Author: Mumma Knows

In short. Yes!

If you can afford it, give it a go for 6 months and see if it works for your family .

Do yourself a favour and just book the cleaner – I’ll save you the research: Absolute Domestics are a decent agency – or ask around. Cleaners cost between $25 per hour (cash in hand) – $40 per hour for an agency cleaner.

I have two cleaners – once a fortnight a three hour deep clean $90 (bathrooms, windows etc.) on the opposite week I have a ‘Mother’s Helper/Tidier’ who helps out with washing /tidying /organising for two hours at $50.

This costs our family $70 per week.*

There is still a great deal of daily cleaning, washing etc. that I need to do to keep the house running but the extra help keeps it to a manageable level.

It also helped a lot with the feeling of simmering resentment that was building up by bearing the full brunt of the child rearing and household chores/mental load and working.

I have two children (3 and 5) I’m at work 20 hours per week. My husband works up to 60 hours per week and his contribution towards the housework and child rearing midweek is minimal. He bulk cooks for our family and is a devoted Dad on the weekends.

We were both putting in 100% effort but there were still gaps that needed to be filled.

I consider it a badge of honour if my friends allow me to visit their messy home. I always tidy up for a big party of planned event – but if you are my tribe – if you ‘pop-in’ to visit me on a regular basis, you will see my house in various states or tidy (the days the cleaner has been or possibly total disarray (the days after I have worked two days in a row and before I have started tidying.

I’m ok with that, I would rather see you smiling face. Let our kids play and add the mess than not have you visit at all.

I’d rather the kids play with their stuff, the playdough, the arts and crafts, the splashy baths, the glitter the glue and those teeny tiny beads.

With enough warning of your visit, sure I’ll do the mad ‘Visitors are coming – I need a space at the dining table to sit!’

I have made it a habit to not apologise for the mess, instead, I say – welcome, make yourself at home. Would you like a cup of coffee!

Scary Mommy – Stop apologising for your messy home – I hear you sister!

This page is a shout out to the amazing women I know who have followed their dreams and started their own Business

Rachel and Bridget and Oser Design – for all your home Styling needs.

Bonfire Candles
They create distinctive, eco friendly, triple scented soy candles with unisex appeal that ignites discovery and warms the soul of our candle tribe. Each candle is hand wicked, hand poured and hand labeled using small batch processes and 100% natural soy wax.

Calculator that makes unpaid women’s Work Visible

The Second Shift

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Ideas to make your hospital stay more comfortable

• Ice packs for your lady bits (you might have to ask for them).
• Panadol is good for after birth pains.
• Consider asking for a stool softener like Metamucil
• Don’t feel like you need to accept visitors – especially for the evening visiting hours – (if you don’t want to).
  Mum and baby are resting/sleeping should be enough reason for people not to visit.
• Heat packs are good for muscle aches and pains postpartum
• Be prepared to turn away anyone who visits who is not in 100% health.
• If it stings when you wee, a pump bottle with warm water poured between your legs when you wee helps too.
• If you have a little freezer (or fridge) in your room put some water on two huggies nappies to make boobie ice packs.

During your hospital stay

If you’re well enough to, it helps to go outside and see the sun and get some fresh air during the day. Being in hospital with a newborn can be a weird time vortex where days blur into nights.

A bit of fresh air and sunshine helps with keeping a good sleeping pattern.

I barely left the room for 5 days when we had our first baby and it felt so good to breathe the air and see the sun when we left.

Seems silly now but I felt like I couldn’t leave the hospital (we also had a constant revolving door of visitors) although in hindsight there was no reason I couldn’t have left our daughter with my husband for 10mins to have a quiet coffee and a few minutes alone to gather my thoughts.

Remember
Motherhood is a marathon, not a sprint, you’ve got a lifetime to get to know your baby as do all of your enthusiastic visitors

If you’re not up for visitors it won’t hurt anyone to wait until you’re ready (immediate Grandparents would be the exception – wild horses will not keep them away!

Consider asking all family to have their Whooping Cough Vaccination if they will be visiting baby during the first 6 weeks.

When you get home

It’s a six week recovery time so be gentle on yourself.

A gentle postpartum massage by a qualified therapist is great for smoothing out postpartum aches and pains.

It takes a while to recover from the birth you’ll get your body back (almost) like before in a few months.

If you thought your Music Festival Days were over now that you’re a parent, think again.

Whilst not for the faint-hearted if you arm yourself with an appetite for adventure, a sense of humor and a big bag of patience – a great time can be had by all!

Splendour in the Grass oh how we love you!
‘Little Splendour’ designed especially for kids and including optional paid babysitting services for 2-hour blocks.

Let us guess… you used to go to festivals but now some rock tots and young punks are cramping your style? Don’t leave them at home. Bring them to Splendour with you!

At Splendour in the Grass, children aged 12 and under get in for free! We have families covered with a chilled-out camping area, Rock & Roller Wagons, babysitting, Little Splendour (a festival for kids within the festival) and more.

LITTLE SPLENDOUR
Let’s hear it for the Kidz! Little Splendour, presented by Kidzklub Australia is here to save the day…for parents. We’ve got your back so you’ll never have to miss your favourite act. From preschoolers to preteens, Little Splendour is a whole world of wonder for the entire fam.

Opening from 10am to 5pm daily, Little Splendour is fully fenced and secured and designed exclusively for parents, carers and vertically challenged tots to relax, play and unleash their wild side.
*As published on the Splendour in the Grass website https://www.splendourinthegrass.com/family/little-splendour/ 

Woodford Folk Festival is a family event.

Tamworth Country Music Festival

Blues and Roots Festival

One of the fun parts of parenting is celebrating each year with a cake.

From the $5 Woolies mud cake covered in smarties to extravagant fondant masterpieces you can be sure that it will be a highlight to your child.

If you love making cakes by all means – go all out, but if it’s not your thing – don’t stress there is no shame in ordering a cake from the local bakery or picking up a $5 sponge or mud cake from Woolies.

Play your strengths!

Watermelon cake

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Woolies Cake Hacks

No time to go clothes shopping anymore try the fabulous Birdsnest

Beautiful ‘Mum Clothes’ Mombasa Rose

Comfortable affordable streetwear Decujba

Stunning one-piece swimsuits Sunseeker

Best Lingerie – OMG Victoria’s Secret now delivers to Australia!