Travel

A title people wish for…

What do you do? What do I do?

Some times I have to stop and think “how do I answer this question?”

It is a Question that everyone asks in Dubai. A question that seems to be thrown out more than a hello!

It did get me thinking though. How could we change the way we answer it? After all, the person asking it is usually trying to figure out our story!

What do you do?

I am a stay at home Mammy!

A working Mother or a stay at home Mother. I must admit I have never felt that one of those titles should out do the other.

I dont think anyone could compare or pick which title is better! A working Mother or a stay at home Mother. I have been both these titles yet for some reason having another title other then ‘Mammy’ used to make me feel like I had more of a purpose.

I now feel that I want to be proud of my decision to be a stay at home Mam, even at the times when people don’t think much of it.

As the eldest daughter of a Mam who was very career driven, I was raised to be independent from the get go! I was always happy to play on my own as a child and being an only child for the first 7years of my life made that task pretty easy. It was incredible to finally get a sister when I was almost 8years old but as she was small I almost acted like her mammy rather then her sister until she was big enough to tell me “I’m big too”. Then when I was 13 I was delighted to get my first proper job at a chipper, something my little loves will never get the chance to do living in Dubai. I was so proud of this job! I told the world what I was up to. Anyone that came in walking distance of me was told my story. This is what I do – I am proud of it.

I don’t want my little loves to ever look down at people or feel that one title is greater than another. We always promote positive thinking in our home and so I hope they grow up realising the title does not make the person. The person owns their title.

Some how titles are still measured by a professional metric, especially here in Dubai. Women who swap a busy career to become stay at home Mother’s often end up pursueing parttime work just to keep that identity and for social affirmation. Whilst I dont think there is anything wrong with being the career driven working Mammy (like my own Mam was) motherhood seems invalidated when women are pressured into having a job. Like we need it in order to feel competent and skilled.

In a child’s eyes, a mother is a goddess. She can be glorious or terrible, benevolent or filled with wrath, but she commands love either way. I am convinced that this is the greatest power in the universe – J.K Jemisin

What do you do?

I often say to people – I do freelance writing and have a small blog. For some silly reason it sounds a little more worthwhile. It doesn’t matter that I don’t get paid for it. These title’s imply that I am more than just Mammy.

I realise I shouldn’t have to under sell myself as a Mam by telling people I also have a real job. For some silly reason it just makes me feel better any time that question is asked!

That question again…

What do you do?

I am a stay at home Mam. The title doesn’t sound impressive to some. No Diploma. No certificate’s needed for this role. What did you do to qualify for this role? All I did was have a baby or three, quit my job and move to the other side of the world with 2 suitcases.

What do you do?

I could list my routine tasks of each day; Uber Taxi Mam. Feeder. Dry Cleaner. Nurse. Home Work Helper. Advisor. Dance Instructor. Bath and Bed Supervisor – Just to name a few! Maybe I should be answering this question with; I devote all my days and nights to raising my little loves who know how to receive love, love themselves and love others. I tend to their needs to teach them to trust people and to feel safe. We play together to feel happiness. I bring them to many charity events to show them kindness and compassion. I travel with them to teach them the world is bigger than they know.

The hardest answer to give at this stage is, am I making an impact.

What exactly do I do?

I create a safe space for mylittleloves to love. I push them so they feel they could be the generation to change the world – and hope they want to change it!

That is the influence I want to have. It maybe a tricky task some days. I also may want to shout “I QUIT” from the top of the Burj Khalifa every now and then but I also realise how lucky I am to have this role.

Most working Mammy’s would kill for more time at home with their little loves and I am blessed to have fallen into it.

For now I am a stay at home mammy with a purpose!

Love, Helly x

Why my heart beats a little more in Ireland

The Wolfe Tones wrote a song called “My heart is in Ireland” and the chorus catches me every time.

My heart is in Ireland, It’s there I long to be.

Her hills and her valleys are calling to me!

My heart breaks every time I hear these lines…

From the moment we land.

We feel it.

Ireland is Home.

Ireland is not just a place. It is a feeling. A feeling that gets under your skin and never wants to leave you. It is the warmth of the people who make you feel welcome always.

Ireland is wild mountain beauty with views of cliffs and the atlantic that make you feel like you are witnessing something special for the first time.

Ireland is where you go to a pub for a ‘trad sesh’ and the locals pull you up to dance or request you go next in the sing song. It doesn’t even matter if you don’t have a note in your head. You are equal. Especially on a day that is made for the high stool. The people are intoxicating – In the best kind of way.

They make you feel welcome. Welcome with every piece of them. With every piece of their land. That warm nod from a stranger or smiles from people driving by. The strongest sense of community.

History and heritage is such a massive part of the land. It survives because Irish people choose to remember the past while also practicing all the old traditions with pride.

Pride is something the Irish have in abundance.

The sea may take people away on new adventures but the sea will always bring us home…..

Helly xx

Trip 1 or 6 – A few of my travel tips!

If you are about to embark on the 1st trip with your 1st child, or your 10^th trip with your 3^rd child, traveling with kids will always be daunting. There is so much to think about. What to pack? How to get there? It’s a mind boggle with so many potential worries.

These are some tips that I believe will help parents from going insane.

Some are for babies, some are for older children, some for you but one thing is for sure, preparation is key and once you arrive at your destination it will all be worth it!

Take it slow – You do not need to be the first on the plane nor do you have to be the first to get off the plane. Sit back and let everyone else rush around you. Take deep breaths and move when you are ready.

Don’t over pack – Remember that almost everything can be bought abroad. It might not be the same brand, but you’ll manage. Your nappy bag will count as your carry on, so make sure you’ve got everything. Baby wipes in abundance, Nappies, Baby food/Snacks, For bigger kids chewy sweets to avoid sore ears on take off and landing, change of clothes for all, one plastic bag to store anything that may get destroyed, headphones and a little bag with medicines you might need.

Brand your little – This may sound awful. How could you lose your child? Honestly – It happens. You are busy and they are distracted and airports are bright and shiny! A friend told me that she started writing her number across her child’s arm for such events and I really thought this was clever.

Baby wearing or a travel stroller for the win! – This is of course a personal choice. I am the crazy person that loves a sling and also a Yo-Yo. The sling for going through all the security points and also I can feed her in the sling and she would happily sleep in it. The Yo-Yo for when I am in need of my own space and she is happy to sit and watch everything around her. The one thing she loves about airports – People watching!

Small gifts – When you really feel like you need a break -new toys wrapped up make for a great distraction. It may only give you 15minutes but any 15minutes is a win in my eyes.

Tablets – All screen time rules should go out the window for a bit of peace! Who’s with me? In all honesty though, Netflix allows you to download their favorite shows on to your device and it has saved me on so many occasions. Remembering that a lot of planes don’t allow the on flight entertainment to start until up in the air and sometimes there is a big wait from boarding to that point. You can also get kid friendly and educational games that they haven’t played yet to hold their attention.

Snacks – If in doubt, no amount of food is an issue. Keep feeding. Hopefully not all sugary treats (just so you have some hope of a nap) but my little’s love food so it is a great distraction.

Timing is everything – I like to plan my flights around bedtime if at all possible. Evening flights can be more expensive, but a sleeping child is good for my sanity and of course everyone else’s ears. Give yourself a couple of hours if connecting on to another flight to stretch legs, visit bathrooms, eat, talk, play, and get ready for the next flight.

Where to sit? – The middle of the plane gives you the option of using the bulkhead seats. Not only would you get more legroom and more floor space for play – it also means the possibility of a baby cot. However, it also means that you wont have any storage under the seat in front of you. Sitting at the front is similar to the back, except the kitchen area is typically smaller, and busier. One other thing to consider that really depends on the child’s age is, window or aisle seat? You need to decide is it better to be tucked away or have space to move.

Check in online – One of the biggest blessings the internet brought to us was online check in! Minimize your time once you arrive at the airport. One of the easiest things to do is online check in. All you have to do is drop the bag and go through security. All about the easy, stress free options.

Arrive Early – You may have checked in online but it is still far easier to do the queues of visa control and bag drop at your own ease. Get through it calmly and try to let the kids run about and use up all of their energy closer to your departure gate.

Keep calm – what is the worse that could happen? Yes your child could scream or make you feel like all eyes are on you but who really cares. It is a moment in time that you will have survived. Sit back and enjoy what ever moments are enjoyable.

Remember that YOU will be FINE!

When you get there treat yourself to something you like.

Happy Holidays!!

Helly xx

“A person does not grow from the ground like a vine or a tree, one is not part of a plot of land. Mankind has legs so it can wander” – Roman Payne

I really do love to wander… Especially in shiny white buildings!

I must admit every time I come here I fall a little more in love…

Outside the Mosque walls are flower featuring hedges of clipped Indian privet and Texas ranger, as well as date palms and fragrant frangipani (my favourite). The gardens form a buffer that helps to calm tourists and worshippers alike, while filtering out the roar of nearby traffic with the sound of fountains and birdsong.

It’s a very different picture inside, where vigorous vines and flowers appear to grow across the mosque’s entrances and courtyard. They have been executed in brightly coloured mosaic and white marble. The mosque’s main floral displays are not the work of a garden designer or a landscape architect but of Kevin Dean, an artist and designer trained at the Royal College of Art. He came from a family of gardeners and always loved the beauty of plants. Dean was already an established designer of floral designs and motifs, producing designs for clients such as Marks and Spencers, John Lewis and Laura Ashley.

If you plan to visit the UAE this is a must see!

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