Tell us a bit about yourself?

I am a 33 year old single mum of two boys. I am a massive sports fan and have played softball since I was 5. I am currently studying for my diploma in children's services and next year will start studying a diploma in Aboriginal Studies for Professional and Community Development.

What were you doing before babies?

I was a public servant straight out of high school and playing a lot of softball, netball and volleyball then a few months later I fell pregnant with my oldest son Baxter. I was only 18. Gave birth to Baxter at 19, stayed at home for the first year then worked in Childhood Education.

How did you come to be a mum?

Both my pregnancies were a surprise. MASSIVE surprise, but a great one.

What has your feeding journey been like?

Feeding was definitely an interesting journey. In my parenting plan I was convinced I would breast feed and it would go smoothly. wow was I wrong. My first son Baxter struggled to latch, and as i kept persisting it created damage and tore skin off my nipples. i then had no choice but to formula feed, having said that he was a beautiful chunky baby who had no issue with formula. With my youngest son Levi, i went straight to formula feeding. unfortunately he was a very sick baby and suffered severe reflux. no formula seemed to work for him and it was a stressful few months, but once on solids his reflux completely settled.

What has sleep been like in your house?

What is sleep?? hahaha. Baxter was a great sleeper and as a toddler would put himself to bed when tired. As a teenager, he still loves his sleep. Levi has always been a terrible sleeper. reflux constantly kept him up and in pain. He would only sleep lying on my chest and he stopped having day naps from 6 months old!! He struggled for years to be able to settle himself at night and there were a lot of sleepless night, even nights where he wouldn't sleep until 3am!! This continued until he was 5 then was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. It then all made sense.

The hardest bits…

The hardest part of parenting has been doing it on my own. i never saw myself becoming a single parent and it has definitely had its ups and downs. It really does take a village and i am so thankful for my village.

The best bits…

Watching my boys accomplish and smash goals!! Having children with disabilities/special needs, they have everyday struggles. Seeing the joy and proudness in their little faces when they accomplish their goals fills my eyes with tears.

How do you make time for you?

Me time is a constant struggle and to be honest i'm not very good at it! My parents are a big help and I try to have a kid free night at least once a month.,but I definitely meed to improve on that!!

What’s next for you and your family?

The next step for our family is working towards buying s house. it is my dream for myself and my family to have a permanent home. Also hopefully in the coming years I would like to foster Indigenous children in care.

A piece of advice for our readers?

Motherhood looks different for everyone. it's hard, it's scary, it's beautiful and it's rewarding. Do what works best for you and your family. Try not to compare your situation to others and remember you are amazing and doing a fabulous job. Enjoy each day as it comes.