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8 Places to See Wildlife in Nairobi (Fun Outing for Kids!)

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0
Photo credit/source: Kenya Wildlife Service Facebook page

Hello friends. If you’re looking for some fun places to take your children and family for some fun moments –specifically where you can spot some wildlife in Nairobi, I have listed down below a few places that you can explore. I have also included the fees charged in these wildlife parks in Nairobi and their locations. Remember that children, no matter how old they are, love seeing animals so this will be a great treat for them 🙂

Giraffe Center

Photo credit: Giraffe Center Facebook page

The Giraffe Centre, located in the Karen/Lang’ata area hosts plenty of the world’s tallest animal species. It is open from 9am to 5pm, seven days a week. While there, you can feed the giraffes some food pellets made of corn, wheat, grass and molasses. Don’t leave without getting a kiss from a giraffe! Educators are also available to give more information about the animals. Remember to carry a valid Identification Card with you. The charges for resident children are Ksh200 (age 3 – 12 years) and Ksh400 for resident adults. See more information about the Giraffe Center here.

Snake Park

Located at the Nairobi National Museum, this is a place I’ve been to with my sons, and it was such a fun experience. The park has other animals aside from the snakes, and these include crocodiles, an alligator, tortoises, turtles and chameleons. There’s also a nature trail that has lots of bird species. Upon request, you can get a guided tour to help educate the children about the snakes and the birds. Such fun! I captured some of our experiences at the park which you can see in the video above. Charges for the Snake Park are Ksh100 for children (below 16 years) and Ksh200 for adults.

Stedmak Gardens

Photo courtesy: Stedmak Gardens Facebook page

Different animals are found at the Stedmak Gardens and they include: warthogs, lions, cheetahs, baboons and monkeys, crocodiles, gazelles, Llama, porcupines and other animals. It also has a snake park and a bird sanctuary (with over 22 different species). Stedmak Gardens is located at Mukoyeti East Road, Off Langata rd, Next to NPC South Church Karen. Charges for citizens are Ksh200 per child and Ksh300 for adults. See more details about Stedmak Gardens here.

David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage 

Photo credit: Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Facebook page

The David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage / Nursery is located in the Nairobi National Park and is open to the public for one hour daily from 11am to Noon. During this time, you can witness the elephants enjoying a mud bath or soil dusting, as well as being fed milk. Entrance charges are Ksh500 per person. Access to the Orphanage / Nursery is via the KWS Central Workshop Gate Entrance to Nairobi National Park, off Magadi Road in Langata. You can learn more about the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage here.

Nairobi National Park

Photo credit: Kenya Wildlife Service Facebook page

The Nairobi National Park plays host to a wide variety of wildlife including the endangered black rhino, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, buffaloes, giraffes and diverse birdlife with over 400 species recorded. Charges are Ksh430 for adults and Ksh215 for children (citizens). You can access it via Lang’ata road. See more information here.

You can also check out the Nairobi Safari Walk.

Photo credit: Kenya Wildlife Service website

With its raised wooden boardwalk that allows for uninterrupted views of the animals, you can see the rare bongo, white rhino and albino zebra as well as big cats, antelopes and primates. It is also home to some 150 species of local trees. Charges are Ksh215 for adults and Ksh125 for children (citizens).

Nairobi Mamba Village
Photo credit: Nairobi Mamba Village Facebook page

Nairobi Mamba Village is a natural paradise with a man-made dam and river, stocked with a variety of fish, Crocodile farm, Ostrich Park, as well as a variety of birds for the bird watchers. The Nairobi Mamba Village is located off Langata /Karen Road, on Langata North Road, about 1km from Bomas of Kenya. Entry charges to the park are Ksh150 for kids (citizens) and Ksh200 for adult citizens.

Karura Forest

At the Karura Forest, some of the animals to be seen include the duiker, bushbucks, bush pigs, porcupines, monkeys, squirrels, hares, bats, pythons, green snakes, monitor lizards. Karura Forest also hosts hundreds of bird species and butterflies. You can access it via Limuru road or Kiambu road. Entry fess are Ksh50 for kids (citizens) and Ksh100 for adult citizens. Parking fees apply for vehicles (between Ksh100 and Ksh500 depending on the size of the vehicle)

City Park

Then there’s the good old City Park located in the Parklands area (near Aga Khan Hospital) where you can hang out with the monkeys, lots of butterflies, other insects, and a wide variety of bird species. No charges apply.

Have I missed out on your favorite place to go and see animals in Nairobi? Let me know in the comments section below. Have fun and enjoy and if you do visit one of these places, feel free to come back here and let us know all about it.

Mummy Tales is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of womanhood and motherhood. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: FACEBOOK l YOU TUBE l INSTAGRAM l TWITTER

House Helps in Kenya: Why I Took In My House Girl’s Child To Stay With Us

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0

Parents, would you take in the child of your house girl or nanny to live with you? Is it something you’ve ever thought of? Or would you consider doing it? What are the things you need to know beforehand? The do’s and don’ts? Well, I spoke to one mom who has that exact experience. See Maureen’s helpful insights below, learn something new from her insights. Also share the video with a friend 🙂

Mummy Tales is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of maternal and newborn health, as well as various issues surrounding motherhood and women. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: YOUTUBE l FACEBOOK l INSTAGRAM l TWITTER 

Preserving Fertility in Females with Cancer

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0

Can you have a baby if you had cancer? Can a cancer patient have a baby? Cancer, or more often cancer treatments, can affect one’s ability to have children. So how can cancer patients preserve their fertility? What do they need to know? Good news is that the method is locally available here in Kenya! I spoke to Pauline Kibui, who sheds more light about what you need to know if you’re about to begin cancer treatment and you’d still like to get children someday. Fertility preservation is for all types of cancer by the way. See my interview with Pauline in the video below.

You may help by sharing this information with your friends and in your groups -you never know who could be desperately in need of this information.

Thanks for watching.

If you have a story you’d like to share, you can write to me at maryanne@mummytales.com

Here at Mummy Tales: Raising a Family in Africa, I share inspirational stories of other women -experiences that we can all learn from. If you have an experience you’d like to share with other women, you can email it to me.  

You may also connect with me on FACEBOOK l YOU TUBE l INSTAGRAM l TWITTER

What Will your Children Remember About You? One Mom’s Sentiments 

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0
'An outburst of the soul'. Image credit: Africa Knows

Hi friends. Today, I share the sentiments of a 34-year-old mom, who is raising her two children in Nairobi. As I read her sentiments about her life as a mom, they resonated so well with me. And I thought; as we raise our children, no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in, let’s purpose to spend enough quality time with them and make precious memories together. Read her sentiments below.

“Raising kids as a single parent is one of the toughest things you can ever do. You worry about the kids alone, you provide for them alone, you take them out to have fun alone. You make the hard life choices alone.

At the same time, you get unsolicited advice from everywhere. Plus the judging eyes. And the endless, prying questions: ‘Why are you single?’ Where is the father?’

“What happened between you and baby daddy? Is the father paying child support? Are you dating again? Are you planning on getting more kids? What will you tell your child about why they don’t have a father? Are you providing enough for your child?” -Questions society asks

But I have grown with my kids. My first born –he was an ‘oops’ baby who I got in my early twenties. I was so scared! Somewhere along the way, his father left, even before baby had hit his first birthday.

Then, the uncertain 20-something year old mum was so nervous and driven by her fears. I was afraid that I had messed up my future, that I would never be the career woman I had hoped I would be. But now, in my 30’s, I’m driven by hope and big dreams. I’ve learnt that I’m tougher than I look or sound.

I got my second child –my daughter at the age of 32 years. She was a planned baby and I’m enjoying every bit of parenting her.

What I Continue to Learn

Each day, I realize that children add on to your life and make you a better person. Kids humanize you. To me, they are my heartbeats. To my son and daughter, I am their sun in the sky. The mom in shining armour.

Make Memories

Love your children, because soon they shall leave you to go start their own lives. Time whizzes by so fast, you sit down and wonder where it all went. This is where memories come in. Make as many precious memories with them, sing with them in the car, act goofy. These are the things they shall remember you by. They shall grow up to be the best versions of themselves.” -END

Also Read: What to Do When Your Child Forgets Their Homework at School

Do you have any sentiments you’d like to share as a mom? You can write to me on maryanne@mummytales.com

Here at Mummy Tales: Raising a Family in Africa, I share inspirational stories of other women -experiences that we can all learn from. If you have an experience you’d like to share with other women, you can email it to me.  

You may also connect with me on FACEBOOK l YOU TUBE l INSTAGRAM l TWITTER

What to Do When Your Child Forgets Their Homework at School

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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3

So, I was recently at a parent’s forum where the topic of personal responsibility (of the child in this case) was being discussed. Then the facilitator asked this question:

“Parents, when your child forgets their homework textbook at school, what do you do?”

We gave varied responses to the question, including:

  • We post in the class parents’ WhatsApp group: Hi guys, someone please send a photo of Visionary Mathematics Grade 2 page 64. My boy forgot his textbook in school. Cheers guys!
  • We also post this in mom Facebook groups: “Saseni mums, mtu pliz anitumie homework picha ya Primary English Grade 3 page 25, number 1-10.”
  • You phone your neighbor with a child in the same class and ask if you can borrow her child’s textbook for a few minutes
  • You accompany your child to the neighbor’s house and take a screenshot of the page where the homework is
  • You tell your child that you’ll drop him at school 30 minutes before school starts to enable him to complete the assignment
  • You write a note in the child’s school diary by honestly saying your child forgot his textbook at school, but he’ll complete it in the evening. Then you end with an apology
  • You write a note in the child’s diary offering a good explanation as to why the child was unable to complete his homework. You thank the teacher for their understanding
  • You let the child go to school with the incomplete homework. Atajisort mbele

Then, the facilitator pointed out something about the responses: most were about parents offering solutions to the child’s problem.

The facilitator asked us if, while we were pupils ourselves, we had ever forgotten our homework in school, or failed to complete it for one reason or another.

We all raised our hands.

He then asked how many of us had our parents come up with solutions to that problem. Solutions such as those that we had mentioned.

A negligible number raised their hands.

What’s the worst thing that can happen?

The facilitator took issue with many parents of today who have the tendency to quickly come up with solutions to their children’s problems. The children are never even given the opportunity to think through the problem and try and solve it on their own, but are instead easily guided through solutions that have already been thought out for them.

“What would happen if you sent your child to school to let them face the consequences of forgetting their homework at school?

Will they be punished? Probably.

Will they be pardoned? Probably.

Will the child take it as an opportunity to learn about personal responsibility? Probably.

So just let the child go to school without the completed homework and stop falling over yourselves trying to ‘save’ them,” the facilitator told us.

That was food for thought for many parents. So how about you? What do you do when your child forgets his textbook at school? Do you agree with the facilitator? Do you think today’s parents are ‘babying’ their children too much? Do share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Also Read: The Day My Daughter’s Teacher told me to ‘Watch out For Relatives, Especially Male Ones” 

Connect with me on FACEBOOK l YOU TUBE l INSTAGRAM l TWITTER

6 Helpful Tips for Dealing With Morning Sickness in Pregnancy

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0

For most moms, they know that ‘morning sickness’ happens any time of the day, and not just in the morning. Morning sickness is when the pregnant woman just feels sick, nauseous and feels like vomiting. Sometimes, even the smell of something can trigger the retching. It can be one of the roughest parts of the pregnancy. For many, it happens in the first trimester while for others, it can go for months beyond this.

So how can you help relieve these nauseous feelings? I talked to a few Kenyan moms, and these are some of the tips they shared with me about how they dealt with the pregnancies (without having to take medicine). In case I left out something that worked for you, feel free to add that in the comments section below.

  1. Lemon

You could try drinking freshly squeezed lemon juice, or try also sucking on slices of fresh lemon. Additional tip – you can carry them in a small lunchbox that can fit into your handbag and take them as necessary.

For Purity Musalia, whose story you can read here, she would always carry lemon and salt in her handbag, which she would then lick during the day as she went about her business. Doing so helped control her nausea. You could try that too!

2. Tropical sweets

Some moms say that eating Tropical Mint sweets throughout the day helped reduce the nauseous feelings. They said that the mint helped prevent the ‘vomiting’ feeling especially after a meal.

3. Fresh Ginger

You can peel a piece of fresh ginger and suck on it (like you do a sweet). You can also chew on small bits of it. Eating ginger cookies also helps a lot! When I was pregnant with my second son, my sister told me about the ginger cookie vybe and for sure, it worked!! So this is something I recommend 100% based on both my experience and that of my sister. So go ahead, buy some and keep them in your handbag – they’ll come in handy during the day!

Ginger cookies

4. Ice Cubes

There are moms who told me that munching on ice cubes at regular intervals during the day helped relieve some of the morning sickness. You could add a tinge of lemon if you feel that the taste would be too bland.

5. Eating Boiled Dry Foods while Avoiding Greasy, Fatty and Spicy Meals

I actually got this from quite a number of moms – that greasy foods used to make them sick. Also, the smell of some spices used to put them off completely. But dry, boiled foods like grains and potatoes -that used to work perfectly for them.

Also Read: Is There Any Harm in Pregnant Women Eating Stones (odowa)?

6. Drinking Lots of Water

Drinking lots of water during pregnancy is extra-important as this helps keep you hydrated. Ensure that the water you’re drinking is safe.

Other mom’s comments on what worked for them:

“Having lemon tea and eating tropical sweets while on the move! Worked for the first two pregnancies. The third one I couldn’t taste lemon but I ate lots of patco!” -Elizabeth

“Ginger nut cookies and stoney tangawizi soda worked perfectly for me!” -Rosie

“Weetabix with ice cold milk. That was the only thing I could keep down. Ate that for like a month. It kept me going. Couldn’t stand cooked food because of onions and oil.” -Christine.

“I loved crushing ice cubes ?. I had bad nausea with my first born for the whoooole pregnancy. Ginger worked for a while too.” -Waithera

“I fought nausea through: Krest, black ginger tea, chewing minty gum and lemon water” -Eva

“Patcos!! I have had them through both pregnancies! I had very mild nausea but they really worked.” -Sophie

“Ginger is always a winner. It settles the tummy” -Wambui

“Cinnamon sticks are also a great snack.” -Bella

Patcos worked best for me! I would buy the whole bag and keep kwa handbag…unakulaga ukienda..” -Edwinah

“Tropical mint have been my nausea dawa since I was young. Travel nausea and when I was pregnant they came through as always. No need kununua moja moja I used to buy na packet. Store in every handbag and pocket. One of the pregnancies was a patco pregnancy.” -Joyce

“I did tropicals, ginger biscuits and lemon water. Ooh – and unripe mangoes.” -Alison

“Pilipili in every meal worked well for me” -Kari

So there you go. I hope you found the information helpful. If you did, share it with a pregnant mom as it could help her too. Did I leave anything out and which totally worked for you (and which doesn’t involve medicine)? You can share that in the comments section below. I left out the medicinal remedies because its best to get that information from a medical expert who is well-versed with matters pregnancy.

Thanks for reading!

Also Read: Is Eating Liver Good for a Pregnant Woman?

Mummy Tales is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of womanhood and motherhood. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: FACEBOOK l YOU TUBE l INSTAGRAM l TWITTER

I was not prepared for the challenges of being a new first time mom

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0
Photo/MummyTales/File/Model

Lydia is a 26-year-old journalist and mother of a two-year boy. She recounts her experiences as a new mom -a period that made her realize that there was so much she didn’t know about new motherhood. 

“It was at 4am when I was woken up by sharp pains in my belly. The moment was here; my baby was finally arriving. And sure enough, six hours later, my baby boy arrived -healthy, happy and bouncing!

Well, while I had thought that the labor and birthing process was the hardest part about being a mother, I hadn’t encountered the difficulties of the post-natal period.

The Lochia

For starters, let’s talk about the bleeding. The bleeding, accompanied by contractual pains in the uterus (especially as baby breastfed) lasted for weeks. Sometimes, it was messy and I experienced a few leakages. No one ever told me about this uncomfortable experience.

I also had to also sit on warm salty water for purposes of healing the stitches ‘down there’. And it hurt! I had to clean the area between my vagina and anus three times a day to avoid infection. But the pain involved was crazy.

Long Calls

Going for a long call was not a good experience either. I couldn’t squat because of the stitches and so I had to do this halfway-standing halfway-sitting kind of thing.

I was advised by the midwife to always go to the loo whenever I felt the need to poop in order to avoid constipation, otherwise it would lead to my stitches rupturing. If that happened, I would then need to return to hospital to be stitched up again. Imagine that!

Constant Fatigue

I remember there was this day I was hanging my newborn’s clothes outside when I felt myself starting to sway from side to side. I was staggering like a drunk person. That was when I realized how fatigued I was.

The exhaustion was because of the sleepless nights I had to endure as my newborn would wake up countless times at night. During the day, I would be hosting visitors who had come to see him. So I barely got enough sleep. Even though I had a house help (who handled all household chores), most of the responsibility of caring for baby lay with me, thus draining all my energy.

Baby’s Cries

When growing up, I used to see mothers breastfeed their babies whenever they cried. When I became one, I tried using this trick to calm my son but sometimes it didn’t work. I came to learn that babies cry for a multiple of reasons such as when they are feeling warm, cold, are wet or their stomach hurts. Sometimes, breastfeeding isn’t the solution –as my newborn son clearly taught me.

Burping Challenges

I didn’t know much about burping a baby after they had breastfeed. Not doing so led my son to suffer from gas problems before I knew about it. Mastering the art of burping him successfully was another struggle altogether that thoroughly stressed me.

These are some of the experiences I faced as a new mom. They convinced me that healthcare workers need to give information to expectant and new moms about how to how to cope with their new roles as mothers. The information also needs to include how they can cope with the stresses that come along with this role. It can really be a difficult period for moms, and it’s much worse when they have no information. They need to be adequately prepared for their new role.

Also Read: The Day I Suffered an Anxiety Attack

I have come to learn that many new mothers suffer from post natal depression (many times which they don’t even know they are suffering from) because they are not well prepared on how to handle the stress that comes with a baby. To be honest, I was going nuts and I never thought I would survive this period. But I’m glad I did.

Are you a pregnant mom? Do you feel adequately prepared about the journey that lies ahead? Talk to other moms about what to expect. You’ll be surprised about how much information moms are willing to share with you and how this can help you in your journey. Don’t be hesitant to reach out.” -END

Mummy Tales by Maryanne W. Waweru is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of womanhood and motherhood. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: FACEBOOK l YOU TUBE l TWITTER

Hyperemesis Gravidarum in Kenya: Diana Nashipai Awuor’s Story

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0

Hi friends, hope you’ve been well. I love sharing women’s inspirational stories, and today I share the story of 25-year-old Diana Nashipai Awuor. Read on and share with a friend.

On the day she got back to Nairobi from an out-of-town trip, Diana headed straight to the hospital. She was experiencing severe nausea and vomiting, was feeling faint, dehydrated and very weak. Seven weeks pregnant, she was admitted at the hospital.

“I was seriously sick. Anything I ate, I vomited. Anything I drank including water, I vomited it all out. I was sick all day long and spent the better part of my day in the toilet retching. I stopped eating and lost so much weight. I hated how I felt, and I hated everything around me,” Diana remembers.

Diana spent four days at the hospital after doctors diagnosed her with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). HG is a pregnancy complication characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss and in many cases, dehydration. Diana was informed that there was no cure for the HG, that it could only be managed with medication, adequate rest and support from those around her.

Resentful Towards My Pregnancy

While the news of her pregnancy had been a happy moment for Diana and her husband, it was turning out to be a source of great misery.

“I would vomit almost every 30 minutes. Even when there was nothing in my stomach, I still felt the urge to vomit. My mouth was always had a bitter taste as a result. It was such a horrible experience that left me feeling so frustrated!

Diana and her husband, who has always been a great source of support for her.

But that was not all. I slowly started resenting my pregnancy because of the joy it was taking away from me. I became such a miserable, gloomy and angry person. I hated being around people and shut out anybody who tried to reach out to me, including my own family members. I just wanted to be alone.” Diana says.

My Husband’s Presence  

A newly wed, Diana had resigned from her job to try her hand in entrepreneurship. With her good baking skills, she knew it would be a worthwhile venture. But with the difficult pregnancy, she could not stand the sight or smell of food or be anywhere near the kitchen without vomiting. Baking became an impossible task.

Thankfully, she had her husband’s support.

“Before leaving for work in the morning, he would prepare my breakfast and lunch and leave the house well organized. He would encourage me to eat, no matter how little, saying I needed the energy for my growing baby.

Diana bakes cakes.

What my Gynaecologist Said and Did

One day, he returned home from work in the evening to find that I hadn’t touched my food. In fact, I’d barely moved from the spot he had left me. I’d already lost so much weight and deeply worried, he took me to my doctor.

Thankfully, my gynaecologist -Dr. Ndirangu understood me and said it wasn’t unusual for me to be feeling that way. He reassured me and made me feel okay.

Whenever I went to Dr. Ndirangu, he would allow me to cry and vent about all that I was feeling. Even when I told him I was feeling resentful about the pregnancy because of how it was making me feel, he didn’t judge me. He never rushed me and gave me enough time to express myself while he listened keenly. I always felt so much better.

Risk of Post-Partum Depression

My husband would always take time off work to accompany me for the doctor’s visit. I also liked how Dr. Ndirangu would talk to my husband too, asking him about how he was coping as an ‘expectant father’ and giving him helpful information about how best he could support me. Dr. Ndirangu further recommended that I see a psychologist or a counselor. He worried that if left untreated, it possibly would lead to post-partum depression.

I didn’t feel like seeing a counsellor, but my husband convinced me to follow the doctor’s advice. I decided to visit CITAM Valley Road where I attended five counseling sessions. The counselor talked to me and reiterated the doctor’s statements – that it wasn’t my fault for feeling the way I was. After each session, I always felt so much better and gradually, I began smelling the roses around me and seeing the sunshine in my situation. Even though I never stopped feeling nauseated and continued vomiting after every two hours, I began feeling like I was getting a new lease of life. The counseling sessions at CITAM were free by the way, for which I’m grateful.

Defying Doctor’s Orders

When I was six months pregnant, the doctor put me on complete bed rest. My husband remained very supportive and always ensured the meals were prepared and the house was in order before he left for work. The only thing that I could hold down without vomiting excessively was porridge, and my husband prepared that for me. He would return home early to prepare dinner and take care of me.

One day, while he was at work, I got bored of staying in bed and decided to cook. It turned out to be a big mistake as I ended up experiencing severe abdominal pains. I called my husband who rushed me to hospital where I was informed that if I didn’t follow my doctor’s instructions to be on total bed rest, I would end up going into premature labor –placing the life of my baby at risk.

My Son Arrives

I surrendered and followed the doctor’s instructions to the letter. I remained on bed rest until I delivered my healthy son, who was born weighing 3.3kgs. He is now one year old.

My experience with HG is that it can happen to any woman. It is also good for family and friends not to give up on a woman who may be suffering from depression in pregnancy. Most of the time the depressive moods are beyond her control.

It was Worth it!

My son, who is now a year old, has been such a blessing in our lives and has brought back the joy and happiness in our lives. Every time I look at him and think about all the turmoil I underwent when pregnant with him, I conclude that it was wall worth it. I would do it all over again!” -END

So that is Diana’s story. I hope it has helped you understand the turmoil that many pregnant women go through. For some, it even hinders them from going about their daily activities and can lead to depression both during and after pregnancy.

If you are or know of a woman who would benefit from a support group of women who have undergone pregnancy-related turmoil or depression, you can reach out to Samoina Wangui of PostPartum Depression Kenya. Samoina experienced depressive episodes during her pregnancy and you can read her story that I wrote here.

Also Read Related Stories Below:

Vicky Gachuche: My Experience with Extreme Nausea and Vomiting in my Pregnancies

“I was Convinced that Neither me nor my Baby would Survive” -My Traumatic Experience with Severe Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy (Part One)

Here at Mummy Tales: Raising a Family in Africa, I share inspirational stories of other women -experiences that we can all learn from. If you have an experience you’d like to share with other women, you can email me on maryanne@mummytales.com and I’ll be in touch with you.

Thanks for reading. You may also connect with me on FACEBOOK l YOU TUBE l INSTAGRAM l TWITTER

The ‘P’ Fruits for Baby’s Constipation + Tap Water vs Bottled Water: the Option you Should Give Baby

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0

Moms, do you know of the fruits that can help relieve baby of constipation? They start with letter ‘P’. Also, when it comes to giving your baby water, do you go for tap water or bottled water? In this video, Ciru Ciera of Nurturing Mums explains why you should choose one option over the other. Watch video below and share with a friend.

Also Watch:

 

Why I Quit Employment as an Electrical Engineer to Become a Stay-at-Home-Mom

By
Maryanne W. Waweru
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0

A few weeks ago, I wrote the story of Betty Achieng, a mom of two who quit her job to become a stay-at-home mom. The story received quite some reactions, with many moms saying that even though they too would be glad to stay home and raise their children, prevailing circumstances just don’t allow them to. Indeed, the role of a mother during a child’s formative years is unmatched, and I believe we all recognize this, no matter the situation you find yourself in. You can catch up with Betty’s story here in case you missed it.

Well, today I  bring you the story of 35-year-old DIANA KETTER, an Electrical Engineer with over ten years’ experience in the building industry. She has been married for 7 years and is a mother of two. Diana also quit her job to become a Stay-at-Home Mom (SAHM). On this blog, I share our different experiences as women and as moms, hoping that you can learn something new, or draw some inspiration from the stories shared. This is Diana’s story.

Maryanne: What made you decide to become a Stay-at-Home mom?

Diana: I resigned from my job after I had my second born. This was after I realized I needed to be more active in my children’s lives as they grew. I felt that God has given me the responsibility to raise my children and be more present in their lives, as this will help in positively impacting their character. I felt that being a stay-at-home-mom was how I could best do this.

Diana with her children.

Maryanne: Did you consult with your husband before you made the decision?

Diana: Yes, I did have to ask my husband. But even before asking him, I prayed about. When I told him, it came as shocker and he requested for time. I must say that something that was clear to me from the beginning was that if my resolve to be a stay-at-home-mom was going to work, then my husband had to be involved and that he had to make the decision on his own.

Maryanne: Did you have a financial plan?

Diana: Yes, because being a stay-at-home-mom called for humility on my side as it would involve a lifestyle change. Also, my husband’s biggest concern was our finances and how that would change things. So I had some ideas.

During the discussions with him, some of the financial proposals I shared included us moving closer to his work place. Doing so meant that the school fees would come to almost half of what we were paying. The rent at the new neighborhood would also be half of what we were paying. In addition, there was a market nearby, so the cost of groceries would also be way cheaper. Basically, his salary would be enough. These are some of the proposals that helped in him agree with my decision to be a stay-at-home-mom. To date, we have never lacked as his salary is able to cater for our financial needs and our children are happy.

And something interesting is how God affirms our decisions. His friend once told him how rare it is to see a woman give up their career to raise a family. And that evening he came and told me ‘Thank you’.

The Ketter family.

 Maryanne: Moms who would like to stay at home to raise their children worry a lot about being financially dependent on their husbands. What has been your experience?

Diana: Yes, the fear of depending on him fully was there. So, when we were doing the budget (together), we allocated some money for my personal use.

However, I also tried out several things for personal cash flow. I tried making mandazi but I realized I’m not good with sales.

My next business idea was making mats, but I never got around to doing that.

I’m grateful I have an old friend (in the Engineering field) who gives me design jobs that I can easily do from my house. I’m grateful for the small contracts which I do from home.

In life we always have something in our hands (using the biblical analogy of when God asked Moses what it was that he had in his hands). I would advise women who are thinking about the decision to find something that they are passionate about that will not impede on the whole idea of being stay-at-home-mom and build on it as the children grow. I also always encourage people not to adore money and make it bigger than God.

Maryanne: What have you seen as some of the benefits of you staying at home to raise your children?

Diana: As a stay-at-home-mom, I’m now able to pick my son from school and we do homework together. I also have time to train him to take up some chores, and I also talk to him about why he should not watch some TV shows.

My first born is energetic and emotional, very few people understand him. I also didn’t understand him, and I struggled with disciplining him because being a working mum I didn’t have time (I used to leave home early and return late) and he would take things personally. I was that mum whose son would pull tantrums in public places and I didn’t know what to do. Now that I’m at home, I’ve come to understand him better. I have also noticed how much he enjoys my presence. I have learnt to meet his emotional needs and to discipline him appropriately. I occasionally get comments that his behaviour has really improved. I also know that we are still work in progress because there was a gap of 5 years.

Also Read: 5 Things I’ve Learned by Raising a Child with Autism – Esther’s Story

Some of the joys of being a stay-at-home mom are the stories my son excitedly narrates to me after school, the endless hugs I get from both children and the ‘I-love-you’s’ I don’t how many times a day, the songs we get to sing together and dance to (my daughter is just 10 months but loves music). I’m really enjoying observing my daughter’s milestones which I can’t remember with my son (sad). Other things that I’m loving is getting to cook for my family (and they love my food especially my husband).

Maryanne: How did your family members react to your decision to leave work to raise your children?

Diana: Before resigning I called my mum to inform her of my decision. She asked my reasons for doing so and after I explained, she understood and gave me her blessings.

With my father, he is still trying to understand it, with occasional calls of ‘Don’t you think it’s time to go back to work…”

It’s not an easy place because you understand where they come from, they schooled you for a purpose and you almost feel that the old saying “you shouldn’t educate a girl” would make sense to them.

My elder sister has always been very supportive –she herself is a stay-at-home-mom in Australia.

One thing that motivates me is the encouragement I get from the women engineering forums I’m in. I particularly remember the story shared by a fellow woman engineer who also quit employment to raise her children until one day they told her it was time to return to the workforce. She picked up from where she left and is now back fully in the field. And that’s my desire to grow in my career and this is not only for myself but to honour my parents.

Diana with her children.

Maryanne: How about the reactions from friends?

Diana: To many, it might seem like a failure having left work to raise my family, but one of the greatest lessons I have learned is that of being content with your decision. Few friends understand and will encourage you, while others have reasons why you shouldn’t, but the most important thing is to understand yourself and the reasons for doing so. Indeed, the pressure will always be there but do not let it define you.

Also Read: Every Woman Must Take a Break from Work – Lilian Maingi-Barasa

One of the challenges of being in a male-dominated industry is that you must work extra hard to prove yourself. And it’s not that women are not good enough, but the prejudice that is out there is real. Something I learnt in the industry is not to wrestle with male ego, but your work will speak for you. And that’s the same thing about people’s opinions; how you have raised your children will speak for itself.

Maryanne: As a mom, do you find time to take a break?

Diana: One of the challenges of being a stay-at-home mom is that sometimes you just need a break, otherwise it will surge into something else. So for me I take occasional long walks and I have found that they help me cope well.

The other thing is you can easily get unfit (something I am trying to find a way around). And the last is getting comfortable and locked out. I’m yet to get there my only social time is in church but it’s something to watch out for.

Maryanne: Your parting shot?

Diana: I am very grateful that I can be a stay-at-home mom because I am aware of many other women who don’t have this choice.” -END

Thank you Diana for sharing your story.

If you’re a stay-at-home-mom just like Diana, and would also you like to share your story, you can email me on maryanne@mummytales.com If you found this story helpful or inspirational, share it with your friends too.

Thanks for reading. You may also connect with me on FACEBOOK l YOU TUBE l INSTAGRAM l TWITTER

Mummy Tales is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of maternal and newborn health, as well as various issues surrounding motherhood and women. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: YOUTUBE l FACEBOOK l INSTAGRAM l TWITTER 

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Why I Quit my Job to Become a Stay-at-Home-Mom

“How I Reignited the Passion in our Marriage” -Patricia Cidi Malika

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