I first met Lyndsay at a coffee shop in town, as we were both enjoying a well-deserved (and much needed) moment out of the house with our newborns. Upon striking up a conversation, we ended up talking for a long while - and our conversation went something like this “how was your labour?” “how’s feeding going?” “how are you and your partner coping with the lack of sleep?” “how are you healing post birth?” “how are you doing without family support (as all four sets of grandparents live internationally so we could absolutely relate to each other on that!)?” We talked about extremely personal things right off the bat…and after talking for ages, wrapped up our conversation by introducing ourselves and sharing contact details. That’s how it goes making mom friends - you have an immediate bond in that you both just brought another human into the world (and are subsequently trying to keep that human happy 24/7!). There is so much to share, to vent about, to look for reassurance about and to support each other on. I’m so thankful that I met Lyndsay on that random café outing as we’ve become great friends in the subsequent months and have enjoyed many more trips to the café (and the zoo, the pool, the beach, the shops, the pub, etc) since then!
One of the things I admire about Lyndsay is she (somehow!) consistently keeps her cool and seems unrattled while juggling the needs and wants of her newborn and toddler (and husband! and dog!). She doesn’t sweat the small stuff and manages to maintain a positive outlook even when the day-to-day can be a bit overwhelming! She also may be the best mom I’ve come across as filling her kids’ days with amazing cultural or physical activities and takes advantage of all the wonderful things to do in the city (given her close proximity to Sydney). Even when she’s tired, she packs both kids up and heads out for an action-packed day (I get tired just thinking about some of the days she plans)! Her ambitiousness (both with her kiddos and with her own personal goals) are to be admired and I can honestly say she’s been a wonderful friend and I’m lucky to share this motherhood journey with her and her family!
Lyndsay is the first mama I’ll be featuring on my blog. With each feature I’d like to share a little about a mom I admire and then ask her some questions about a specific topic. I’ll be chatting with Lyndsay about how she manages the needs of her family without any extended family or parental support, given that she’s living abroad. Let’s warm up with a few more light-hearted questions…
Would you rather have someone cook you dinner or someone watch kids while you cook dinner?
Someone to cook me dinner because I can’t cook!
Would you rather be able to read your baby’s mind or be able to read your toddler’s mind?
Read my toddler’s mind. Raising a toddler is a like a game of chess, you never knew what move they’re going to make next (and how much damage it’s going to cause!). If only I knew what they were going to do, I could ensure I was three steps ahead!
Would you rather scroll through Instagram when baby naps or workout when baby naps?
Workout! It’s the only way I survive motherhood! Gym time is something I prioritize on a daily basis!
What are your three must-have motherhood/parenting products?
- A baby carrier as it allows me to be as mobile as possible.
- An iPad (the Bluey show) in particular – the whole family can enjoy!
- A full-length swimming costume since we live in Australia and we’re constantly out in the harsh sun.
What is something you do just for yourself?
This time around I’ve spent more time focusing on little things that make me feel good. For instance, I’ve invested in a Keratin hair treatment which allows me to feel more confident and put together, while not spending loads of time trying to manage my unruly hair! Anything that makes my life easier is a game changer!
We all know COVID has brought a tremendous amount of challenges to everyone globally. Given that all of your and your partner’s family live abroad, and you’ve been unable to see them in person since giving birth, what have you found to be the biggest struggle without having in-country family support?
I’ve found the hardest thing to be finding people/other families that we can have the same comfort level with as we would our own family. Yes, we’ve made lots of friends and have even hired people to help us out, but it’s not the same and rolling up to your parents’ house, handing the kids over and not stressing because you know they’ll be loved like family!
How have you created a ‘community’ or a ‘village’ around you during this very busy (and sometimes challenging) time of life?
We found some great friends who are in similar stages of life as us and that has helped tremendously. We can support each other and be that ‘village’ that every family needs! It’s also important to us to surround ourselves with positive people that have a similar outlook on life – having people like this in our lives really helps keep us going when times get a bit stressful!
How do you manage to keep in touch and stay close with your family given the physical space between you?
I video call my parents every night. They live in Scotland, so it can be a bit difficult to get the timing right, but seeing their faces each night makes us feel like we’re not so alone! And because of COVID, they are always home and ready to take my call! ☺
Have there been any positive outcomes as a result of living abroad with your partner and kiddos during this time in your life?
There are definitely some positives to living abroad (Australia) with my husband and kids. While we miss our families and it can be very challenging at times, we’re taking advantage of all that Australia has to offer – there are so many amazing places to visit in-country and such an outdoor/active lifestyle. In addition, our circumstances have allowed us to really bond together as a family, especially during the unique times we are in! I’m sure we will remember this time fondly, as we’ve been able to enjoy so much quality time together in the past couple of years.
