Parenting 

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Reflections on motherhood

Motherhood brings with it many common challenges and rewards, but it is a very different experience for each mum. To celebrate Mother's Day, we hear how being a mum has touched members of the iVillage community

Motherhood saved me

Motherhood is something that 'saved' me. When pregnant with Kyrtis, my relationship was breaking down and my boyfriend beat me up. I had nowhere to live and had to move counties to return home.

Making the decision to keep him made me the person I am today. I was a single parent with a family against single parenting and who tried to push abortion on me. I had to be strong and fight for what I wanted.

Having Kyrtis is the best decision I have ever made and now, as a mum of three, my life is so fulfilled. Being a mum gives me a purpose in life and a reason to get up in the morning. Motherhood is the only job I have ever enjoyed and ever felt has come naturally to me.

It is certainly the most rewarding thing I have ever done. I would lay my life down for my children and never thought I could be so passionate about something. They make me laugh on dull days and as hectic and chaotic and stressful as life can be sometimes, I wouldn't change it for the world.
cl-spurslady

Three boys

I always knew that I wanted to be a mum. I remember when I was younger saying to my mum: 'I'm going to have 100 babies.'

She used to laugh and say I'd change my mind once I'd had one. She was right! I had my first son when I was 18 and he was the best thing to ever happen to me. His father and I split up not long after I found out I was pregnant.

When my first son was four months old I met my husband and by the time my first son was two years old, his brother arrived. Having a two-year gap was hard, and there were times that I used to think: 'What was I thinking, I can't do this.'

But then the boys would smile at me and it would melt all the worries away. I now have three boys and it's so rewarding seeing them talk and play together and watching the eldest two interacting with their baby brother.
hamster_fem

The best job in the world

I remember the first time I felt like a proper mum, which was when Sophie was a few hours old. After I had been sewn up and went for a shower, my husband was left with Sophie in the room I had delivered in. When I got out of the shower I heard this baby crying and just suddenly realised: 'Oh my word, she belongs to me'.

I think that was when I instantly fell in love and vowed never to make her unhappy. Motherhood has made me enjoy really simple things in life (that sounds very cheesy, I know). I feel like my whole day is spent getting her to smile, laugh and be happy!

Nothing I have ever done at work has been more rewarding than hearing my little girl giggle, and nothing I had to do at work was ever as scary as the first trip to the supermarket with Sophie!! I always wanted to be a mum and am so glad that I am. It's the best job in the world.
kim31

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