2014 really was a big year, perhaps my biggest ever. I know for a fact I’ll look back when I’m old and grey and think that it was one to remember! Not only did my husband and Iย spend half of it travelling Europe and America (while juggling work and blogging in my case) but we also got pregnant with our first child. Considering it was to be our “get travel out of our system before we start a family” trip, that all worked out pretty well, eh? We feel ridiculously blessed and fortunate. Other highlights included helping interior designer Greg Natale, for whom I have huge respect, write his first book, and going to Dubai with 21 other bloggers last month as part of Australia’s largest ever social tourism campaign. 2014 also marked my second full year of blogging as a full-time job.
The prospect of parenthood is probably equal parts exciting and terrifying from where I’m sitting. I mean, I’ve never done it before, so you can only be so prepared. All I know is that I will take this new job really seriously (while trying not to be one of those highly strung, control freak mums, as could so easily be my nature!) and in return, despite all the sleepless nights, I’m expecting it to be the most rewarding role I’ll ever have.
I’m really motivated to be the best parent I can be. I lost my mum when I was three years old, but I’m lucky to have many mum friends who I count as excellent role models and fonts of knowledge. As for my husband, I know he’ll be a fantastic dad.
Many people are obsessed with warning new parents how life will never be the same again and we have no IDEA how hard it’s going to be (it’s the smug, patronising tone that gets me!) and we will never have any time, or stuff, for ourselves ever again. I don’t think I need warning. I’m fully aware it will be hard, there will be lack of sleep, I will have to sacrifice and go without. But I wish more people would bang on about the benefits and the rewards, of which parenthood also brings many. I have enough friends with kids to know that much.
As for how juggling running a business and being a mum will go, it’s a little scary, yes, but something I will just have to experiment with and tweak as I go. There’s no year off work when you have your own business and while I intend to take some maternity leave, I’m conscious that the business I’ve worked so hard to build doesn’t suffer. So that means working smarter and more outsourcing among other things, to allow me to spend precious time with our bub. And then I’m sure there’ll be the inevitable mother guilt but I think I’ll worry about that later. One thing at a time, right?!
And did I mention I’m launching a second blog next month? No, it won’t be a mummy blog, but can you guess what it will be about? Go on, have a punt below in the comments!
Happy New Year to you all. May your 2015 be challenging, rewarding, happy and healthy!
I’ll get back to my nesting…
Jen x
Comments
I wish you the very best Jen for you new life ahead of you in 2015. So exciting. You will be a fabulous Mum. Ahhh a second blog. This is beyond exciting. I will be following with eager eyes as I am sure that everything you put your mind to will be a huge success. Rosie x
Thanks so much, Rosie! Wishing you a great year too x
Congratulations, Jen! Wish you happiness in every day. Let me guess, a business blog, or a creative personal blog?
Thanks so much, Lucy. It’s another blog for readers that is related to their homes!
Congratulations!!! First off! And secondly you have done SO much in two years wow you are amazing. I follow you on Instagram and am always in awe of it all.
Thanks so much, Jenny! x
Jen, I hope you’ll now hear only good stuff about what’s ahead as far as parenthood goes. What a fabulous way to change your world. Pick your close advisors well and smile and nod at the rest. Or just delete “helpful” comments!
Second blog – is it perhaps about renovating/building?
Excellent points Annette ๐ And you could be on the right track, yes ๐
I’m excited for you Jen! 2015 will be a wonderful year for you and your husband. Babies are such a gift and yes the sleep deprivation and around the clock demand can be tiring but it’s only for a short season that they are like that. There are moments where you will hold your baby and think “we made this” and be overwhelmed with wonder. You are an inspiration and I look forward to reading your new blog. ๐
Thank you so much Bec ๐
You will excel Jen…I have three little ones 8, 3 and 2…and launched our business in the midst of all of that. x
Thanks Kura ๐
Parenthood is amaze balls. Tough, yes, but the good far outweighs the bad. And the love for your bubba… My gawd. You think you love your hubby. Just WAIT til you hold your babe in your arms. Love on steroids! Enjoy the bliss xxx
I’m already getting that Fi, just watching him get so excited for our future baby’s arrival ๐
Hi Jen, Motherhood is wonderful, yes it has it’s challenges but I feel so blessed to have “produced” 2 fine young boys; you will just sit & stare at your bub for hours & feel so proud of yourself. Don’t be bombarded with too many books, pieces of advice etc, just go with the flow. You don’t need the latest & greatest of everything or to compare yourself with anyone else. Every family & individual is different & you will muddle through & find your way. Remember; we do the best we can at that point in time with the information that we have.
You are about to know the true meaning of unconditional love, want to shower your child with hugs & kisses, enjoy the little things that your child will find fascinating & laugh alongside your hubby & child.
As to juggling business & bub, given your huge success over the last 2 years you are savvy young women & I’m sure you will find a healthy balance whilst continuing to inspire us. And, if you stumble, just dust yourself & jump back up, it happens to the best of us ๐
Congratulations on your well earned success, the impending birth of your wonderful new bub; looking forward to following your success in 2015.
Thanks for taking the time to write such kind words and advice, Mel! Jen x
Congratulations on your pregnancy! I think you’ll do great juggling your business and motherhood – seems like you already are organised, focused, probably used to late nights and not afraid of new challenges…. You’re ready
Thanks Joanna! Jen
Wishing you everything your heart desires in 2015 Jen! You have such exciting, rewarding times ahead. A second blog now let me see – something around nursery interiors / spaces for little ones. Whatever it is I am sure it will be fabulous x
Nope, not about little ones’ rooms but there will be more of those on Interiors Addict! Have recently realsied just how much cool aussie stuff there is for kids and nurseries. And kiwi of course! Enjoying your vignettes. Jen x
Jen, you will handle all of this with grace and lots of organisation! Something we all know that you already excel at. I wish you all the best for 2015 xx
Thanks lovely Dara and the same to you. I see we have a friend in common in James Treble! x
…you’re going to be fabulous! You will find a way to make it all work, you’ll see… All the best for the new blog! Linda xx
PS One positive thing about kids: the type of unconditional love you feel for and get from your children, is totally a-w-e-s-o-m-e.
I was just thinking about yout this morning, Linda! Hope you’re well and had a lovely Christmas. Thanks for your kind words and hope to see you soon. Jen x
All sounds so exciting Jen…actually sounds like me but I started my blog 6 months after Bub arrived…still can’t believe that part….anyway you will be awesome at multi tasking and I totally get making your mummy journey different to your parents….xx if you need any help out-sourcing I would love to be involved in some way…happy 2015.xx
Thanks so much Kristie! Jen x
I’m 4 months into motherhood Jen and yes everyone does tell you all the bad stuff. You’ll never sleep again, your sex life will die, you’ll never go out as a couple blah blah blah blah. But. While it changes things in a lot of ways you may not expect these changes can also be WONDERFUL. I’m more in love with my hubby than ever because – as someone above said – we’re both bowled over with wonder that we MADE this funny, chubby, smiley little guy who gives us buckets of love every day. I was a total sleep hog before baby (seriously I could sleep for Australia) and even I have survived the sleep deprivation. It’s funny, but somehow you battle through. You’ll be fine and, shock horror, you may even find it easier than all the naysayers warn it will be ๐ Good luck and I look forward to the first Insta shots xx
Thanks Rachel, that is so nice to hear! Happy New Year! Jen x
Congratulations on an amazing year and for the new addition to the family on its way! Could the new blog be you building/renovating a new home for your family? Can’t wait!!
Thanks Jourdan! Not me, specifically, I think that would be too much to take on right now. LOL. Jen
Ohh, it’s going to be such an exciting year. It’s a juggle whatever the work arrangements new parents have, but you’ve set up the perfect flexible work situation, you proved that with your time overseas whilst managing the blog. And there are such rewards. Having just moved house a few months ago we were unpacking and sorting boxes today and I came across photos of my youngest bub (now 11!) as a baby – and my heart melted! Wishing you such joy and best wishes.
With the 2nd blog I was thinking hmmm..travel perhaps…. but then saw the comments above and am now beyond excited as a blog (via you) on building and renovating would be perfect – just what we need as I sit here with visions of floor plans and extensions dancing in my head!
Thanks Leanne! I can neither confirm nor deny until next month but it isn’t travel ๐ Jen x
Hi Jen, it’s going to be a great year! Yep, bloody scary …hell yeah, but you’ll be great & you’ve got the support around you which you obviously do! I’ve been part of a family business for over 20 yrs, now working on my own blog … I get it! Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it & someone may need to tell you that from time to time … that’s all!
Thanks Kelly, great advice! Jen x
Was I close about the new blog??? I hope so! Any blog you start will be hugely successful! X
So very excited for you Jen!
2015 is going to be a huge year… But I have no doubt you can juggle it – actually excel at it all! You and your husband make a great team and I’m sure you will continue this into parenthood.
Happy nesting, growing and delegating X
Thanks so much Jenna for your kind words. Jen x
Congrats Jen! You have done so well and are an inspiration to so many of us (I personally have decided to do an online interior design course to further my skills!). You will be a great mum too. Best of luck for 2015 ๐
Thanks Mel, that’s lovely to hear. Good luck with your course and happy 2015. Jen x
Hi Jen…! So excited to hear that you’re going well with the bubba and starting a new blog…I can’t even guess…!!
From a business owner and mum of three…you’ll be great a juggling it all. Some days you won’t feel it, but mostly it will be fine…:) If not, just claim sleep deprivation (even if its not true – I still use it and my one year old has slept through since he was 6 weeks old…ssshhh don’t tell anyone…!)
I can’t wait to hear your new blog news AND your baby news…:)
Natasha
Thanks so much Natasha ๐ Jen x
Congratulations!!! Parenthood is a wonderful journey! Challenging, yes, but you learn so much and you grow as a person. I have two small advices (if I may) that have helped me big time:
1. Try not to stress out too much. The only things a child really need are food, a shelter they feel safe in, parents who care for them, who love them and who are present. Being present doesn’t mean being with them all the time (which almost always results in the mother losing herself…). It means being attentive to them when with them.
2. Make the conscious effort of kicking guilt out of your system. Guilt creeps in all the time and really is a time and energy waster. So make a pledge that you won ‘t let guilt run your life… As soon as you feel it coming inside you, sweep it out! Just like most parents, you will make mistakes, you will fail to understand your child sometimes. It’s ok. Whatever you do or don’t, it will be what you think at the time is best for your family (and sometimes that means taking some time for yourself). It may not always be “right” but it’s the intention behind it that matters, and I’m sure your intentions will always be good.
I wish you all the very best in this fantastic journey, and tremendous success with the new blog.
Thanks Nelly. I think that is really helpful and lovely, positive, realistic advice! Jen x
Love you JBF, you’ll be an awesome Mama xxx
Thanks Rach! Love you too x
Well I was going to suggest a travel blog given all the travel you’ve done recently? Perhaps a lifestyle blog? Anyway, I’m a mum of two little ones and spent my maternity leave studying interior design and last year launching my own business. Loving it and and all the challenges it brings.
Gosh I hope I’m not one of those parents who go on about the sleepless nights to parents-to-be! There are so many incredible moments and just the wonder at how you two actually made a person is amazing!
Thanks Julieanne! So many women do amazing things on mat leave, good on you!
Congratulations! That’s fantastic news, I’m so happy for you! I know you will rock having a business and a baby, you are such an inspiration ๐
Happy New Year!
Emily xx
Good luck Jen – you will love motherhood – yes it has it’s challenges but every second is worth it! – from when they are babies right through to the gorgeous childhood and pre teen years where their thoughts on the world are just magic! Even as moody teenagers they have their wonderful moments! Love your blog and I know you will make the dual role of business owner and mother a success!
As for your second blog I’m guessing you will need a bigger home at some point so maybe building or renovating? – I know from experience there is lots to learn and share through that process! Good luck with it all and may 2015 be your best year yet!
Thanks for the lovely comments, Tania, and yes, you’re on the right track re new blog ๐ Jen