Rebecca, 33 – Jack (2y), Daniel (4m)

“I remember when I had my first son, people would ask me “How are you enjoying motherhood?”. At this stage I was feeling deeply betrayed by all the glossy baby magazines I’d poured over while pregnant. They didn’t mention that motherhood was exhausting, frustrating, nerve racking and worst of all lonely. I imagined I’d be sitting in a rocker with my sleeping babe still being able to prepare home cooked dinners and remain the composed, organised and social person I was. Instead, overnight I become a complete emotional wreck and fell apart. It wasn’t till months later on the tip of exhaustion and a complete break down that I worked up the courage to ask for help. I realised I’d wasted so much time trying to be what society told me was the ‘got it together Mum’ and making my baby a ‘good baby’ that I’d almost missed out on being what my babies saw as the perfect Mum for them. My kids love me just the way I am, scatterbrained and all. So do you know what? Let the lounge be a bombsite, let the kids have plastic cheese for breakfast, let the load of washing wait another day because if you’re happy and your wee ones are happy, nothing else matters.”