Tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Anita, I'm 30 years old and a single mum of two beautiful kids (6 and 4) I have JUST started my own home cleaning business (Neet & Tidy) I'll be doing that PT for the remainder of the year as my youngest isn't in school FT yet. At some point I would like to continue my studies in Community Services too. For the time being I'm really enjoying being my own boss with a purpose.

What were you doing before babies?

Before babies, I worked in Administration. I was a social butterfly (still somewhat that). I moved around quite a bit. I have lived in Melbourne, Brisbane but have always called Canberra my home.

How did you come to be a mum?

My ex-husband and I fell pregnant with my daughter whilst living in Brisbane. Quite a standard story. However, with my son it's a whole other thing. My son was not discovered until I was nearly 7 months pregnant. He managed to hide very well; my body barely changed too. You can imagine what a shock that was. His Dad and I were not together at the time, so I had to search for him to break the news. He took it wonderfully though and now he and I have a good friendship & both the kids view him as a parent, spending every second weekend with him

What has your feeding journey been like?

I was able to breastfeed both my kids for a few months successfully. I felt I wasn't given enough information regarding cluster feeding though which caught me by surprise with my Daughter. I struggled emotionally to find a good feeding/sleeping balance. I ended up with a bad case of Tonsillitis which dried up my milk - however, she took to a bottle very well and with no fuss. My milk supply was quite low with my son after a few months which led me to go straight to the bottle as I had been down that path with my daughter.

What has sleep been like in your house?

Sleep? What is that? My daughter has had night terrors since about 6 months old. Although, the older she gets the less common they are but it's left her with a lot of anxiety around bedtime. My son is the total opposite, sleeps anywhere. Given its just us 3 at home, I'm happy to have them snuggle in my bed with me until they're a little older.

The hardest bits…

My anxiety around failing. I am my own worst enemy. Convincing myself that everything must be spotless, and perfect.

The best bits…

All the laughter, love and safety we have created for our home. When I take a moment to step back, I truly can see how much my kids adore me & want to be together all the time.

Being able to witness the new and exciting things they each learn and discover every day.

How do you make time for yourself?

I am lucky to have a weekend to myself every fortnight. Which I take to do things for myself. I am very grateful to get the chance to get those breaks. We also have a great village who always lend a hand.

What’s next for you and your family?

The goal for the time being is to keep creating a happy, welcoming safe space, continue to grow my newly found business and show my kids what hard work can achieve. I am so determined for my children to look back on their childhood and smile. I would like them too not only be proud of me but themselves.

If you could talk to your pre baby/kid self, what advice would you give?

Breathe. Your children don't need you to be perfect, they need you to be happy and healthy. Do not be afraid to reach out for help. You have no idea what tired is.. Yet