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Mom Speak : 'Post-Adoption Depression'

Editor's Note : This was first posted by Sushi Targett on her blog on the occasion of World Mental Health Day. I asked her if I could publish it on the Times of Amma, as well as I had never heard anyone speak or write about it. I hope that by sharing this important post here, I will be able to amplify her message through the Times of Amma community. Today on World Mental Health day whilst all mothers talk about post natal depression let me introduce to you something new, som

Mom Speak : 'Post-Adoption Depression'

Mom Speak : Living and Mothering With Disability

I was diagnosed with a sensironeural deafness when I was 30. I was, then a mother to a 2 year old daughter. A routine ENT check-up during my annual summer vacation in Madras revealed that I had already lost 60 decibels in both ears and since it was a progressive condition there was little I could do. I could avoid oto toxic drugs, wear hearing aids, avoid stress, loud noises and carry on. It was not going to get better, I was told. The only memory I carry of that visit was

Mom Speak : Living and Mothering With Disability

Parent Speak : Bringing Home Our Preemie Baby

As It Happened Two Months to the Due Date Raaghavi : On the 17th February 2017 around 4 a.m, as I came out of the washroom after changing my clothes for the third time, he asked me what was wrong. I told him that I had been urinating from midnight without control. I never realised that my water bag had started leaking until he typed, ‘water-bag discharge during pregnancy’ on Google! It was only the two of us at our home and no one else to help. With no further delay, we rus

Parent Speak : Bringing Home Our Preemie Baby

Mom Speak : Motherhood does not come with a manual

I gained 20 plus kilos - during my pregnancy, everyone around me was happy with my progress and kept telling me I would have a round munchkin. I believed them. Both me and the Mr. would dream of a bubbly ball of marshmallow smiling at us. A smile that would pierce through all the worries and bring in – inner peace. The day arrived and I naturally birthed my son - Baby Liam. He weighed 2.48 kg (decent for me). I was glad he wasn’t huge and I was least bothered about his weight

Mom Speak : Motherhood does not come with a manual

Mom Speak : Living With Disability

Editor's note: I met Anupama, as I meet most Indian Moms these days, on Instagram. The fact that she too was an expat mom of two like me, living in Europe made her a kindred spirit of sorts and I started following her feed. The first time we struck up a conversation, she told me that she was a Malayali from Kochi who did not speak Malayalam and that she only spoke English. Sensing my mystification she explained that she had been diagnosed with severe hearing loss at the age

Mom Speak : Living With Disability

How Motherhood Has Changed Me

I look at myself in the bathroom mirror, gently touching the stretch marks criss-crossing across the length of my belly, a belly that was never taut but never as soft and saggy, as it is today. Further down, a thin brown line made of slightly puckered skin marks where my body was split open to give safe passage to my children. Once in 2011 and once in 2016. Both times after days and hours of intense waves of painful labour, hoping and praying that I would not need medical ass

How Motherhood Has Changed Me

Mom Speak: Extended breastfeeding- It's not pointless for me!

One of the ladies I met in the park at random asked me," Do you still breastfeed your child?". I replied instantly "Yes sometimes, why not?" I wish I could have clicked her reaction that was a rather scandalized one. "Don't you know there is no benfit of breastfeeding once the baby turns one". I had no intention of explaining anything to her, I left her outrageous feelings with herself. Do I need to give people a justification? No, I don't think so. Well, I'm not a crusader o

Mom Speak: Extended breastfeeding- It's not pointless for me!

Mom Speak : On Extended Breastfeeding

This picture (below) was otherwise meant to be a late post from a recent trip to continue documenting our nursing journey. I normally let some amount of naysaying slide and don't preach the virtues of extended breastfeeding to an immature audience. Something happened a couple of days ago that kicked in my protective instinct for a bond very close to my heart. I went to a doctor for a small infection and was prescribed some broad spectrum antibiotics. I forgot to ask earlier

Mom Speak : On Extended Breastfeeding

Mom Speak : Growing up with a toddler

If you want to know how much my life has changed after becoming a mother, go through my phone’s camera roll. You’ll find a seemingly endless stream of photos of my son, punctuated by those of that worrying deep cut on his forehead (he had banged his head on the edge of the table), red spots on his back (most likely mosquito bites), odd-coloured poo and most recently the shot of a tissue with blood soaked snot (he has the flu). These were taken for the purpose of Whatsapp diag

Mom Speak : Growing up with a toddler

Mom Speak : 5 Things A Father Should Teach His Children

When your children call you dad, they do not only mean dad but they look at you with a much broader perspective. You are one of their main role models, their super hero, someone they dream to be like. Your actions are what they learn from. You are an epitome of education for them. Therefore, make sure you teach them something worthwhile each day, either with your actions or your words. Here are a few things that a father should teach his children. 1. Civic Rules Each time you

Mom Speak : 5 Things A Father Should Teach His Children

World Of Moms Feature : 3 Pieces of Well-Intended Baby Care Advice I Regret Having Listened To

Being a new parent is definitely a challenge, and the advice of our family and friends is intended to help us deal with this challenge. I agree that sometimes, this is how parents stumble upon the best parenting hacks ever. But I also think that there are no guarantees! Presenting in no particular order three pieces of 'well-intended' baby care advice that I regret having listened to. They only resulted in discomfort for my baby and me. Read the rest of this article that is g

World Of Moms Feature : 3 Pieces of Well-Intended Baby Care Advice I Regret Having Listened To

World Of Moms Feature : The Stupidest Things People Have Told Me About Being The Mother Of A Daughte

One of the many 'blessings' of becoming a mother is that pretty much everyone thinks that they are entitled to an opinion on your life. The world in general, has an opinion on everything – the way you give birth, the way you choose to nourish your child and the way you choose to raise your kid, amongst others. Sarcasm aside, there have been some valuable nuggets of information along the way, but it is hard to deny the very many stupid remarks that I have been subject to as th

World Of Moms Feature : The Stupidest Things People Have Told Me About Being The Mother Of A Daughte

World Of Moms Feature: Here’s Why I Never Aspired to Become a Perfect Mother

Modern motherhood has become nothing less than an art form. A mother, ‘the perfect mother’ rather, is supposed to be a nutritionist, a chauffer, an artist, an organizer, a craftsperson and a chef, in addition to making sure that she sources everything organically, keeps her kids screen-free, is hands-on and has a personality of her own, as well. Quite a mouthful, don’t you think? Yet there seems to be intense pressure on us moms to be all of the above. We are constantly bomba

World Of Moms Feature:
Here’s Why I Never Aspired to Become a Perfect Mother

Mom Speak: My Fears Are Not Letting Me Go Back To Work

I had a very good corporate life. A good reputation, work, frequent promotions, and hikes. A hard core professional who had always justified her work and home until the first pregnancy came into the picture. I thought maybe it won't be so difficult and challenging to handle all- work, home and children. But pregnancy is also not an easy go. Different mood swings, urge to sleep more, feel to do nothing might take you on a ride for that period. You really need to take a tough

Mom Speak: My Fears Are Not Letting Me Go Back To Work

I Learnt My Best Lesson On Life From My Four-Year-Old

I was walking down the street with my four and half year old daughter skipping along beside me. We were walking home from school. This time is just for us — mother and daughter sans her dad or her brother. We talk about what happened in school, what I did when she was at school and about pretty much anything she wants to talk about. As we walked on, I decided to tell her about the advanced swimming lessons I had just started with. Though I had been swimming for years, I had n

I Learnt My Best Lesson On Life From My Four-Year-Old

World Of Moms Feature: This is the Damage Overly Strict Moms and Dads do to their Kids

One of the saddest memories of my childhood was seeing a cousin of mine being beaten with a belt in front of his peers. There were five of us between the ages of nine to twelve and we were at a wedding. The bride and groom had stepped out of the Mandap to eat and the guests had dwindled. Seizing the opportunity, we pounced on the flowers decorating the stage, gaily pulling it off the strings they were tied to and scattering petals everywhere. We were caught up in the innocent

World Of Moms Feature:
This is the Damage Overly Strict Moms and Dads do to their Kids

Mom Speak : Chinnu on how her husband was the first to feed her son breastmilk

When Somu was born he was not latching and I was badly lacerated and exhausted. It was very challenging. My mother and husband were the only people there to help me. The nurses were very supportive and helpful too. My son, Somu had elevated bilirubin levels, and we were trying to feed him, but he wouldn't take my breast and I was uncomfortable because of the fullness. Finally I pumped and tried feeding him with the bottle, but my son was a very stubborn child and contin

Mom Speak : Chinnu on how her husband was the first to feed her son breastmilk

Mom Speak : Dhivya on her challenging breastfeeding journey

Breastfeeding was a challenge for me and my babe, right from the start it did not feel like it was meant to be. It started soon after Advika was born on a cold blurry winter morning in February of 2014. I had a quick an easy labour, and she popped out beautifully, curiously looking around with her bright sparkly eyes. I had read all about breastfeeding and spoken to other moms and I knew I wanted to experience it and pass on the antibodies that were much needed to build her i

Mom Speak : Dhivya on her challenging breastfeeding journey

Mom Speak : Mary Sooria on Exclusive, Extended Breastfeeding in Conservative Saudi Arabia

One of the few things I had decided when I was pregnant was that I would exclusively breastfeed till my baby turns one.But is it possible in an ultra conservative place like Saudi Arabia where people stare at you even if your headscarf is not proper or if you have tinted nails? The idea of exclusive breastfeeding was terrifying me! But I was determined and tried out different methods to carry out my nursing process like minimising most of my outdoor activities till my baby wa

Mom Speak : Mary Sooria on Exclusive, Extended Breastfeeding in Conservative Saudi Arabia

Mom Speak : Poornima on nursing her two-year old

Nursing your 2-year old? There are high chances that you would have heard eloquent (but ill-informed) lectures on why you should immediately wean your child. "He will never leave your breast", said one. "He is so thin because he feeds too much and does not eat" said another. I am sure those who nurse their toddlers would have heard this and so much more. Also, suddenly you have those days and nights when the 2 year old feeds almost like a new born and you begin to doubt

Mom Speak : Poornima on nursing her two-year old

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