Being a mum on maternity leave can be an exciting, but also isolating experience at times – I mean there are only so many times you can clean tomato off the kitchen walls before losing a few of your marbles!! Sister duo Natalie Mcilveen and Laura Swann from MumstheWord.online recognise this and have begun an exciting new venture, hosting fun and inspiring Meet Ups for Mamas in the Brighton and Tunbridge Wells areas.
The idea behind the ‘Mamas Meet Ups’ is to provide an opportunity for like-minded Mamas to get together and hear from inspiring guest speakers from around the UK. Events will be held to discuss everything from style, health, well-being and even beginning a new career. The best think about the Meet Ups, is that they are all totally child friendly, held in a daytime setting so you don’t need to worry about finding a babysitter.
I was lucky enough to attend the first of the Brighton Mamas Meet Ups, where Guest Speaker CLEMMIE HOOPER (aka @mother_of_daughters) was invited along to talk about her new book; How to Grow a Baby and Push It Out: Your no-nonsense guide to pregnancy and birth , as well as to let us into the secret of how she juggles having four children, her work as an NHS midwife and life as one of the most well-known insta-mums.
Mamas Meet Up, Brighton
The event itself was lovely. A really nice opportunity to slap on some make-up and pretty dress and meet other like-minded Mums from the Brighton area, in a setting which wasn’t the usual dusty play group floor!
Teas, coffees and that all-important biscuit snack were provided – although Ettie nabbed mine while I wasn’t looking!!! And there was a cute play area set up by What about the kids to keep the little ones entertained.
After coffee and an opportunity to network with the other Mums, we all walked through to the front of the venue to sit down ready for the talk. On our chairs were the cutest little goodie bags containing a beautiful BioOrganic Top to Toe Body Cream by Little Aurelia. I was actually so impressed by this product, I’ve wrote a separate blog post about it here.
Clemmie was really inspiring, explaining how she first began her blog to relay positive birth stories to other Mums who she found were getting the majority of their information from chat rooms! (we’ve all been there) or seriously out-dated maternity books. She also explained how she turned down her initial offer to write a book as it wouldn’t have been in her own voice, but felt happy with the final concept as she was able to invite guest authors to contribute and provide advice on a whole range of subjects from Hypnobirthing to Pregnancy Pilates.
I feel really passionate about the message which Clemmie and the other insta-mums are trying to promote i.e. that we are all in this ‘sisterhood’ of motherhood together and should be supportive of other mums wherever possible. Clemmie is a great advocate of reassuring Mums that we all struggle with something at some point and not to sweat the small stuff – and i’m all up for promoting anyone who believes in that!
I purchased my copy of ‘How to Grow a baby and Push it Out’ at the event and was able to meet the lovely Clemmie – who has some beautiful jewellery by the way!! I’m halfway through reading her book and am really enjoying it. It gives really practical advice in an empathetic and human way- I intend to do a full review once i’ve finished it, so won’t write too much here.
Next Event
Whether you are currently on maternity leave and wondering what to do next), a stay at home Mum, an aspiring Mum blogger, a Mum with kids at school or even an expectant Mum – Mums The Word will have a Meet Up event that’s right for you to get inspired and meet some lovely fellow Mamas.
The next Mums the Word meet up is taking place in September. You can find out more about it here : Mamas Meet Up to discuss Body Confidence
Here’s Ettie showing Clemmie exactly who’s boss! That little point 😂🤣😂
You can purchase your own copy of How to Grow a Baby and Push it Out here.
Amazing Mama Founders: Mums the Word was set up by sisters sisters’ Natalie Mcilveen and Laura Swann. Natalie and Laura (born and bred in Tunbridge Wells) are both Mums on a mission! Natalie is Mum to Ted (5) and Ray (2) and Laura is Mum to Noah (8) and Florrie (5). But they also just happen to have over 25 years of experience (between them) working in the PR and Events world.
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