1) What do you love most about being a Mother?
For me, it’s about changing the narrative. Instead of leaning into kid culture, we aim to exist as a family unit. We home-birthed, homeschool, attachment parent, and live holistically and I see my role as supporting the children to become the most authentic versions of themselves. On a day to day basis this means creating (and allowing) space for them to explore who they are in relation to everything around them (rather than being sat in a classroom) but also raising them as sovereign beings who think critically and consciously about the world around them. I think they are the most fantastic little people and I feel so honoured to be their mother and to get to spend time with them.
2) What do you wish you had known before you became a Mother?
I wish I had known that I would never be the same again. Not only do you have a portion of your heart walking around outside of your body (multiple times if you have more than one child) but becoming a mother seems to unlock the door to your soul. I have never felt so vulnerable as I have since becoming a mum and whilst I have always been a sensitive person, I feel things more strongly than ever before. It’s a rite of passage, a journey that cracks you open in the most beautiful way so that we may heal not only ourselves and the women that went before us but pave the way ahead for our children too.
3) Has anything surprised you about being a Mother?
How confronting it is for others when you choose to do things differently to how they did it. I was not prepared for this at all but nothing gives you more conviction in your decisions than when someone else challenges them.
4) As a Mother, it can be difficult to find time for you! What ways do you practice self care?
This is definitely a big challenge. I also think there’s a toxic culture online right now of making mothers feel they should be taking more ‘me’ time. We absolutely need to be resting and demonstrating that rest and self-care to our children but to suggest getting up at 5am everyday and having a 3 hour routine that you follow before you tend to your children puts so much pressure on modern mothers who are already juggling so much. I think if we can move our bodies for 20-30 minutes a day, whether its some stretching or a walk up and down the road, stay nourished and hydrated (the biggest game changer for me and I really notice when I forget to look after myself in this way), prioritise sleep (over 5am wakes) and a little me time each day, we’re doing a good job. My favourite thing to do is to read for 20 minutes with my legs up the wall at the end of the day or do a 10 minute visualisation once the kids are in bed. I know things feel really busy right now but in 10 years time, we’ll have more time to ourselves and we’ll really miss these days.
5) What natural essentials could you not live without?
A water filter, natural mattresses, undyed cotton underwear and pyjamas, my homeopathic kit, activated charcoal (to battle everything they put in their mouths), red light bulbs and Gooseberry Fool essentials of course :).
6) How do you incorporate values of sustainability and slow living into your daily life?
This comes very naturally to us as we work from home and homeschool so we can incorporate it into our daily lives. We take the time to make conscious decisions about what to eat, what we do, what we wear, etc and we tend to discuss these decisions as a family. We support a regenerative farm which is where we get most of our food. We spend time there getting to know how they grow the food and nurture the land and as a result we fuel our bodies with their nutrient dense produce. We homeschool and one of the key reasons is to be in control of the rhythm of our lives. We prefer to have a clearer schedule so we can live with intention and pursue our interests freely (the local library is a fantastic resource for us) and when we need to buy something, we prefer to support independent and sustainable businesses such as Conscious Craft, Gooseberry Fool and Beaumont Organic.
7) Finally, what is your favourite gooseberry fool piece?
The hardest question by far as everything is so gorgeous! I love the striped cardigans, the blankets and the bonnets and I can’t wait for another baby so I can cover them head to toe with Gooseberry Fool goodness.
You can find out more about the work that Abi does over on the rebrandr website or you can follow her over on Instagram.
Images from the very talented Flora Westbrook and Elisha Pickles.