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The good life is a process. One of taking risks and living intentionally. It’s not a state of just being. It is a journey not a destination, such is Motherhood. It’s goes in all sorts of directions like the way the wind blows. You never know which way it will gust, but you can bet its going in every direction for when you’re a mother and all the while it is carrying your essence, the lessons learned along the way, how you develop from them, and so much more along with you. The definition of a verb intensely relates to motherhood. Verb: Words that show an action, occurrence, (develop). Or state of being (exist). A verb is the main part of a sentence in the English language. Without them nothing would have action, productivity, endings, and beginning. All would be stagnant without a verb. That goes for mothers as well. Motherhood overflows with words of action, occurrence, state of being and development. All that is the make-up of being a mother arises from countless verbs, and what you do with them. Merriam-Webster may place the definition of Motherhood as a noun, but I’m shaking that up here, claiming Motherhood is a in fact, a verb. I chose four key verbs that I find define motherhood in its purest form. Not the everyday drive, help, teach, cook, clean, etc. These verbs dig deeper into the core of being a mother. They are the words that empower, establish, and carry us mothers. EMBRACE Accept or support (a belief, theory, or change) willingly and enthusiastically. It’s often said, “To embrace something is to dive into a world that acquires meaning only through active, conscious awareness, and participation.” That statement screams motherhood. Embracing is an action that is not effortless, or simple. The moment you have a child you are thrown into an entirely new arena, and it divides your life’s timeline. In an instant we start embracing our new self and life while combining it with who we are as individuals before having a child. And, in a literal sense we embrace our children with acceptance into our arms at their first breath. Not everything can be accepted or supported willingly with glee, but much can be. It takes balance, time, effort, discipline, energy, wisdom, and perseverance. Motherhood throws so much change, theories and so on at you that embracing is an incredible action being taken from day one, and an imperative one. The more we can embrace rather than endure, the happier mothers we will be. BECOME (BE) Begin to be, grow into; turn into. Become is the verb that intertwines all the instinctive, and the often-difficult notions of Motherhood together. It’s the intricate verb in full effect from that positive pregnancy test to when the water breaks. You’re about to become, then you do become. The actions from this word give us mothers our spirit, qualities, and uniqueness. Plus, raising children is an infinite learning process. Mothers are not given guides, or maps showing us what exactly to do. Mistakes are made left and right. Thankfully, failure is what gives us the best lessons, and without it we cannot evolve. So, we are always in a becoming state. Overall, having a child causes us to become and grow into a vast plain of things. We become warriors, lionesses, teachers, protectors, guides, role-models, oh, so much more! Become is the refining verb that is embedded in motherhood. CONQUER Overcome, and take control of. Climb successfully. Gaining mastery of. The journey of being a mother has roads paved with the verb conquer. As a mother you must face and handle our own personal obstacles, fears, struggles, and issues as well as your child’s. You’re not just looking out for yourself in life anymore. All the while you also are teaching them how to do it themselves. Life’s hard, and without the abilities this verb shouts we all would fall to never get back up. Every day in the life of a mother almost always involves some sort of need to master, gain, or overcome something. And, no matter how big or small, us mama's do this in a way unlike anyone else. Our kids are our cubs. You want to see fangs come out? Then mess with our children. You want to see some multi-tasking at its finest? Observe a mother from dusk until dawn. Motherhood brings out the parts of women that nothing else can and the way we conquer is on fire. The woman you see standing in the ring taking each punch well and getting back up each time with more confidence, that’s a mother. LOVE To have a strong liking for; take immense pleasure in. To need or require; benefit greatly from. Love: The foundational verb in Motherhood. Love holds the most impact within ourselves and our Motherliness. It is required just as much it is desired. Us mama's have been entrusted with another human being’s heart, mind, and soul. That’s mind blowing. As the old saying goes, “There’s no love like a mother’s love.” It’s true. It is a fierce and unconditional love. Our love for our children is bulletproof. It wipes out all other forms on a large scale. I’m not downgrading the other ways we love in relationships or over our passions, but in all ways that love is defined, it is magnified for a mother beyond measure. We are our children’s landing spots, we are their safe place. No one knows how to love our child like we do and vice versa. During motherhood not a second goes by without love being in action. It is the verb that gives Motherhood its meaning and stabilizes it amongst all the chaos that surrounds us. Among the limitless number of verbs that define Motherhood, I find these four showcase the exceptional, the parts that give being a mom a power it has that nothing else on this planet has access to. It is evident-- Motherhood is not merely abstract, it is in constant motion and requires much action, and states of being. It is to be lived and out loud. It is a verb. So, step back mama and take the time to embrace the positive changes that come with your new role. Embrace the new things having a child offers you to get to try, even to re-live. Support (embrace), spontaneity, and even risk. Being practical, safe, and always logical is not only overrated, it’s imprisonment. Yes, be wise, but not dull. Without embracing the experiences around us daily because, we will miss the stories that make up our lives. Embrace today, tomorrow doesn’t exist. Author: Rebecca Kirby Instagram: @the-rebecca_elizabeth Twitter: @Aposhsavage Facebook: @Aposhsavage

Devising a reading list may be slightly challenging when you're not sure what's out in the world of literature. Executing it may be even more challenging when you have children. However if you'e going to kick ass in this world mama, it goes without saying that reading should be one of the things at the top of your list. Set some time aside yeah day - before bed we're guessing or when the mini's are asleep read, read, read! We've made it that little bit easier for you with our guide to the top 3 books you really should be reading. 1. Little Black Book - By Otegha Uwagba (Amazon U.K. £4.00) The Sunday Time's Bestseller - The Little Black Book has been formulated with the career driven woman in mind and gives advice and strategies for being successful. The punchy no-nonese attitude to delivering and achieving success will leave you feeling truly motivated and inspired. 2. Feel The Fear & Do It Anyway - By Susan Jefferson (iTunes £5.95) Susan Jeffers get's us to challenge fear by facing it head on. Teaching us to tackle issues that are preventing us from moving forward in any area of our lives for a brighter and more fulfilled tomorrow. Whether it be negotiating a business deal, mending a broken relationship or living up to your full potential this is a read that should be read over and over again. 3. Milk and Honey - By Rupi Kaur (Amazon U.K. £6.74) #1 New York Times bestseller Milk and Honey is a beautifully crafted collection of simple, delicate poetry based on survival. Detailing violence, abuse, love, loss, and femininity.The book is divided into chapters, with each possessing teachings on healings of the heart.

Well, we all know that fashion is on constant rotation, but headbands are definitely a trend that we didn't expect to see again anytime soon. We're feeling like this may be a bonus for us mama's, as those early morning slogs to school with very little to no interest in brushing your mane, a headband that can push that heap of hair back, whilst making you look on trend simultaneously could definitely be an accessory sent from the heavens!Here's a guide to rocking some of the best headbands on right now. 1. Mango - Turban Headband £9.99 With British summer time about to grace us with it's presence, (although it certainly doesn't feel like it!) this little bright beauty from Mango is perfect for the forthcoming season. 2. Gucci - Floral Snake Print Headband $395 If you're looking for something a little striking and want to splash the cash a little, then the Gucci Floral Snake Print Headband might get your vote. The striking print and rich colours make for a truly bold statement piece. 3. &Other Stories - Floral Brocade Hairband £17 If you haven't guessed it already, floral is pretty big this season. &Other Stories have embraced he trend with this delicate brocade hairband with fine floral embroidery.

With a screeching toddler and lack of time being a a major factor it goes without saying that most mums find it a little hard to to pull together a decent outfit. The good old mum jeans are usually the first to be pulled out of the closet, alongside a pair of glum looking sneakers and any top within arms reach and voila we're good to go. Sadly this is the truth for many mama's and this style rut can happen to the best of us. Do not despair, the school run, trip to the museum, visit to the parents does not have to be a dressed down affair, lets jazz it up and inject some pazzaz into our key daily looks. Check out our 3 quick tips for fighting the mama frump. 1. Fashionista Friend We all have that one friend or at least know someone that no matter what, they always seem to look polished (yes, sometimes even with kids in tow) They are well groomed, nails neatly painted and smell like a vineyard in Italy. The trick is to not be ashamed of 'The Frump' once you've acknowledged it there is totally a way out of it! Enlist said friend on a shipping trip to help you pull together some quick go to key essentials. Book a day when you are child free and learn about your style and what key looks work for you and your personality. 2. DITCH the trainer (every once in a while at least!) Before said children most of us would revel over our amazing shoe collection, with 5" Pradas, Louboutins at the ready. But there was an adjustment when the mini's came. Sneakers of many kinds, Converse, Nike's,and the beloved Adidas Sheltoes bean to make an appearance and take over our shoe closet space. Yes. the reason is obvious, function over style of course, and not to mention the glares you would get from the other mama's in the school playground if you totted in in a pair of Loubotins. But we owe it to ourselves and to our style at least to rekindle our style, so when you're reaching for the battered sneakers for the fifth time this week, push them to the back and grab a pair of heels. 3. The Black Legging to burn or not to burn? Love them or totally loathe them mama, the black legging has to go. There was an era (perhaps in the 80's) when they were functional, but 30 years on and they've revisited and seem to not want to leave. We know, we know, they are totally easy to just throw on, no ironing, no thought and not to mention they are super affordable, but those reasons just don't cut it anymore. Set them aside and wear them for comfy days at home or for a day in the gym, it's time to say goodbye.

It begins in pregnancy… hormones take over and we begin feeling ourselves tear up at the news story of the kitten that was rescued from the well. Suddenly seemingly mundane articles that pop up on our social media, move us. We begin to empathise with the people we read about, put ourselves in their shoes and feel all the feelings. It doesn’t get any better. I assumed when pregnant, that all those feels that I was feeling were purely hormone-related. Wrong. The feels stayed. Not only did they stay, they expanded and started to permeate every aspect of my life. The joy was amplified. For some it is instant. BOOM goes the heart when your baby is born. For others it is more insidious, I know it was for me. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy when our daughter and eldest child was born but I didn’t have that overwhelming, heart-bursting feeling. I think I found the whole thing surreal initially, which I suppose you can associate with joy. I couldn’t believe it was happening, but in a good way (not in a – WTF why is this happening to me? way). The joy came in stages, it grew exponentially with her. Who would have thought something as simple as a smile could provoke such joy? Joy is defined as ‘a feeling of great pleasure or happiness’. It really is the foundation of being happy and is hard to imagine it could get any better. Except it does. The concept of joy doesn’t change but the ways in which you find it do. People often highlight the hardships of motherhood, the most common being: ‘enjoy your sleep now because soon you will be desperate for some.’ (If I had a penny for every time someone said that to me, pre-kids, I’d be rich.) What people often don’t share though, is that motherhood takes the little moments of joy and amplifies them. Watching your sleeping child, hearing them laugh, enjoying all the ‘firsts’ they experience. I suppose it isn’t groundbreaking news – your kids will bring you joy. In fact, it has been told so much it has become clichéd. The bit that surprised me though, was the ways in which children made me realise how little I need to make me happy. Take waking at 5am to your rambunctious toddler… not exactly joyful in theory, but on the days where you don’t feel like you are desperate to crawl back into bed, you can enjoy the sun rising on the day and the relative calm that comes with dawn. Suddenly 10 minutes to yourself with a cup of tea, in the afternoon whilst your child naps, becomes the therapy needed during a chaotic day. Or settling in on the couch at night to watch trashy reality TV with your husband is something you really look forward to. Motherhood can often feel like a time when you don’t have enough; enough sleep, enough money; enough time in the day. Really though, I think mothers are the eternal optimists. For we take the little moments, the little joys and find so much satisfaction in them, that they become the fuel that lights the fire in our hearts and minds, for our children, each and every day. Author: Jessie Parker is the owner of breastfeeding wear label, Borne Too. Her vision is for mums to maintain their sense of identity, to feel confident, comfortable and most of all to not be afraid to put themselves first. You can find more about Borne Too at: www.bornetoo.com.au Facebook: /bornetoo Instagram: @borne_too

The colour that many of us avoid, many wouldn't even dream of wearing and many associate with that of the lady of the night (a comment mostly made by our dearest mothers). So what is it about the infamous colour that makes us run a mile from it, when the colour signifies strength, power, confidence and sexiness all wrapped into one, why are we not embracing this amazing hue? If you're worried, don't be you can go bold or start small. Team a red gypsy dress with a dark biker jacket, a strong blouse with denim or for the shy at heart, just start with some super subtle lipstick. Whatever your choice, you'll knock 'em dead. Here are some of or key finds this week to get you started. 1. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Per Couture 2. River Oxblood red faux suede biker jacket 3. Topshop Mojito Striped Sock Boots

My hubby and I are ardent planners. Over the last 19 years, we’ve come to value having a roadmap for our journey together. Buying a one-story home we can easily maneuver later in our golden years? Yep. Having two kids, 3 years apart so “they could play together?” Uh-huh. Career moves that let us balance work and family time? Check-check. But, are we also learning flexibility because plans can change in a split second? You bet. My mom’s sudden death. My brother’s bout with cancer. Moving my dad in with us after a fall in his home. And so, so much more. We get it. In fact, we’ve come to expect the unexpected. We’re getting more comfortable stepping out of our comfort zones and into hard conversations and even harder decisions. I’m not bragging. I’m sharing this because – yet again – Life is reminding us that, while we’ve come a long way in balancing planning with faith and flexibility, we always have further to go. You see, if it’s God’s will, we’ll have a healthy baby boy in May. Yep, Baby #3. And I’m 47. In case it’s not clear: Another baby was not in our plans. In fact, I thought menopause was just around the corner (can you say periodic night sweats for almost a year?). So, you can imagine our shock when the home pregnancy tests lit up like Christmas trees. (I took 2 tests … can you blame me?) Sure, more women are having babies later in life. From celebrities like Halle Berry and Janet Jackson to everyday moms around the globe, each year thousands of women are having children well past age 45. I’ve read the stats. I just didn’t expect to be included in them. But, maybe it shouldn’t be such a surprise for me. My Granny Sykes gave birth to my aunt at 38. My Grandma Booker gave birth to her last child, my aunt, at age 40. And my own mom was knocking on 40 when I was born. Even considering family genetics, this mind-blowing nugget gives me pause: By age 44, the chances of becoming pregnant naturally are one percent. So, one oopsy and I’m a one-percenter? Yes, I am. It’s a whammy, for sure. But, it’s a special-edition whammy, one that reminds me there’s nothing wrong with making plans. Just make room for God’s plans while you’re at it, too. We’re gratefully now in the third trimester. My all-day nausea is gone, and lots of extra testing is complete. We continue to pray daily for a healthy baby, for our well-being and for guidance on how to flex our lives yet again. I created my blog last year to reflect on Life’s teachable moments, some tiny and others not so small. At the time, little did I know what new lessons Life would tee up for me. And in what form they would show up. The irony of the blog’s title and tag line – stretch & grow: how life loves to expand us, from the inside out – only makes me chuckle as I pat my expanding tummy. And, as much as I’m already stretching and growing physically, I can only imagine all the lessons I’ll learn from such a gift as Baby Dancy. Karin Dancy is a freelance writer, copy editor and blogger. Her writing explores motherhood, family and elder care, and spirituality–usually with a healthy dash of humor. She blogs monthly, writes scripts for major events, and edits everything from book manuscripts to academic dissertations. Karin lives in the southeastern U.S. with her hubby, two kids and 80-something-years-young dad who’s quite frisky. KarinDancy.com StretchGrow.blog Instagram: Karin Dancy Facebook: Stretch Grow Blog

This thing happens when you become a mum; you suddenly have too many clothes. Too many clothes that you feel like you can’t wear. You are in closet-limbo… not wanting to get rid of the beautiful nostalgic reminders from your clubbing (a.k.a freedom) days and not wanting to accept that you just might be stuck with your new mum-tum. We've broken it down into the three main ‘drobes: 1. Pre-baby clothing. All the beautiful things you bought because they looked great, you could wear them on a night out with the girls, well, you could wear them full stop. Now they either don’t fit or are so supremely impractical, that they just hang there – like museum pieces. Too precious or expensive to throw away but too nice to place on rotation in every day mum life. Maternity wear. All the stuff you bought to fit your growing bump. Stretchy pants, maternity tees, baby shower or special occasion dresses designed to accommodate your baby belly. Not to mention the support garments, the belts, the bands and the undies used to relieve your spine of the weight the resident baby has added. And most importantly – maternity bras, bigger, slightly uglier bras made for containing milk-makers but oh-so-comfy.Some of this clothing still gets a look in, but mostly you are just keeping it ‘for next time’. The rest. These are the pieces of clothing that you wear on high rotation. Made up mostly of high street specials because the kids spew/wipe/excrete stuff on you on the regular – no point trying to wear something ‘nice’. We don’t invest in this wardrobe because we hope it will be temporary, because we feel like there’s no point. We hope to shift the baby weight, or we hope our baby will grow out of her reflux and stop throwing up left, right and centre. It all can be thrown in the washing machine and lacks the personal style we once may have prided ourselves on. The sad reality is though, that this wardrobe is what becomes our new ‘go-to’ and so many women don’t feel like it is worth investing in. So how do we combine the three wardrobes? How do we fix this situation? Well, look there are some things that are pretty hard to get use out of post-baby (i.e. support garments, I’m yet to see someone rocking some preggo knickers in a number of different, stylish ways). It’s all about versatility. Finding pieces that are going to work over all three wardrobes. Like a kimono for example: perfect for evening wear or getting dressed up (tick: pre-baby clothing), great when pregnant (tick: maternity wardrobe) and super useful for dressing up any ‘mumsy’ outfit (tick: the rest). Finding comfy, quality, stretchy clothing will take you through all stages of motherhood – it can stretch over a bump and be worn with some pretty accessories to take it to another level. When you buy something for yourself, see if you can think of at least 3 different ways you can wear it… get more bang for your buck! I’m so passionate about mums investing in themselves, not being afraid to put themselves first. Clothing is an easy and totally justifiable way to start. Invest in quality pieces that will go the extra mile, instead of styles only found on the bargain-rack is a great way to begin filling your own cup. Author: Jessie Parker www.bornetoo.com.au Facebook: /bornetoo Instagram: @borne_too

When it comes to motherhood loneliness has to be one of the most relatable topics, however one of the least discussed subjects. The constant cycle of feeding, changing, tidying and washing (not to mention everything else in between) can begin to resemble something quite similar to Ground Hog day on steroids. Hold tight mama's. Understand that you are not alone on this journey and many are facing the same feelings too. So let's fight the stigma attached to loneliness and help one another 1. A smile and a "hello" mean so much. We are challenging you mama's to be bold and talk to all the mama's you meet, whether it be at baby groups, in the supermarket or on that brisk walk. Get talking, sharing and laughing with some other like minded mama's. 2. Pick up the phone Routine can set in so much that it is is so easy to lose contact with people. The world is also so fast paced that messages and emails can be missed. Let's take it back and actually 'pick up the phone'. Call that friend you haven't spoken to in over a month because your plans to get together keep falling flat, after all a phone call is better than no contact at all. 3. Plan a group meet up Getting to gather with a group of mama's can be so much fun. With so many different age groups of children, parenting techniques and tips there can be so much to learn. It's also sometimes a lot easier to plan a group meet up, because we feel more compelled and committed to attending. Check out the amazing Mush Mums app that allows you to meet up with other local mothers for playdates or a simple coffee. It's a fab way to meet new people and who know's you may find a new mama bestie.

There are days when our outfit's of choice should be killer, but when we step in front of the mirror our reflection is a little, meh. The thing is, accessories aren't given enough attention and what should be counted as essential pieces to our wardrobes is completely overlooked. Now, if harnessed well they can make us look sharper, smarter and put together in under 5 minutes. So, check out the accessories that will transform that outfit in an instance and give you ultimate style steal status! 1. Clutch it up baby! A statement clutch is an ultimate 'go to' this season, for night or daytime looks. If that fit is a little lack luster and needs a bit of help, then team with a bold clutch to add a bit of oomph! I love the way Posh has added a furry oversized clutch that brings depth and uniqueness to her look. 2. Sunglasses (oversized preferably!) Nothing says "i'm chic and super stylish" than a pair of oversized sunglasses. Worn with practically anything, from summer dress, tee and jeans to classic work attire they can instantly transform your look from mundane to movie star status in seconds. 3. Statement stilleto's Posh always gets it right and has nailed it with these eye watering, sky scraping, hot black stilleto's. This look works perfectly for the evening, but can be done during the day, if you can pull it off! If not, get a shorter heel height (ideally about 4") as theres nothing worse than a woman totting about in heels that she clearly can't handle.