Mums that rock – Ali Bailey – London

Meet beautiful model Beauty  expert and mama if 2 Ali Bailey

what is the best advice you have been given on parenting? Do what works best for you and your family. There isn’t one way that works for everyone

what are your kids’ favourite foods? My daughter will eat most things, apart from cottage cheese, this she cannot be around because of the smell. My son on other hand does eat cottage cheese but is fussy about a lot of other foods. When I weaned him he ate everything I cooked. Then about 18 months old he suddenly got very fussy. I was persistent and eventually after months of not touching any green vegetables, got him to eat broccoli. We got there in the end!

what is your favourite meal to cook for the family? We do HelloFresh each week so it’s always different meals each week. I love the variety.

what three items do you always have in your bag when out with your kids? Hand wipes, tissues and cream for my sons eczema.

How would you describe your parenting style? I try to be consistent. I’ve always been consistent about bedtimes and try and have a routine. I find it works well for my kids to have that routine and helps me to structure my life around them!

what have you found to be the hardest part of your motherhood journey? I found the start when they were babies very hard. Not knowing what they wanted when cried. My daughter had colic for the first 3 months and it was so exhausting. Basically motherhood really knock me for six (is that the right saying??) sleep deprivation is indeed a form of torture!

what is the best part of motherhood? The smiles, the cuddles, hearing the first time they say “mama I love you”, it may be the most exhausting thing, but motherhood is the most rewarding too.

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Mums that rock – Tanja Gullestrup Lowes – London

Inspiring honest words  from  mama of 3 – the very beautiful Tanja. Please check out her website and the incredible work she is doing. www.thegivingtreefoundation.co.uk
what is the best advice you have been given on parenting?
* If you go to bed every night knowing you did your best for your kids, that is all that counts.
what are your kids’ favourite foods?
* My kids love spaghetti bolognese made with organic beef mince & edamame spaghetti – they find the green spaghetti funny to look at but delicious to eat! They also love anything with peanut butter in it including apple peanut butter “donuts” topped with almond flakes.
what is your favourite meal to cook for the family?
* Tacos with organic beef mince, peppers, gem lettuce, avocado and fried onions topped off with lots of cheddar cheese & salsa
what three items do you always have in your bag when out with your kids?
* Hand Sanitiser, snacks and SNAP cards (particularly useful when waiting at restaurants or on the bus!)
How would you describe your parenting style?
* I asked my 8 year old daughter how she views my parenting style, as I thought it would be refreshingly honest – which it was.
She said my style is strict, loving and fun. I agree with her opinion and would caveat it with when she says I am strict; there are very clear boundaries and I always push my kids to be the best version of themselves and push them when I know they’re more than capable of a particular task/ situation. It’s important that they understand that even though there are firm boundaries; I love them unconditionally and that I was once a child and understand the importance of having fun!
what have you found to be the hardest part of your motherhood journey?
*Receiving my middle child’s autism diagnosis when he was 2 years old and not knowing how he would be affected by his autism; I felt absolutely helpless. Five years into our journey with him, thanks to Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) he has defied all odds and I helped me evolve as a mother who is patient and selfless.

what is the best part of motherhood?

Waking up every day to our gorgeous children Athena, Konstantin & Archibald that chose me to be their mother and all the wonderful lessons they teach me. God has truly blessed me with them.