Source Mama, The Wellbeing Issue

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SOURCE MAMA

T he We llbe ing Issu e ISSUE 01

WERED BY

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Welcome

THE WELLBEING ISSUE 7

YOUR TIPS: How do you make sure you stay connected to friends & family?

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8 things I wish I’d known when I became a special needs parent

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YOUR TIPS: How do you maintain a healthy diet?

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The power of journaling and how you can journal even if you’re not a writer Gorgeous planners, pens and more to kick start your journaling journey

Source Mama The Gathering with guest speaker Karni Liddell in Brisbane YOUR TIPS: How do you stay fit & strong?

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A beautiful chaotic mess

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The connection between scent and mental wellness

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YOUR TIPS: Do you have any go to strategies to help you cope mentally when things get tough?

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Scented mood boosters

We lcome

SOURCE MAMA

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elcome to the very first Source Mama eMag which we’ve produced for our very first Source Mama Gathering held recently at the beautiful Calile Hotel in Brisbane.

Source Mama was created less than a year ago as a community that supports mums raising children with special needs; we knew through our journey with Source Kids that we had the most amazing group of predominantly mums out there, who were whole heartedly and tirelessly focused on the wellbeing of their children living with a disability, working towards positive outcomes, and of course their siblings also.

You’re the backbone of your families. You wear many hats on any given day, juggle so many priorities, work, appointments, paperwork, assessments, and then you go home, and your focus is still on your children and family to implement everything you’ve worked on during the day.

And more.

We created Source Mama to focus on you – a mama, a person, an individual. The one who cares for everyone else, but often doesn’t find time for yourself.

T he Wellbeing Issue

#01 We hope the content in this eMag will go some way to help inspire, support and nurture you as a person, ensuring your health and wellbeing is strong, that you are looking after yourself and fitting your own mask first in order to care for your family.

Remember, you matter, mama – you really do.

We’ve also included some of the gorgeous photos from The Gathering – we’re sure you’ll agree with us that everyone looked amazing! If you were at the event and don’t spot yourself here – head over to our social media channels as we’ve uploaded even more photos there.

We really loved the night so much and can’t wait to do it all again – this is just the start of taking Source Mama out into the real world so watch this space for more announcements soon.

With much love.

Emma x

SOURCE MAMA PO Box 690, Noosaville QLD 4566 Sourcemama.com.au Please send all letters and submissions to hello@sourcemama.com.au WRITERS AND CONTRIBUTORS Nicole Davis, Kelly Wilton and Tanya Savva PUBLISHER/CEO Emma Price PARTNERSHIPS Carmen Smith / Head of Partnerships & Strategy carmen@sourcekids.com.au 0467 714 987 ADVERTISING Matthew Rainsford / Head of Sales & Business Development matthew@sourcekids.com.au 0499 017 354 Naomi Sirianni / Business Development Manager naomi@sourcekids.com.au 0447 755 043 DIGITAL Nicole Davis / Digital Content Editor nicole@sourcekids.com.au Rebecca Pinese / Digital Marketing Officer rebecca@sourcekids.com.au GRAPHIC DESIGN Emma Henderson EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING IN SOURCE KIDS IS BASED ON MATERIAL, WRITTEN AND VERBAL, PROVIDED BY CONTRIBUTORS AND ADVERTISERS. NO RESPONSIBILITY IS TAKEN FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS, AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THOSE OF THE PUBLISHER. ALL MATERIAL IN SOURCE KIDS IS SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT PROVISIONS. NO PART OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION BY THE PUBLISHER.

#01 WEL L B EI N G 3

Karni Lidde ll

ON THE POWER OF “YES” AT SOURCE MAMA GATHERING The first ever Source Mama Gathering held in Brisbane last week was a wonderful evening with the fabulous guest speaker Karni Liddell, a former world record holder, Paralympic swimmer, speaker, TV presenter and ‘Mama’.

Held at the Calile Hotel in Brisbane, the event was proudly sponsored by Leap in! Many of our crew, members and community of providers attended and a huge congratulations to our competition winners too.

The event was an opportunity for mothers to take time out, connect and relax as well as celebrate the journey of raising children with a disability.

Po we red by

ce le br a te

l a ug h te r & wi sdom

co m pa ny a li ke

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

ered th tely?

Empowering mothers like you

The Healthy Mothers Healthy Families program exists to support, empower and encourage mothers of a child with a disability to learn about and create a healthy lifestyle that fosters their own health and wellbeing, alongside a healthy, happy family life.

PROUDLY SUPPORTING SOURCE MAMA AND THE GATHERING SERIES

hmhf Healthy Mothers Healthy Families

HMHF are pleased to partner with Reframing Disability to deliver a series of online workshops.

To find out more, or secure your ticket - head to

healthymothers-healthyfamilies.com

TIPS

Work to daycare afternoon car chats.

I only have 10 minutes, but try to call someone different every day!

Facebook!

We have a family chat private group on Messenger so we can keep in contact.

your tips Q U E ST I O N

With all that’s going on in your lives, mamas, how do you make sure you stay connected to friends & family?

Social media!

Facetime is my lifeline!

“Hot dish night” where everyone brings a dish to share on the first Sunday of each month.

An annual weekend away with my mama friends always keeps me connected!

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things I wish I’d known when I became a special needs parent

By Kelly Wilton

here are many things I look back on and wish that I knew then what I know now. It would have helped with the turbulent array of emotions I went through in those early years of parenting.

My partner in crime and I weathered some pretty major storms with our premature twins in the early days and we continue to do so on a daily basis.

However, we are in a better position now and we are probably the most solid we have been in a while.

We managed to get through the early years of sleepless nights and countless hospital stays; now, we are dealing with

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disability, illness and development delays.

Doctors don’t always paint a great picture when your child receives a rare disease diagnosis; information is often scarce because of lack of research and low patient numbers and by definition the community of other parents is small and spread out across the globe. It can be hard to find the information and support you need to navigate this new world you’ve been introduced to.

So, if I could turn back time and talk to myself at the beginning of my son’s diagnosis, give myself some much-needed advice, what would I say?

PERSPECTIVE

4 123 Take all the time you need to grieve. Ignore the comments from others who may not realise that saying ‘you should be grateful because it could be a whole lot worse’ is actually pretty damn insensitive.

Because, well, it is a whole lot worse at the moment, because your life has changed, as has your child’s, and that is what you are adapting to.

It will make you stronger as a couple and even at your darkest points, something will happen and you’ll pick each other up.

Despite the maelstrom you are now in, it will settle in some way. Take one day at a time.

You will find a new, regular way of life soon enough however life as you once knew it has changed.

You will see your partner/significant other in a whole new light. It will make you stronger as a couple and even at your darkest points, something will happen and you’ll pick each other up. Even when one of you wants to leave you’ll be able to dig deep and keep going.

6 5 7 You will now have the space in your life to make wonderful new friends who share your vision and experience of your changing family landscape.

You will adapt to this new way of life over time. You will go through the roller-coaster of emotions of grief; you have lost a way of life that you had envisioned and you are now getting used to your new reality.

Grief may hit you at odd times, sit with it.

You will celebrate again! The small milestones will be huge and take it from me, shout from the roof tops because it’s worth celebrating!

Not everyone wants to ‘get it’.

Some people will never understand nor show empathy towards your changing family situation.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the capacity to understand and accept change.

You will though, because to keep moving forward, you will have to. These other people will be left behind, and you know what?

That’s ok and after a while you’ll realise they weren’t supposed to be along for the ride!

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Your child will help you understand the term unconditional love.

People throw that term around like its confetti.

But until you live it, it’s just words. #01 WEL L B EI N G 9

The power of journaling and how you can journal even if you’re not a writer

By Nnnnnn Nnnnnnnn

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eeping a journal is surprisingly easy and has so many benefits, but getting your thoughts down on paper can sometimes feel like a daunting task. As with so many things – we judge our writing before we’ve even started! If the idea of sitting down with an empty notebook fills you with dread or you wonder what on earth you might write about, read on for some inspiration to get you started.

WELLBEING

BENEFITS OF JOURNALING There’s lots of evidence that the act of writing down your ideas and feelings is good for you. Journaling allows you to express your thoughts and ideas in a safe and private way. By writing down your stressors and sore points – the fears we may have for our children, for example – you can safely process your worries and let them gently go.

Journaling will help calm and clear your mind, giving you more headspace to focus on the laundry list of things you have to do.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR JOURNAL You can keep your journal either hard copy or electronically. There are online resources like Penzu where you can make beautiful journals that you can easily search through or refer to but many of us still prefer to use hard copy journals. There seems to be a link between handwriting and the unconscious mind; as you carry out the act of writing you are making connections within your brain. When you’re writing, you tend to go slower than when you are typing and you’re forced to really think about what you want to say.

because this is something busy parents, especially us special needs mamas don’t get a chance to do very often.

MAKE A LIST If you really can’t think of how to begin, you could try starting with some lists.

Your list might be things you are grateful for, hopes for the coming month, hopes for your child or funny things your child has said or done. Make a list of the best shows you’ve watched on Netflix this year and add some notes about why you liked them. You don’t always even have to be positive. Thinking about and then writing down your fears or frustrations can be very therapeutic.

You can bring to your consciousness any feelings that might have gone unnoticed or be left to simmer.

If you don’t consider yourself a writer, why not try sketching an experience or idea?

Doodling is another way the creative mind gets a chance to step forward.

WHAT TO WRITE ABOUT There’s no wrong way of journaling – that’s the beauty of it. You’re writing for yourself and no-one else! Your journal is really just a safe place for you to write down your thoughts, even if they seem silly, disordered or unreasonable. You might start simply with a summary of what happened today, your feelings about what’s happening right now in your life or the life of you child and then add some reflections. What did you think about what happened? How did you feel about it? If you weren’t happy with what happened, what might you do to change? Use your journal to have a conversation with yourself

SOLVING PROBLEMS AND COMMUNICATING BETTER The act of writing down a problem actually helps you consider possible resolutions. If you have a particular issue with your child/children, your partner, co-workers, or even yourself, writing about it will help you reflect on it in a new way. Journaling can also help you clarify your ideas and position on a certain topic. That means when the time comes for you to talk about your perspective you’re likely to have it more clearly defined in your head and be more confident in what you want to say.

GET CREATIVE We all have different skills and different ways of expressing ourselves. If you don’t consider yourself a writer, why not try sketching an experience or idea?

Doodling is another way the creative mind gets a chance to step forward. You might also like to try a scrapbook style journal which includes printed quotes, cuttings from magazines or little snippets of your day to day life. Movie ticket stubs, drawings the kids have done and even receipts for special purchases (like school uniforms or Christmas presents) are all great fodder for your journal. Make sure you write down any memories you have associated with what you have chosen to keep.

MAKE IT A RITUAL It’s a great idea to make a set time to journal each day. You might make a few notes about your plan and intentions for the day each morning, or take a more reflective approach to the day once the kids have gone to bed. Writing regularly will help you to find your voice, and improve how your content flows. But by the same token, don’t beat yourself up if you don’t get round to journaling on a particularly busy or stressful day.

PRESERVING PRECIOUS MEMORIES What you had for breakfast. A new outfit you got for your child, or what they ate for breakfast. What plants you planted in your garden… these little elements of day to day life might seem terribly mundane at the moment, but trust me, when you look back on your journal in years to come, you will be glad you have made an effort to document your everyday experiences.

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Gorgeous planners, pens and more to kick start your journaling journey

By Kelly Wilton

If you feel encouraged to take the leap into journaling, then check out these lovely inspirational pieces to get your creativity owing. Whether that’s in the written word, via drawing or scrapbook style, we have found some great ideas to get you going.

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The Happy Planner Guided Journal: Gratitude Refresh! $33.95. washigang.com

1. The Happy Planner Guided Journal: Gratitude Refresh!

We think you’ll love the range at the Happy Planner! Included in this guided journal are prompts and quotes to get you started with the practice of appreciating in writing what you are most grateful for in life. These planners are also perfect for people who love to scrapbook as there’s plenty of room to stick, paste and create. With all the many hats you wear, put on your ‘journaling hat’, take some time for reflection on your own personal goals and dreams.

2. Present, Not Perfect: A Journal for Slowing Down, Letting Go, and Loving Who You Are Another great guided journal is the Present, Not Perfect Journal which has all types of tools to help us reconnect with our selves through solitude, introspection, and contemplation. With quotes throughout the book also to guide you, give yourself permission to be Present, Not Perfect.

SHOPPING

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Present, Not Perfect: A Journal for Slowing Down, Letting Go, and Loving Who You Are, $23.75. booktopia.com.au

Dot Journaling, $26.50 paperpoint.com.au

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Primrosia 60 Dual Tip Marker Pens, Fineliner and Watercolour Brush Pens $37.99. amazon.com.au

3. Bullet Journaling – another way for reflection and meditation Bullet journaling (also known as dot journaling) is a style described as ‘a method to plan, reflect, and meditate’ all whilst using symbols and shorthand to organise and plan our lives and routines. A mindfulness practice disguised as a productivity system with sections to log your daily to-do’s, monthly calendar, notes, long-term wants and more. We love this beginners guide to dot journaling with lots of helpful and practical tips along the way.

4. Marker Pens These dual fine tip pens/watercolour brushes are the perfect companion to make your journal’s pages come alive!

5. Calendar Stickers Calendar stickers are a great tool to flag appointments, track goals and even date nights! Stick it and mark it in your journal as part of your personal goal setting.

Posh Calendar Stickers, $15.50. booktopia.com.au

6 Daisy Garden Washi Tape, $3. washitapeaustralia.com.au 6. Washi Tape Brighten up the pages of your journal with Washi Tape. It’s a Japanese decorative sticky tape that’s great for craft and journaling. Usually made from natural fibres like bamboo, or Japanese shrubs, it’s highly popular and there is a wide range of colours and styles to choose from!

7. Happy Planner storage box This perfectly sized storage container will keep your stickers, pens and other creative tools organised in a perfectly sized container, for your use only! Pop it out of the kids way, so none of your treats go missing and they will be there next time you journal.

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Happy Planner storage box, $26.50. washigang.com

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Join the Source Mama community facebook group @sourcemama @sourcemama

SOURCE MAMA

TIPS

I try for low GI options and a green salad accompanying most meals.

We’re eating heaps more veggies with Hello Fresh.

We have decent breakfasts each day to start the day with heaps of energy (refried black beans, simple homemade salsa & an egg) & light dinners.

your tips Q U E ST I O N

Hey mamas: share some tips, please! We need to know, how do you maintain a healthy diet?

Big batch cooking!

A whole food nutritional supplement takes the pressure off and makes me feel motivated enough to eat properly!

I always try to have an extra meal in the fridge (cooking extra each time), spare meals in the freezer and nutribullet cups frozen with premixed smoothie blends packed with veggies and protein.

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SOURCE MAMA

T h e G a t h e ri n g P OW ER ED BY

With guest speaker

KARNI LIDDELL

Paralympian, TV Presenter, Keynote Speaker + Social Worker

T H E CALI LE HOT EL, BRISBANE Thursday 25 March 16 S O U R C EM A M A .C O M. AU

EVENT

Voices together don’t feel so alone.

#01 WEL L B EI N G 17

Thanks for an amazing night. So and g reat to be in a room of oth ‘get it ’, looking for ward to th

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EVENT

o inspirational her mums that he next one!

#01 WEL L B EI N G 19

Podcast

Listen to more great speakers filled with wisdom and knowledge.

TIPS

I love Tabata.

I’ve even started putting together my own plans.

A walk while listening to music or an audiobook helps me both physically and mentally.

your tips Q U E ST I O N

Source Mama needs to get in better shape! How do you stay fit & strong?

Share your tips, please!

It starts in the kitchen! Fill your plate with 1/2 greens, 1/4 protein 1/4 carbs and the 1/2 size of your thumbs in fat, drink 1.5L per day and exercise 30 min per day.

I start each day with a 3km walk with my dog.

I do Pilates to help keep me strong. It also gives me some great time to just think about technique and nothing else. It is also great because it doesn’t increase my cortisol because we have plenty of that stress hormone in our everyday lives.

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beautiful

A chaotic mess

By Tanya Savva

I belong to a club of humans who, through their desire to become a parent, have had to endure challenges well beyond what we ever signed up for.

No doubt most of us naively stepped into this role of ‘parent’ with the belief that it was going to be a seamless transition into that role and we’d live a seemingly normal life raising socially integrative people that are well mannered, sporty, smart and capable of becoming high functioning adults that will one day raise their own kids, just like us. We never imagined that the label of parent would be slammed with a prefix that would never go away, and would simultaneously hand us the biggest emotional, physical and psychological demands we would ever face.

(SPECIAL NEEDS) PARENT. Sometimes we wonder if they erased the fine print before we signed the dotted line. That decision to grow and nurture a human came with so much more than we bargained for.

• We never imagined we’d be sitting in a doctor’s office receiving that devastating news.

• We never imagined we’d be googling words we’d never heard of.

• We never imagined we’d be wiping our 11-year old’s backside.

• We never imagined we’d be cleaning dribble from our 16-year old’s mouth.

• We never imagined we’d become experts in wheelchair prescription.

• We never imagined we’d be fighting 22 S O U R C EM A M A .C O M. AU

for funding for incontinence pads.

• We never imagined we’d feel embarrassed because of our children and their complex needs.

• We never imagined we’d be squeezing pureed foods down a tube direct into their tiny stomach.

• We never imagined we’d be begging them to wake up after that surgery.

• We never imagined we’d wished they’d stop talking to every single stranger they met.

It’s easy to turn that shame, judgement, resentment and guilt on to yourself for all the times it was too much and you were too tired, too angry, too confused and too unbothered to do one more thing.

• We never imagined we’d be looking at special-needs schools.

• We never imagined we’d resent them for all the things they took away from us.

• We never imagined we’d be fighting for inclusion and equality.

• We never imagined we’d judge

them for their unusual and socially inappropriate quirks.

• We never imagined we’d hope for a day when they said ‘I love you’.

Our children demand so much of us.

They push us to the precipice and then a little further beyond the confines of our comfort zone. It feels unfair, sometimes. Maybe even a lot of the time. And it’s OK to feel undone.

• It’s OK to feel embarrassed and ashamed.

• It’s OK to feel resentful.

• It’s OK to feel guilty that you feel that way about your child.

• It’s OK to feel like it’s some horrible shit show that’s gone on too long.

• It’s OK to hate that you’re responsible for your teenager’s hygiene.

• It’s OK to despise the system that failed your child too many times.

• It’s OK that you feel hard done by.

• It’s OK that you judged your child for the behaviour they couldn’t control when the world didn’t meet their needs and they melted down in the middle of Kmart.

It’s easy to turn that shame, judgement, resentment and guilt on to yourself for all the times it was too much and you were too tired, too angry, too confused and too unbothered to do one more thing. We never imagined it would

PERSPECTIVE

be like this. And so, everything you feel is OK. It’s important to acknowledge and welcome all of things that you think and feel. In doing so, you honour the journey for all that it is – a beautiful, chaotic mess. And when you embrace and embody all the things you never imagined, and all the things you have to do but wished you didn’t, and all the things you hope were different, but can’t be, you open up space to embody your Truth, integrate your reality, and create a little grace that lets the magic seep in.

Because in embodiment and holding your truth, there is magic in that messy life of yours.

• It’s in the silence of late nights when it’s just you and your child sitting in bed under the light of the moon.

• It’s in the sacredness of pureeing food alone in the kitchen to nourish your child.

• It’s in the support that surrounds you to help your child thrive.

• It’s in the stillness of moments before your next therapy session.

• It’s in their ability to communicate with strangers, when you were told

they’d never speak.

• It’s in their unbridled joy, acceptance and kindness that’s gifted to everyone they meet.

• It’s in the kisses your teenager blows to you to say, ‘I love you’.

• It’s in the lessons they gift you, silent and obvious, that demand you step into a higher vibration. A better version of You. • It’s in the little achievements that mean everything to you.

• It’s in the knowing that they chose you to be their parent, because they knew you’d rise to the challenge.

• It’s in the choice to let them shine in this messed up world, embarrassing quirks and all, because you realise the world needs their uniqueness.

• It’s in the awareness that we’ve learnt unconditional love, acceptance and patience in the face of the hardest challenge we’ve ever faced.

And it’s right there, in the tears that you allow yourself to shed as you feel all the things you never thought you’d feel, when dealt with a hand in a game you didn’t choose to play in.

Gift yourself the space to be in your Truth. From that place of awareness, there is so much magic in this beautiful chaotic mess.

Visit tanyasavva.com to learn more about Tanya, her journey and how she can support you. #01 WEL L B EI N G 23

The connection between scent and mental wellness

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hilst something beautiful may capture our momentary interest, and something flavourful may bring our tastebuds pleasure, it is scent that, out of all our senses, has a power of persuasion unlike anything else. The persuasiveness of a scent, be it a good or unpleasant smell, cannot be fended off; it enters our bodies like breath into our lungs whether we consent to it or not. Within no time at all a scent can evoke emotions, memories, a whole body feeling, it can be both a remedy and a poison, and it can have a big impact on our mental wellness.

Smells travel up our nose, then past the amygdala and the hippocampus sections of our brain before arriving in the thalamus, which is the part of our brain responsible for processing sensory signals. The amygdala section of our brain is responsible for the plethora of our emotions, which means that all scents, regardless of whether

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they are strong, weak, purposeful or passive, pass by the parts of our brains which control emotions and memories before our brain has registered how we feel about them.

This is also why for some people, smells may trigger unhappy emotions or memories, or vice versa; because smells evoke emotions and memories subjective to our personal experiences.

Our brains assign meanings to smells after they have found their place in our memories, so the situation in which you smell a scent for the first time will often affect how you will remember that moment and how you will feel about that scent, sometimes forever.

For many people, smelling a particular scent may bring back a memory thought to be long forgotten.

For others, they may remember a scent more vividly than the actual memory, or even the details of the memory itself.

You may remember the moments you spent with your grandma baking fresh cookies, but often the smell of those fresh cookies will ‘put’ you back in that kitchen more so than seeing a baking tray or oven mitt will.

There are some scents which have long been used to evoke certain emotions, citrus smells for example, are

WELLBEING

that really hits the nail on the head for often invigorating, the smell of freshly you, or you might find that the scent baked pastries often makes people feel hungry, and for most, the smell of that relaxes you the most is something lavender is calming and makes them else, one that may evoke the opposite feel sleepy. Scents make a hugely emotion in someone else. In a similar underrated difference to our emotions way, because scents evoke memories and how we feel in a certain moment, and not just emotions, it is possible to this includes not just the actual scent, use scent to your advantage when but also the strength of a scent. A room trying to remember certain things, that is stuffy, or has an overpowering the same applies for when you may smell, quite often makes people feel want someone else to remember enclosed, or uncomfortable, whilst a a certain thing. room which has adequate airflow of The advice that I would give to fresh air often makes people someone wanting to explore scent feel energised. and feelings is to take the time to find You’ll find lavender, for example, a scent that brings you what you are in most lotions, potions, sprays and looking for, and not force yourself to oils which are described as being find meaning or emotion in a scent beneficial to creating that you feel, or have a calm environment. been told, that you The connection Lavender has in fact are supposed to feel between scent and been proven to aid that from. Find smells mental wellness, or relaxation and sleep, that evoke different so there is science unwellness, begins at emotions and try behind it, however, the very beginning of (if possible) not to some people are blend these unless when and how that calmed by the smell the blended scent connection to that of lemongrass, or by brings you what you a smokey fire, or even are looking for. The scent is formed. after the year we’ve latter is obviously not all endured, some find a strict rule, but in the smell of hand sanitiser their scent the initial stages of building a routine of choice. it can be helpful to have almost-like The connection between scent a signature scent for that particular and mental wellness, or unwellness, experience or situation. A smell that begins at the very beginning of when invigorates you, for example, when you and how that connection to that scent are preparing to- or actually working is formed. There is a limitless number or studying, and then a different smell of products which use scent which for when you are trying to de-stress or have pre-assigned meanings to them, relax yourself. as well as pre-assigned emotions You cannot always change the which they are capable of provoking. memory a particular scent may bring In your journey to mental wellness, it is you, but you can adapt new scents to important to find a scent that brings you new environments and work these into the emotion that you are searching for. the lifestyle you want for yourself and You might find that lavender is the scent your family. #01 WEL L B EI N G 25

VALU E D AT OVE R $500

y a w a e v i G Mother’s Day

Enter at sourcemama.com.au

TIPS

I get in the water - bath or shower, pool, beach or even rain!

I listen to something relaxing on Spotify or even something upbeat that will let me sing really loud.

The book “Buddhism for Mothers” has really helpful strategies regardless of your belief system.

Meditation. I lean into practices that really encourage my awareness to stay in my body or to help me feel grounded.

your tips Q U E ST I O N

Mamas, do you have any go to strategies to help you cope mentally when things get tough?

Wine!

I stop & play with my kids, sing a silly song, have a tickle fight, share some silly giggles.

Listening to rainforest music while I enjoy a colouring in book, breathing exercises, a big patting session with the dog, and baking always works a treat.

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Lottie the Owl... This candle is sure to brighten up any home – or bathroom while you have a shower or bath.

Quirky but cool, we love Lottie, who keeps an eye on things, because we can’t be everywhere at once, right! $19.99, dusk.com.au

Scented mood boosters By kelly Wilton

The ocean breeze, dewy mornings, fresh baked bread – whatever it is that induces your feel-good feelings through the sense of smell, we’ve found some gorgeous products to help you find the right fit.

Let a fragrance cause a flood of warm and fuzzy feelings with a simple sniff!

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Lighten the mood The Serena MoodMist Diffuser wonderful addition to either your home environment or work space. It has a range of settings for timer, mist level and colour changing or static LED lighting. Citrus smells can help you feel more energised. Pop a steamer on with lemon, lime, orange and enjoy the benefits of those uplifting aromas.

From $119.00, dusk.com.au

Soaks for a luxurious bath We love these bright and quirky donut bath bombs. From bath bombs, bath soaks, natural soaps and artisan soaps – there will be something that you love to help you along in your quest for ultimate relaxation! $7.50, diamondvalleyhandcrafted.com.au

SHOPPING

LVLY Flowers...

The scent of flowers is one of life’s simple pleasures. These gorgeous flowers can have you smelling roses all year round - the perfect way to make someone’s day or just a lovely gift to send yourself! $59, lvly.com.au

Shower Steamers... If baths aren’t your thing then the original essential-oils-scented effervescent shower steamers from the Enough Collection could be just the thing for you.

Simply place on the floor of your shower and let the aroma take you away to another place.

From $62.00, showerstory.com.au

Relax with Incense Sticks These incense sticks are designed to induce the benefits of peace and calm. If you’re anything like us at Source Mama, you may have to burn them once the kids go to bed!

After a long day, treat yourself to balance out your mind and relax your body. $12.99, dusk.com.au

Oils for everyone! Dottera is one of the biggest essential oil providers. With their huge range of essential oils and blends, together with a comprehensive website that details how individual oils can benefit you, you are sure to find a blend for what you need. Lavendar is commonly used for relaxation, peppermint for headaches, aches and pains, and geranium to lift your mood.

From $22, doterra.com/au

Ultimate muscle relaxation For the, we can’t go past the Bare Blends Recovery Soak. It removes toxins and heavy metals from the body, relieves stress and fatigue, reduces inflammation, helps to relieve muscle aches and cramps. With essential oils eucalyptus and cedarwood, it will be an invigorating scent with many health benefits to enjoy. From $9.99, bareblends.com.au #01 WEL L B EI N G 29

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INSPO, INFO, EMPOWERMENT. sourcemama.com.au