Latest Posts

Defining moments…

Published by

“When a defining moment comes along, you define the moment, or the moment defines you.” Kevin Costner(yes, a hunk said something clever and I found it, beat that!)

Saturday evening was one of those moments for me…We were having our usual chicken and corn and rice in Nando’s after a long and frustrating day when Alex turns to me and says: “I have a crazy idea..what if we went to see Ireland for a week? Two conditions: there will be only positive talk for a week. And we leave tomorrow!”

Okay, I’m not the person to say no to traveling with the two people I love most in the world.I just need time to adjust and warm up to the idea…to prepare…mentally…physically…Think, organise, pack, think some more, add some more stuff in. Talk toddler through it. Talk myself through it.Warn hubby of possible(no, imminent!) meltdowns on from both toddler and myself.

So, I said no. I brought all the arguments I could think of. At the end of the day, you can’t just take up and go like that, especially when you have a toddler in tow…

Or can you?

Inspired by a talk I had heard earlier on Saturday at this women’s conference, I decided life is not only about routines and feeling safe. Life is what you make of what is put in your path. I wasn’t going to let this opportunity pass me by.

It took us five hours and a meltdown to get ready. We both looked harassed yet strangely euphoric when the last bag went in. Are we crazy? Are we going to regret it? Probably while we’re doing it and we’re too tired to see what we’re creating. But this will be one of those weeks that we will talk about when we will be too old and frail to travel. One of Emma’s first memories maybe…

Looking forward to a great week!!Image

In sickness and in health…

Published by

Yeah, I think I know where your mind will go when you read this line…white dress wedding, church and a happily-ever-after couple riding into the sun…

Well, I will go on and admit I’m a bit of a romantic and I still have this very vow saved for safe keeping along with our wedding invitation and our wedding photo album somewhere.

But it’s not there that my mind goes where I hear this. Strangely enough, it’s not the Carrickfergus castle or the hilarious(now) mishaps of our civil wedding day that I think of when this line comes to mind. It’s my small girl I think of..

You see, Emma has been a sickly child since she was born..reflux, then a looooong line of infections/coughs/trips to the doctors…We’re not sure what’s causing it but it’s worse in the winter and when the weather is humid. We eliminated asthma, we looked into various allergy trigger agents, we put her on a gluten-free and wheat-free diet. We have been trying recently all these natural cures and products. And yet, she still gets them blooming infections with a sickening regularity, every two to three weeks on average.

And it drains me. To see my baby sick. To have my routine disrupted. To know she’s not gonna enjoy another week of her life because she will be spluttering her lungs out or grumpy-ing around because she doesn’t know herself what’s wrong but she needs to let me know somehow that she’s not well..

It got to the point where it doesn’t matter what it is anymore: a cough, a throat or an ear infection. Because for me it’s a disruption from life’s normal routine but most importantly, an opportunity to mumble to myself regarding this little person I was entrusted with: “in sickness and in health”.

Sick baby

I will love and protect her, be there for her, fare it all alongside her, for her sake.

In sickness and in health…

Hello world, Mama’s Haven is up and running!

Published by

My life has been a bit topsy-turvy in the recent months…I changed location,  went from working full time to being in the house all the time, sailed through unexpected changes in hubby’s work and the adherent stress that comes with such changes and have generally been exposed to an overwhelming array of experiences that are bursting to come out. So you can understand why I chose this particular name for my blog…I intend it to be not only my own HAVEN from my daily routine and a valve to release pressure but also a haven from all mamas out there in the same situation(s).

Yeap, I know, I could have gone to see a therapist but I reckon blogging is a tad more fun , wouldn’t you agree?

I intend to speak from my experience mainly about parenthood(at the end of the day, that’s what I do best) but because I love cooking, fashion, reading and travelling there will be loads of posts on these subjects too.

So without further ado, wish me happy blogging everyone!!

Mama's Haven