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Instagram post 2180677945264293037_4038845033 Today, I’m an 8 year old mom. Where did the time go?⠀ ⠀ The journey from Adam to this baby has been long, at time arduous and full of lessons. Since it’s his 8th birthday, I’m going to share the 8 biggest ones with you.⠀ ⠀ ⚡️Fed is best. Yes, breastmilk is the best for our babies BUT there are often extenuating circumstances. I know this x2 (more on this soon). What we all want is a healthy thriving baby.⠀ ⠀ ⚡️The days are LONG. The cycle of momming while managing life is hard. It gets harder with multiple kids. We should be able to acknowledge that WITHOUT feeling guilt and the constant need to say we’re grateful (that goes without saying) ⠀ ⚡️The years are so short. I feel like we brought Adam home from the hospital yesterday. So yes- enjoy every second of them. BUT, stop telling every mom with a baby that they grow up fast. She knows!⠀ ⠀ ⚡️Time not toys. With Adam, we got him ALL the toys. But I’ve realized 8 years and 3 kids later is that kids want our time and attention. They’re happy playing with some plastic containers and wooden spoons.⠀ ⠀ ⚡️Prepare them. We want to make and keep our kids happy, but they will have to experience the negative emotions. It’s better to equip them with the tools to manage those emotions than shelter them from experiencing them.⠀ ⠀ ⚡️Boundaries are essential. Yes, they lived inside your body and came out of your girl parts. But you must impose boundaries around privacy and appropriate behavior. Healthy boundaries = a happier family and a child who feels safe because they know their limits.⠀ ⠀ ⚡️Trust x2. Have trust in your instincts as a parent and build trust with your kids. You know your kids best. Believe that. And be a person of your word. Follow through when you promise them something. You are going to model to them how to believe in themselves and also be people of integrity.⠀ ⠀ ⚡️The love only grows. When Adam was born, I thought I could never love another human being this much. But the truth is that I do. I love the person he is today even more. And that love will only continue to grow, even as it gets divided between siblings.⠀ ⠀ What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a mom?⠀ ⠀ #momlife
Instagram post 2177792864250134547_4038845033 New motherhood is a minefield- whether it’s your first time on the merry-go-round or your third.⠀ ⠀ I often get messages from friends asking me how I’m doing and how we’re adjusting to life as a family of five.⠀ ⠀ Truth: each day is different- and even parts of every day are different.⠀ ⠀ For example, yesterday, swimming went great- unlike last week when it was a total disaster. But once we got home, I had two kids in two different bathrooms yelling for help, an oven timer going off with food about to burn and a screaming baby.⠀ ⠀ That’s the reality of parenting. As you add more kids to the mix, it just gets more unpredictable, adventurous, exciting and challenging.⠀ ⠀ I honestly thought going into it the third time that I was prepared for it. And in many ways, this has been the easiest adjustment so far but there are still challenges.⠀ ⠀ Not having family nearby can be a huge challenge, because it leaves you without a safety net to fall back on.⠀ ⠀ There are moments when friends you thought would show up are nowhere to be found minus the perfunctory phone call or message.⠀ ⠀ There are trips to the pediatrician, the lactation consultant, the sprints through the grocery store or Target as the baby wails.⠀ ⠀ There are mountains of laundry, unexpected ailments, problems feeding the baby, a baby that won’t sleep at all or sleeps too much, and a million other things that you couldn't have imagined, much less planned for.⠀ ⠀ My mantra for this phase is: it only gets better.⠀ ⠀ Slowly, there are more days when everything goes beautifully- you get a 5 hour stretch of sleep, the kids are all in a good mood, your bestie brings you fresh baked cinnamon rolls and life is amazing.⠀ ⠀ I've learned that it's so essential to work on your mindset so it’s less about what you have to do and more about what you HAVE- build those time management skills and incorporate some productivity tricks, indulge in some self-care and cut out the unnecessary things that are taking away time from everything else. Even being the lynchpin for your family, don't forget you're also YOU and you need time.⠀ ⠀ I'd love to know- what is/was your greatest new mom struggle?⠀
Instagram post 2159748153782513436_4038845033 ⠀ My earliest memory of Canada is visiting Niagara Falls a few weeks after we’d arrived as landed immigrants. It was November- and utterly freezing. It was so cold in fact that a sheet of ice had frozen over the falls and you could see the fall rushing behind the ice.⠀ ⠀ This was decades ago and since then, I’ve travelled from Tokyo to Timbuktu but I can honestly tell you- watching that water rush behind the sheet of ice, illuminated by the lights they have pointed at the Falls, is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.⠀ ⠀ It was also the first time I felt like that this place- with all its differences and foreign things could be home. That I could start building an identity that included being from a certain place.⠀ ⠀ You see- I was born in a country that doesn’t give birthright citizenship. Despite being born there- my connection to it is the name of the country of my birth in my passport- Saudi Arabia.⠀ ⠀ My heritage is from a country that I’ve never lived in. I can speak the language, wear the clothes, eat the food- but the actual feeling of being “from” that place eludes me.⠀ ⠀ Canada gave me the identity of being from somewhere- and that identity is the rock on which I built my life. The person I am today wouldn’t be possible without that feeling of belonging to an incredibly diverse mosaic that values all people. ⠀ ⠀ But my Canada is changing. There are people who would limit immigration so that other kids like me can’t come and build their futures secure in their identity as a Canadian.⠀ ⠀ There are people who seek to stoke the fire of hate and division, and promote an us vs them narrative that is so damaging to our pluralistic society.⠀ ⠀ Today, you have the power to decide what kind of Canada you want to live in. By voting, and voting responsibly, you can take back the narrative from those who want to change the trajectory of our country and follow the regrettable path of our neighbours in the south. ⠀ ⠀ Every vote counts. Please don’t waste yours. ⠀ ⠀ Do you remember the first time you voted in a federal election?⠀ ⠀ #electionscanada #canadavotes #dontforgettovote
Instagram post 2154801420786830298_4038845033 And baby makes it the Happily Five!⠀ ⠀ We are so thrilled to share that we welcomed the newest member of our family this weekend! ⠀ ⠀ Adam and Zaydu are completely in love with their new baby brother and we are all excited to embark on this new adventure of figuring out how to be a family of 5.⠀ ⠀ Please remember us and Happily Baby in your prayers- that he be healthy, strong and a source of goodness and joy to all those around him! ⠀ ⠀ And yes- I will now and forever be #momofboys 😍
Instagram post 2151821660892801870_4038845033 Change is hard. It’s also scary. The idea of stepping into the unknown can stop us from doing so many things.⠀ ⠀ However, the reality is that without change, we become stagnant. Our lives become monotonous. We stop learning, growing, developing.⠀ ⠀ When we first found out we had another little one on the way, I was terrified. Ok. I won’t lie. I’m still terrified. I feel like I’ve built my life as it stands today, block by block to be something that works for all of us- where my husband and I are able to give the best of our selves to each other and the two munchkins who are our everything.⠀ ⠀ There’s a lot of fear that comes with stepping into the unknown. How will this new baby be? What will it be like to be officially outnumbered by our kids- to have more kids than hands to hold them? How will the boys adjust? How will we fit 3 car seats in the car? What will it change when it comes to my work? Will Zaydu eat the baby? All real, valid questions I’ve stressed about over the course of this pregnancy.⠀ ⠀ Here’s something that I’ve finally come to realize.⠀ ⠀ Yes- over the next few weeks- our lives are going to transform and change. Things will be different. Maybe Zaydu will get a bite of the baby but I’m hoping we can prevent that from happening (hopefully🤞🏼).⠀ ⠀ But each and every one of us will be better for the change.⠀ ⠀ We will multiply the love in our hearts, our home and our family. Adam will get to practice being an incredible big brother. Zaydu will learn how exciting it is to have someone to boss around. All of us will get to bask in that new baby smell and have the incredible blessing of nurturing and growing another life.⠀ ⠀ What a gift that is.⠀ ⠀ And while I’m sure there will be challenges, sleepless nights, a ton of adjustments, an equal amount of tears and frustration- we will all learn, grow and change and come out better, stronger and more resilient on the other side.⠀ ⠀ Change is coming. Don't quite know when it's going to arrive but here's to hoping that it's a source of goodness for all of us ✨⠀ ⠀ Are you terrified of change or do you embrace it?
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