection as part of your morning routine. Sit with your child and ask them to choose a card for the day. Have them display it where they can see it, repeat the statement and see, if they can repeat the statement to themselves throughout the day. For older children, leave the cards out where they can be easily accessed. Let your child lead a play experience. It could be based around the affirmations, emotions or even animal & colour recognition! For our Inspire Collection, speak the affirmation out loud consistently throughout the day. If this isn’t possible for you, writing it down will also work. Anchor the affirmation into your mind & body and breathe into it as you repeat it or write it down. If a particular card is standing out to you, place it on the fridge or use one of our wooden card stands as a constant reminder. Affirmations are a great tool to use whilst journaling to encourage self-reflection and self-awareness.
Market
THE MATERNITY
Bronwyn and Nikki are the Founders of The Maternity Market (TMM), an online store that stocks a growing range of selfcare and practical products to support women through their pregnancy and postpartum journey. The idea for The Maternity Market was born in Bron’s pregnancy-muddled brain in 2016, and there it sat until 2019 when inspiration and opportunity finally combined and alongside best friend Nikki, the two women started to make their dream to help women during pregnancy and after birth become a reality. The Maternity Market is different from other stores because the sole focus is on providing a place where mums can put themselves first, and loved ones can shop confidently for gifts to make them feel special and appreciated. Here’s what makes them unique: 1.A baby product free zone! Bubs obviously comes first, but The Maternity Market is where you make yourself a priority too. Because when you take care of yourself it gives space for you to be the best mother you can be. 2. They focus on supporting Australian businesses, many owned by kick-ass Aussie mums!
TWO MUMS TAKE ON THE LACK OF ONLINE STORES THAT FOCUS ON THE MUM DURING PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM.
3. They will never stop their search for new products to add to their range. This means you have a one-stop-shop for all your preggo needs! 4. They have a strict “no-fluff” policy. They want to demystify pregnancy and birth and speak about the experience in an open and honest way. 5. Their products range from self-care to very, very practical. 6. They are all about empowering women. They want to help women tap into their inner strength supporting them to face pregnancy, birth and bubs like the warriors they are. 7. It’s easy to find what you need. Shop by stage of pregnancy and search by product or symptom/side-effect to find what you need easily. 8. TMM is a proud ally to all hetero and LGBTQIA+ families. No matter how you create or define your pregnancy and family, they want to build their range to support everyone on their journey.
Nikki and Bron both work full-time in their professional day jobs. Bron is the General Manager of an arts organisation and Nikki manages a large contact centre team for one of the biggest companies in Australia. Alongside their professional skills, as mums they feel like they can speak from experience and speak directly to other women going through their pregnancy journey and they are dedicated to building a space where you feel you can find quality products, made with love. They are hoping TMM grows and becomes the #1 place you think of when you’re looking for products to support your mind, body and spirit throughout your maternity. They are growing quickly so are well on their way to building a place every woman thinks to visit when they are pregnant!
Their signature product and best seller is The Fanny Flusher, a postpartum perineal bottle which helps with healing, particularly if you have suffered from tearing or stitches during birth. They will also be expanding their signature range in September when they launch The Fanny Freezer, a maternity pad that features an instant cooling strip! Together, these products form an essential pair of weapons in your postpartum arsenal.
VISIT THEMATERNITYMARKET.COM.AU, BECAUSE EVERY MAMA DESERVES TO BE THE CENTRE OF ATTENTION.
Comfort zone
STEP OUT OF YOUR
JENNA CHAFFEY
About Beat Freakz Fitness: Owned by Jenna Chaffey, Mum of 1 lover of all things FUN, loud music & motivating other others to feel AMAZING in their bodies whilst getting moving. I personally have not always been fit & healthy, I have done many transformations myself as you can see in the picture so I know what it takes to completely change habits to create a better version of you Beat Freakz Fitness is an endorphin pumping, energetic group fitness class aimed to suit absolutely everybody! The workout is designed for all fitness levels from beginners through to advanced, low options are shown. We run through a series of tracks taht target every area of the body. Every class expect dance, boxing, cardio and toning. We're going to jab, kick, shake and twerk to the hottest beats around. We have tracks dedicated specifically to legs, arms, abs & everything in between but what makes it unique is Every track has only FOUR simple moves and is super easy to follow, the lights are off and the neon light is on! What the workout can do for you? This workout is designed for absolutely every shape & size. See transformation pictures for physical changes that can take place though the feedback I receive the most is how my participants mental health has improved since starting classes! A lot suffer from depression or anxiety & have noticed drastic improvements not to mention the changes in their bodies - Check out the difference in one participants Kaylas transformation pic of her legs. AMAZING! So if you want to come join the fun & get moving with Jenna being your number one support & fan Check out her website for a range of packages with access to video library with over 50 workouts with new ones added daily to choose from ranging from 20 min ab workouts, 30 min circuits, 30 min Fun Dance Fitness to 50min Fun Dance Fitness classes. Or if your based in West Melbourne physical classes are coming to POINT COOK & WILLIAMSTOWN as sson as covide restrictions lift! If you would like to be kept in the loop about all if the above follow Jenna on instagram or FB .
Dinner?
MUM!! WHAT'S FOR
COUSCOUS SALAD SERVES 1 30G BABY SPINACH 75G CHERRY TOMATOES CHOPPED 25G CARROT GRATED 40G AVOCADO CUBED 70G TINNED CUBBED BEETROOT 50G CUCUMBER CUBED 30G DRY COUSCOUS 5G CORIANDER CHOPPED LIME JUICE 1. COOK COUSCOUS ACCORDING TO PACKET DIRECTIONS. SET ASIDE TO COOL. 2. CHOP UP SALAD INGREDIENTS AND SPLASH WITH LIME JUICE AND PEPPER AND SALT 3. ONCE COUSCOUS IS COOKED, COMBINE WITH SALAD INGREDIENTS AND TOSS TOGETHER. GARNISH WITH CORIANDER. 4. SERVE HOT OR COLD AS DESIRED. THIS GOES GREAT WITH FISH OR CHICKEN OR AS A SALAD MADE IN LARGER QUANTITIES FOR PARTIES.
Free
MOTHER.. SOMEONE WHO DOES THE WORK OF TWENTY FOR