Diary of a Thriving Mum

When my daughter was barely a month old, she discovered her lungs—and boy, did she use them. Her screams were not the “I’m hungry” or “change my diaper” kind; they were full-on protests directed at certain “unmentionables”. You know the ones, hmmm.

Imagine my shock when those very “people” had the nerve to ask me, “What exactly are you telling a one-month-old that she already doesn’t like us?” I mean… how do you even answer that level of ridiculousness? “Oh, you know, we’ve been gossiping about you over midnight feeds.” Insert the biggest eye-roll ever.

But as time went on, I had an epiphany—my baby wasn’t just crying for the sake of it. She had vibes, and could sense some bad vibes. Somehow, she could sense how these people made me feel, and she wasn’t having any of it. My little girl was out here defending her mama like a tiny, adorable bouncer. Loyal to the core.

It was both heartwarming and humbling because I realized how much power my mood had over her tiny world. If I was sad or stressed, she’d pick up on it like a little emotional sponge. And if I was happy? Her giggles could light up a room.

Honestly, it’s wild how deep the mother-child connection runs. Like, sometimes I’m completely wiped out, and my baby—just old enough to say “Mama”—will crawl over, plant the sweetest hug and wet kiss on me, and suddenly, I’m all mushy. For a moment, I even forget I don’t have a man. Laughs in single mum.

But seriously, the purpose of this story isn’t just to gush about my little protector (though she is the best). It’s to remind all of us mums to guard our own joy. Because our kids? They’re watching. They feel what we feel, even when we don’t say a word.

And yeah, I know it’s not always easy. Just today, I cried—a lot. But even on the hard days, I remind myself that my baby deserves to feel like she’s growing up in a happy, loving home. And that starts with me!

So, mama, if you’re reading this, remember: You’ve got this, I am rooting so hard for you. Your little one thinks you’re a superhero—and they’re not wrong, I believe so too and so should you.

Love, Ife