What I wish I'd known before having kids.

Separation and the journey to accepting change

Sometimes our path through separation hits us when we least expect it. It's all a process and sometimes it's cathartic to have a good cry and acknowledge the journey is part of the process.

PMS or PMDD

Feel like you're losing your mind every month? Do you find yourself without energy or drive? Ever heard of PMDD? Have a listen. You never know, maybe it can help explain your symptoms and start you on the path to getting some relief.

Do the words we use really matter?

Whilst talking about our feelings has started to become more normal, the unfortunate reality is that mental health and words like anxiety and depression still have a social stigma attached to them. By the same token, words like 'overwhelmed' are so overused that they've lost their power and significance. This leaves a confusing gap in what to call our experiences and how we're feeling when things aren't ok. I'm going to explore the importance we place on words and why I think that we're doing ourselves as disservice by getting hung up on labelling our experiences. Let's remember "a rose by any other other name would smell as sweet" and try to use it in this situation ..."anxiety by any other name would still be a mama suffering"  Using words like overwhelm, fed-up, depression or not-coping still show that someone is asking for help and collectively by being honest we are working towards normalising struggles for mamas. I know, it's not QUITE as eloquent as Shakespeare, but I think it's pretty close ;) well, it gets the point across anyway :) Have a good Thursday lovely mamas xx

What I wish I'd known before having kids.

This is a short episode where I share the top three things I wish I'd known before having kids. Being a mama is hard work and while I wouldn't change it for the world, there are some things it would've been helpful to know ;) ...and some days I seriously consider changing it for a lot less than 'the world'...some days I'd swap it for a hot cup of coffee and a decent sleep! What are your top three things you wish you'd known before having kids?  Head over to Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theanxiousoverachievermama or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theanxiousoverachievermama/ and let me know what you wish you'd know...or just say hi :) xx

A brief intro to Honest Mama Says with Daniela Stow

Whilst this podcast has been a dream for many years, I created it tonight with zero planning and decided to publish this short intro before I lose my nerve to publish it at all! I promise to improve the sound quality before my first 'real' episode and find a funky intro song to go with it :) Come back and have a good laugh with me (not at me ;)) around my experiences with mental health as a mama and leave feeling just a little more supported and a little less worried. Mamas, together we're stronger! Daniela x