What Katy Writes

It has been a big few months. Particularly the last few weeks. I am tired. I mentioned in my last post that I was organising a fundraising event for PANDA and that I was looking forward to it. Phew. That event completely took it out of me physically, mentally, emotionally - writing a speech and poem and song to share my journey and help raise awareness around perinatal mental health issues absolutely wrecked me.  This took me by surprise initially, as I have obviously shared things openly since Isaac was born; the whole point has been to talk about it and reduce the stigma attached to it all. Doing something on this scale seemed different though, and I was naïve to think it wouldn't affect me so much. Focussing intensely on the traumatic start to Isaac's life for an extended period of time was really difficult. I started to question everything I have been doing - should I be writing here? Should I still be talking about this stuff? Am I no...

DOING: Lying in bed, writing this post. I had my first appointment with a new psychologist today (spoiler alert, she's amazing), and the first session with a therapist is always really emotional and tiring. I had some time in lieu owed to me from work, so I have taken full advantage of that today. Mum and Dad are taking Isaac to their bush block for the night and he was SO excited. I am really grateful for this rest.  HEARING: My "piano" playlist. Currently one of my favourite songs is playing - "You" by Matteo Myderwyk.  DRINKING: Right now, I am having a Remedy Kombucha , the apple crisp flavour. So good! I am still always drinking coffee, water and am favouring peppermint tea at the minute too. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is making regular Friday night appearances as well...  EATING & COOKING: I have been eating more crap than usual over the last couple of weeks. There have been birthdays, farewells etc happening in my office and there has...

This post kind of follows on from my previous one.  A lot of my thoughts lately have been revolving around our everyday life and how I want to be spending my time. What are the most important things in your life? Are you making them a priority? I feel like it's easy to list the things that we love, but are we consciously, actively including them as part of our days?  If not, why not? Every single day, I am trying to make time for things that I truly love.  I have written before about our society's tendency to glorify being busy and how much I try to push against that as my norm, although, to be completely honest, I am still far more busy than I would like... but that's just #workingmumlife and also #mytoddlerisahurricane.  Enough hashtags? OK, cool. I love the simple life. There is almost nothing I love more than a day at home with Reid and Isaac, just hanging out together with no functions, no plans, no commitments.  I have realised I ne...

I feel like my last couple of blogs and Instagram posts have been justifications of sorts, for how I choose to live and raise my little boy - the most precious job. I absolutely realise that there is no need to justify myself, as it is my life after all, and I am beyond blessed to live it in whatever way I see fit.  I do like to clarify and explain some of mine and Reid's choices however, as sharing our life in a somewhat public way through blogging and a public Instagram profile (to help with raising awareness around mental health and share my journey) can raise some questions.  I also I find it reassuring to know that if anyone in our life wants to understand things but not talk to us about it (insert eye roll here), they can feel free to read things here if they like (insert thumbs up here). I have everything I have ever wanted.  Not many people can say that.  It hasn't been easy; Reid and I have worked really hard to get where we are,...

My heart feels heavy. I feel things intensely and deeply. Sometimes I see this as a good personality trait and at other times it seems too hard.  Things change a lot when you become a parent, that's a universal fact. Your close circle changes and time becomes an even more limited commodity than it already is.  Your child transforms before your eyes in what seems like a mix of incredibly long days, short weeks and even shorter months and years.  Sometimes the people you wanted to be around for that aren't, and that hurts.  Catching up with people is also hard when you have spent the majority of your child's life riddled with anxiety and depression and having people around has intensified that to the point that it's just not possible most of the time. I have come to realise that my health has inadvertently alienated some people from our life, and therefore Isaac's life, through no fault of his own.  I promise I have tried my best....

DOING: Sitting on the couch, typing this while Isaac plays.  He is slowly getting a bit better at playing independently which is nice. HEARING: Isaac's chatter.  I adore his little voice.  The way he says words and our conversations are some of my favourite things ever. DRINKING: My answer to this tends to always be coffee... today is no different haha.  Coffee, green tea and water are my current favourites.  I have been adding some drops of organic grapefruit essential oil (doTerra brand) to my water which makes it even easier to get in lots through the day. EATING AND COOKING: I am still very into bulk cooking. I made a delicious pork curry that lasted us a few days last week.  A lemon and chilli stir fry this week.  Bolognese usually once a fortnight or so.  Isaac has gone off frittatas a bit which is a shame because they were the perfect grab-and-go dinner on nights after day care.  He usually eats earlier than us on these night...

Motherhood is in crisis. Childhood is in crisis. Our health system is often failing new mothers. The number of parents being diagnosed with perinatal depression and/or anxiety is at an all-time high. Mothers often aren't even given the change to tell their birth story. Speaking from experience, this is a really important thing to do. Mothers are more often than not, sent home from hospital exhausted, physically and mentally; beyond depleted in every way.  Where are we going wrong? Nicole Kingston , the family therapist/sleep consultant/all-around-wonder-woman I have been heavily relying on for all things parenting for well over a year now, aims to find out, and bring these issues and their solutions, to the attention of as many parents as she can. It's no secret how much anxiety can rule my life at times. It sneaks in everywhere and I know it was affecting the way I parent, even when I knew I had to som...

I spent a lot of my childhood with my Dad in the bush.  His favourite place to be.  Mine... not so much.  I am a beach girl.  Give me sand and waves and salty air any day.  My parents own a 500 acre bush block that I have honestly avoided going to as much as possible.  It has no phone reception, is in the middle-of-nowhere and is just not a place I love to be with the bugs and snakes and no flushing toilet.  The last two times I have been, however, the pure joy that Isaac has experienced, has helped me to see it in a different light.  No reception is actually really freeing.  It forces me away from my phone (other than to take photos here and there) and seeing my little boy running and laughing and leading his Poppy around in his very bossy two-year-old manner has made me realise that it's actually a pretty relaxing place to be.  It definitely helps that there is a shack-like building there now with chairs and beds and running water....

It's not a secret that I tend to be pretty negative sometimes (a lot).  I thought I might try to write a post about all the positive things that are happening in my life right now.  There is always heaps going on, both good and bad - but I'm trying to consciously switch my focus more and be present in the moment.  Having a little boy who is evolving before my very eyes is really making me feel like I need to slow things down and enjoy every minute with him and Reid as every day things are changing.  Things are good.  There is always so much good. The Gym: Yep, you read that right - I am loving the gym! I haven't exercised properly in years, and to back in the swing of regular exercise feels great.  I had a PT session and a program was made for me that is a moderate, full body workout that I do 2-3 times per week, gradually going up in weights as my strength improves.  This will be reviewed in 12 weeks and my program will be changed.  It's suc...

Right now, I'm sitting on a beautiful outdoor couch, looking over a gorgeous beach and have just finished my second glass of wine for the day.  I am feeling refreshed, the knots that have been in my stomach for weeks are slowly untangling and my head feels clearer.  It has been a really hectic start to the year.  I just want to begin this post by saying I find this topic incredibly difficult to be objective about.  There are so many factors that go into needing a "break" and what that entails for every parent; and not just parent, every person.  Some people desperately need a break but don't have the luxury of being able to have one.  Some people don't have a village, and that thought makes me incredibly sad.  Some people feel they can't leave their children, and I totally get that as well.  Before I had kids (those famous four words...), I was never going to leave them. "I didn't have kids so other people could raise them".  Is a sentence ...

DOING: Sitting in mine and Reid's room, typing this post for a bit of "me-time" while Reid and Isaac have some quality time together. HEARING: My weekly "chill mix" from iTunes, nothing is really jumping out at me as a worthy of downloading yet... DRINKING: Lots of water, coffee and a delicious green-chai tea blend I grabbed from the supermarket yesterday.  I've been making ginger/lemon water and keeping it in the fridge for through the week and it's really refreshing and helps get that water intake up. EATING AND COOKING: I was gifted Jamie Oliver's 5 Ingredients recipe book for Christmas and I'm loving it!  I made a beautiful harissa chicken that's cooked with onion and capsicum and roasted some beautiful Dutch Cream potatoes to go with it last weekend.  Tonight I'm making pesto-stuffed chicken breasts with beans, plus I just finished making a standard garlic/hoisin beef stir fry for Monday and Tuesday night and I frittata for I...