This publication was created entirely by the CEO, Chief Editor, and Designer of A Mother of Colour Magazine.
For more information visit amotherofcolour.com
by Anna Pou
Hello and welcome to A Mother of Colour Magazine where we “Celebrate and Support the Everyday and Extraordinary Mama!” My name is Victoria Targblor "Mitzy" and I'm your CEO and Editor-In-Chief. This magazine seeks to highlight and unite mothers of different backgrounds and cultures across the globe. I am so proud to present to you our winter issue. Here's to you and cheers to us!
“I am sure that if the mothers of various nations could meet, there would be no more wars.”
Ashley is the Founder of Mommy Week, which is a combination of both fun and educational content. Through sharing her world, she expresses recipes, DIY activities, and family-oriented tips that leave you craving for more!
In addition to her journey of exploration, she also blogs about how to best maneuver technology and kids, for example in her posts, “5 Digital Tech Mantras We’re Adopting in 2020,”In her tips and tricks, moms everywhere are learning how to better navigate healthy screen time with their families. Instagram: ● @mommyweek Website: ● mommyweek.com
Postpartum depression is physical and chemical condition where moms experience acute sadness/depression. It is a common condition in women but the good news is that it is temporary and tends to lift in less than 6 months. Here are some of the effective ways for you to deal with postpartum depression:
Exercise More Often: According to research, exercise helps women to lower postpartum Depression (PPD). Some other studies also prove that light exercise can help to ease PPD. You don't need to spend hours in a long exercise session, walking while breathing fresh air or working out for 10 minutes a day is enough to relax your nerves.
Eat Healthy Foods: Women are always recommended to maintain a healthy diet since they get pregnant. A healthy diet is crucial for enjoying a healthy life and it also helps to lower PPD. Eating nutritional-rich food helps to boost the intake of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals naturally. All these components help you to feel better with PPD.
Motherhood can be exhausting especially with a newborn. The newly born baby needs their mother every moment. In addition to caring for your baby, all the household chores and responsibilities can further make you overwhelmed. All such things can lead to postpartum depression. Making time for yourself can help you to get relaxed. You can ask your family and friends for help. They can help you with babysitting or other household chores. In this way, you can find time for yourselves to get composed. You can use this golden time and go for a walk or a movie, take a nap, or do some yoga or whatever you’d like to get relaxed.
According to the research, women who get insufficient sleep after delivery are more likely to get postpartum depression. It means that having enough sleep is crucial to alleviate PPD. Getting enough sleep with the newborn might be difficult but if you follow the rule "sleep when the baby sleeps" then you can enjoy sufficient rest.
According to research, women who have lower levels of DHA are more prone to experience postpartum depression. It means DHA helps to lower postpartum depression. If you are wondering how to consume DHA then seafood is a great option as they are a rich source of DHA. In case you are vegetarian, go with flaxseed oil or DHA supplements.
“A mother's arms are more comforting than anyone else's”
Princess Diana
Mothers all over are learning more and more about the sensation of Mater Mea, which is a community of women who share Black motherhood stories! Through using their voice, they offer expert advice on topics such as finding a midwife or to how to professionally address microaggressions at one’s workplace. Their purpose is to help Black moms thrive in motherhood and in the world they live in. Additionally, they offer blog support posts, podcasts, and videos filled with personal content to help them thrive in a supportive and unique tribe.
Website: matermea.com Instagram: @matermea
Motherhood is tough and can be more difficult when you are a working mom. Managing your job with the family is tricky but if you know how to balance everything you can actively play your role as an employee without affecting your parenthood.
We are providing you with the 5 effective ways to balance work life and family.
1.
You can use shortcuts and go with planning to get the most done in the least amount of time. For instance, you can save your grocery time by ordering online. Moreover, you can prepare your next day's outfits and lunches the night before to spend more time with your family in the morning. At work, you can schedule conference calls and get errands done during lunch break, In this way, you can save several hours throughout the week.
2.
When you know that your child is in safe hands, you will be more attentive at work. In this way, you can concentrate on your work and complete it more efficiently. You can go with daycare, hire an experienced nanny or ask someone you can trust to care for your children. If possible, keep on checking and ask for updates and photos of your children throughout the day.
Time is quite precious for a working mother. Therefore, you need to make the most out of it and avoid any distractions at work. Be mindful and focus on work and limit socialism with co-workers, long lunch breaks, and surfing on the internet.
All these things can only waste your precious time. At home, you need to focus on family more rather than spending time on TV or your phone.
4. Reconnect with Your Partner:
A happy home starts with a happy marriage!
Always remember your married life and your partner should be your priority as it is the root of your family's happiness and can impact every aspect of your life. Spend more time with your partner. You can go for a walk, watch a movie or do things that you both love doing before becoming parents.
Spending time with family is meaningless if you do not interact with each other. You need to make this time productive by doing some interesting activities that everyone enjoys. You can organize weekly family game nights or go for a picnic. You can also host a movie night. Try to select a good comedy movie because laughing out loud with the family helps to strengthen the family bond.
“Life doesn't come with a manual, it comes with a mother.”
“A child’s first teacher is its mother” Peng Liyuan
Amy’s mission is to be the best version of herself that she can be for herself family and community. Years ago, she was in the space of depletion and lacked the creativity she craved. Overtime, she came to the realization that something needed to change.
It was then that she discovered her love for scrapbooking in the aspect of others pausing to examine their stories. Through connecting with others, she began to witness others documenting their joyous moments as well. Consequently, she began to develop a love for blogging and documenting small moments of joy with moms across the world.
Website: Mommy Practicality.com Instagram: @mommypracticality
Balancing work life and parenthood is a challenge in itself and if you are doing it alone, you need a lot of courage and patience to keep yourself together.
A single/ unsupported parent not only has the responsibility of childcare and working hours but there is also the pressure of managing finance and keeping everything in balance. Single parents or unsupported moms have to handle so much and still, they want to be good parents and spend enough time with their kids.
If you are dealing with the same problems, this will help you to keep everything under control. You should always remember that you are not alone in your journey. Here are a few strategies to help balance work life with parenthood as a single or unsupported parent.
1. Give Yourself Some Time:
Dealing with kids alone is not an easy task. If things are getting out of hand just take some time and get relaxed. Don’t expect so much from yourself in the early days.
No matter what you are dealing with now, after some time things will get normal and you will manage everything. Talking to your close friends will help you heal faster.
Analyze your situation and figure out where you need help and support. Some jobs require you to travel a lot so you might want help with childcare. You can ask for help from family, friends, or daycare and after-school care workers.
Before looking for a job, you should know what the company has to offer you. You can visit the company’s website to see the benefits it provides to its employees. A company with access to daycare might be an ideal option for you. Furthermore, you can look for companies that allow work from home.
Nothing is more important than being kind to yourself in these hard times. If you are not going to take care of yourself, you cannot help or support your family.
You have huge responsibilities but don’t let yourself down. You are doing great and you deserve self-compassion for your mental health and well-being. In the end, if you are good to yourself, you can give your child everything they need.
“You don't take a class; you're thrown into motherhood and learn from experience.”
Kenya Anderson earned her Master’s of Divinity with an emphasis in Pastoral Care from McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University. She had been a Minister for over nineteen years and has served as a Chaplain for the past six years. Her experiences include working in various hospitals such as Atlanta VA Medical Center, mental health facilities, and state prisons. Recently, she has provided pastoral care and counseling for over 550 male residents at a forensics treatment center.
As their Chaplain, she supervised 18 different faith groups, preached sermons, and facilitated weekly groups. Throughout her years working as a Minister and as a Chaplain, she has provided emotional, mental, and spiritual support and care to individuals, their loved ones, and staff. Kenya is also currently aspiring to work as a soldier in the National Guard. She has three beautiful childrentwo of which are college students and the other successfully rising in middle-school.
Email: chaplainkenya4777@gmail.com Instagram: @kenyaanderson59
Facebook: @Kenya Anderson
“The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom. ” Henry Ward Beecher
Joyce Brewer is the Curator of the Mommy Talk Show. She is undoubtedly an accomplished woman holding an Emmy. After her journey into journalism, she became passionate about social media blogging and quickly became the “talk of her town.” Topics she addresses include travel, beauty, family, and health. What makes her content unique is that she provides excellent business idea guides for moms. Through sharing her information, she inspires mompreneurs around the world! Website: mommytalkshow.com Instagram: @mommytalkshow
Experiencing guilt is very normal when you are a working mother.
Working mom guilt usually happens when you can’t feel like you are doing your best with your children and work life. For instance, you might feel guilty leaving your crying children at daycare while you go to work.
Working mom guilt can even put mothers into a depression so you have to deal with it carefully. Here are some ways to help you cope with your mommy guilt.
There might be times when people told you to quit your job for a few years and start over once your kids are big enough to take care of themselves. But you don’t have to do it. You have selected your career for a reason. It is your dream job so why would you think of quitting?
It’s just a matter of time and once you learn to manage everything, it will become easier for you to work and look after your children. You should be confident and trust yourself no matter what.
You are a human and you are not supposed to be perfect with everything. There is a common belief that working moms should balance their work life with a home and do everything perfectly. But this is completely wrong.
You are trying your best to be there for your children when they need you and you might not have time because you are busy at work. But you don’t have to feel any guilt. You are doing it for a better future for your family so just stay calm because everything will be settled in the end.
You might find this advice everywhere. A mother needs to take care of her physical and mental health. Most working mothers think they don’t have enough time for this but the thing is you have to make time. Once you start focusing on your health it will be easier for you to cope with everything else.
After working so hard for your family, it is the time for self-care and being confident. You should realize that you are doing great. You are a great mother, a great worker, and a great person. So don’t feel guilty or think you are incapable of anything.
“Motherhood has a very humanizing effect. Everything gets reduced to essentials .”
“God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers”
After becoming a mother, your life becomes different, your thoughts, your desires, and your dreams do not exist any longer. In addition to these changes, motherhood also brings some changes in your personality and temperament. In short, you might feel that you have lost yourself completely.
Here are some effective tips to rediscover your lost self in motherhood.
As mentioned above, motherhood changes you. Now you might see yourself only as a mother of your children but you are more than that. You have a personality that defines you. Though motherhood makes you sacrifice a lot for your kids, you should never forget who you truly are. Here are some tips for you to rediscover your lost sense of self:
1. Take Some “Me” Time:
Having some me time in every stage of life is necessary for having a sense of self. You can enjoy reading a book while sipping your favorite coffee. Or you can update your wardrobe.
Make plans with your friends like watching movies, going out for a lunch, or attending a concert once or twice a month. It would help you regain your confidence and self-love.
The best way to rediscover your true identity is to spend some time with the people you love the most and those who know you the best. The pressure of being an active mother might take your loved ones away from you. You should make plans with your spouse and other family members more often. Together you can relive the time before you were a mother, a time when you were carefree and when enjoyed every moment of your life.
Most women ignore themselves once they become mothers. The first step in the journey of rediscovering your soul is to take care of yourself. Prioritize yourself, do some exercise, sleep properly, and eat properly.
Don’t postpone anything important just because of your children. They can spend a few hours without you. So keep track of your physical and mental well-being.
Final Thoughts: Being a mother makes it difficult for women to make any decision without thinking of their kids. Your kids don’t need you every hour of the day. They will be fine without you. So give yourself some free time to rediscover your lost sense of self.
Mama, do what works best for YOU! As a young mother, I would oftentimes come across people (and even family members) who would criticize the way I would raise and rear my child. Even if your not perfect, nobody knows your child best but you. You can consider tips and advice, but ultimately rely on your motherly instincts to know what to do with your baby. If more screen time helps you to get more done around the house then do it! If fast-food helps you to not stress after a long day at work do it! Do what works for you and your baby! xoxo, Mitzy
