Motherhood advices with Marissa Anastasi: You can do the same thing as before you had kids, you just have to do the same things differently. What is your secret super power as a Mother? Aside from breastfeeding (which I think is definitely a super power), just being ME seems to be all my kids need/want and it makes me feel like a superhero. Honest communication. I tell my sons when I’ve made a mistake or “bad choice” e.g. when I get cross. I also tell them when I’m proud of something they have done. Plus, I communicate with my husband on how things are going, and when I’m struggling.
Understand That the Parent-Child Bond Is a Relationship like All Others. “It takes work. Lots of it, so expect that there will be times when it feels hard to connect [with your child] or that you need to work through some issues,” says Kelly and Perren. “Meditation and reflection are really helpful tools for this, as is leaning on your mom friends as all mothers go through this with their kids,” they advise. “Sometimes, although you have it in you, you just need a little guidance to get back on track,” the founders add. Expect that there will be times when it feels hard to connect [with your child] or that you need to work through some issues.
Listen. Yeah, yeah, everyone says to listen. But you need to REALLY listen. Listen to the point that you can ask intelligent questions. Listen to the point that you know when your daughter has a certain smile on her face that she has a crush on a boy and you can discern from your conversations with her just who that boy is. Listen to what your child says and ask questions ON THEIR LEVEL, not “parental” questions. A question on their level would be, “What is the name of Seether’s new song again? I keep forgetting.” A parental question would be, “That boy in that band dresses all in black and wears eyeliner, you need to find someone else to like.” Explore even more info on Motherhood blog.
It’s all the things I didn’t expect like the joy of seeing my babies learn new skills or the way I now want to be the best version of myself so I’m a great example for them. And also the incredible friendships with other Mothers that I wouldn’t otherwise have. My children look up to me as their safety net, admire me and learn from me. They rely on me and I’m so lucky that whenever they are sad, they look to me for comfort and I am happy they look to me with excitement. That’s special, and it’s so beautiful that these little human beings need us. Nothing else can compare.
Hey, my name is Marissa and I’m a mummy to 4. I’m 34 years old and live in the sunny Mediterranean island, Cyprus. Larnaca to be precise!. You can read more about me and a brief description of my journey so far on my introduction blog. 2020 is when I officially started blogging. I remember up until I met my husband at 16, I always used to write a daily diary of my day, my feelings and just whatever came to mind. Starting to write again is nice but at the same time, a little out my comfort zone knowing that people might read it! Since moving to Cyprus, I have pushed myself and have been given the confidence by my family into things I have never tried before but always wanted to do. Thanks for joining me on my journey and I hope you enjoy the blogs. Find more details on marissaanastasi.com.