It’s 8:21 PM, and I’m sitting on the floor between my children’s beds, typing away. The house is finally quiet, but my mind isn’t. I’m reflecting on the past few days—frustrating, overwhelming days.

I keep wondering: Is it me? Am I just stressed?
Or is it them? Are they just extra overactive this week?
It’s definitely them, right? Because, honestly, this week hasn’t even been that busy.

A few days ago, my son did something, and I spanked him. I don’t know if he was surprised because, while I’m a no-nonsense mum—full of consequences and threats—I rarely spank. But this day? This was one of those days. And honestly, I don’t regret it. It wasn’t one of those moments filled with guilt.

Why Are They Like This?

I don’t like this version of myself that I see when I’m pushed to my limits. The version where my kids act 100x worse when I’m around. Yes, I know it means they feel safe with me, but does it have to be this frustrating?

Why should it take them ten times longer to respond to me? Why do I have to repeat instructions like a broken record?

I’ve even started questioning the basics—like, how important is it really to take a bath every night? I mean, some people don’t bathe daily, right? What’s the actual worst that can happen if I let some things slide? If I let them keep ignoring me?

Motherhood vs. The Internet Version

Girrrrrllllll… I AM TIRED AND TRIGGERED!

I know it’s not just me, and I know it’s not just my kids either. But sometimes, it feels like my kids are the opposite of everyone else’s “good” and “well-behaved” children.

You know the ones—the perfectly captioned, aesthetically curated images with beige backdrops and an angelic child turning a new age. The ones where motherhood looks so effortless, so perfect. But on this side of the internet? Parenting isn’t perfect. My kids aren’t perfect. And right now, I’m just a tired mum, sitting on the floor in the dark, documenting this moment.

Someday Soon, This Too Shall Pass

It’s now 8:33 PM. One kid is still awake, tossing and turning, asking random questions—his restless mind refusing to shut down.

Boy, if you don’t sleep now…

Phew. I don’t know if this rant will make me feel better. But if nothing else, I want to remember this moment. Because someday soon, it will all converge and make sense. Someday soon, this too shall pass.

I still don’t know why my kids have been acting like this (maybe it’s the full moon?), but I’m holding onto hope that tomorrow will be a better day.

It's that time of the year when I take stock and tell you about my blogging journey in the previous year and share my goals for the new year. 

My Blogging journey in 2022 was up and down. I got some collaborations but not as much as I would love and honestly, as a Blog, I really don't just want to do blogging campaigns the way it's done in this country by doing ads and just getting briefs that sometimes you as the creator know won't work for your audience. I really wanted to get to that place where I could say no to offers that didn't align with my brand. I found my voice in 2022 and I told a brand I wasn't interested in their business if they kept stressing me the way they were, I told another brand I would only speak the truth about my experience with their products as they gave me a list of words they wanted me to say. I only said the ones that were true about my own experience with the product. I could do that because I have another source of income and I wasn't desperate for their money and it was just a plus. I wrote fewer articles in 2022 because it was my first year as a mum of 2 and I am still navigating all that it entails. 

This year I am hoping to work with just brands that align with my audience and what will mean a lot to them when it comes to ads and for brand campaigns, I am hoping to work with brands who don't just want to dish out briefs and send to all the bloggers in the niche to execute the same things but actually find campaigns that are meaningful to each of the creators so they can make it theirs, I think the marketing will be more effective. For any brand that would love to work with me in that direction, I am open to discussions on brand alignment and values. 

Read 2022 Blog recap here.

Let's talk about what was achieved last year from the post.

• No Tv very early: I have a lot more knowledge on the reasons why I shouldn't allow screen time so early and I am hoping to be able to put that knowledge to in motion. I don't know how it will work out because obviously, my son has TV time and don't know how practical it will be to not allow a baby watch the TV that is right there but hey! That's my intention.
• Try to sleep train earlier: I tried sleep training my son when he was little but it was such a hassle and I gave up too easily, so as he grew up we now only sleep trained again at 3 years old and now, he still wakes up every day at midnight without fail and that can be frustrating for me. 
• Get a high chair: I heard this from a mums24 when she was telling me about her daughter and the difference having a high chair made in her feeding habits and all. I didn't even get a high chair for my first but we got a table and chair for him when he turned 2 but he still will stand up and run around. I am hoping that the high chair will help with feeding.
• Start homeschooling earlier: I will be more purposeful with my child's learning from birth as against waiting till 1-year-old or 18 months. 
• Might breastfeed a little after 12 months: I would love to extend the breastfeeding till after 12 months, even if it is by pumping and storing. I felt guilty about how I stopped breastfeeding at 12months! 
• Enjoy the newborn phase more: My son's birth was something and I didn't get to enjoy the newborn phase as much as I would have loved to, I was depressed most of the time, so I intend to enjoy the newborn phase more when my second child comes, be happy and make the moments count.
• NO CO-SLEEPING!!!!! END OFF!!!! 😂😂😂

What will you/did you do differently with your second child?

• Homeschooling Feelings Theme 
• Homeschooling Independence Theme
• Why I decided to Homeschool
• Why we should take our children's privacy seriously
• How to feel zero shame as a stay at home mum