A Bliss-Full Life
I gave birth 8?weeks ago to a beautiful baby girl. I must confess I am loving every moment with her. Maybe i the fact that I am flooded with oxytocin and the fact that I had a VBAC natural birth. I was due on the same day as the Duchess of Cambridge. My baby girl Luna came early on the lunar eclipse. My partner and I knew she would make her arrival harnessing the powerful energy of the full moon. We knew she was coming even before we conceived her.
The Experience
Like the Duchess who glowed with elegance and joy as she posed for photos with her 10 hour old baby Princess Charlotte she too had a natural drug free birth. I have not always found motherhood a universally glorious experience. I really struggled with my son, Lael. I found motherhood isolating, exhausting, relentless and I felt unsupported and that I had failed at motherhood before I had even begun. I had a traumatic emergency c-section with my son and I struggled to breastfeed. This was a catalyst of a series of events that left me gasping for air and facing the most difficult time in my life. By the time my son was 2 years old, I was a divorced single mother.
I feel blessed to be a mother again, to be given a second chance, to try not to screw it up and to be present and to savour each moment. I know how fast children grow as my son is now 6 years old. I am so proud of the incredible person he is becoming. I look at my daughter and I see a blank canvas. I can start a new path on my journey with motherhood with all the wisdom that I learned from my son. I know I must not allow my focus to be solely on my precious baby. My partner is just as important and so is my son. After going through a divorce, the lessons you learn are engraved on your heart.
Mindfulness for Mothers
I am the author of an award winning book called ?Mother Om?. I wrote my book when I was a single mum because I wanted to be a mother filled with compassion and grace. I was shouting at my son every day. I didn?t want to be that kind of mother so I went on a soul-searching journey to find another way to be in the world, one filled with acceptance and peace. I became a yoga teacher and created my business Yoga Mamata that now teaches mums, kids and families yoga and mindfulness. I am passionate about connection, community, compassion and a commitment to be a mindful mother.
Motherhood Is…
Motherhood can be bliss. It can be filled with moments that make your heart skip a beat, you can be present and you can find stillness in the chaos. You just need to be reminded to take a deep breath, let go of what isn?t serving you and have no expectations.
Even when my daughter won't settle, I am grateful that my touch soothes her helpless cry and my kisses calm her trembling body. I sing mantras to her and rub her forehead and rock her to sleep. I breastfeed her on demand and even when she wakes every 2 hours at night, I am so thankful that she chose me to be her mother.
Namaste.
About the author
Leonie is a loving mother, author and founder of Yoga Mamata. After her marriage suddenly ended, leaving her a single mother, she turned to her yoga practice for guidance. For over 15 years, Leonie has been practising Hatha yoga. She bought her first business YogaBugs in 2010 in Sydney’s east and became a qualified yoga teacher in 2011.
Leonie wrote Mother Om – Connect with yourself and your child in one mindful moment a day hoping to motivate, inspire and empower other mothers who find motherhood stressful. “Mother Om” is available to purchase for $24.95 at www.yogamamata.com
