My name is Emma, I am mum to Sophia (7) and Jack (3) and this is Motherhood My Way.

I have dedicated considerable thought to how best to articulate the ways in which I am embracing motherhood on my own terms. In short, the answer is that it is a constantly evolving process. As I gain more experience as a mum, as I mature and develop as an individual, and as my children's needs and requirements change, my approach to motherhood adapts.

Although my approach can vary, at the heart of it is our 'triangle' that encompasses my children, myself, and my relationship with my husband. I'm always trying to serve each of these three in the most effective way possible, by prioritising what is important to us and working within the limitations of the time and resources we have available.

In terms of prioritising my children's needs, my perspective has been heavily influenced by the loss of my own mum. Specifically, I have gained a profound understanding of the aspects of her presence that I miss most, and this has helped inform my approach to raising my own children. I am acutely aware that it is the simple, everyday gestures that have the greatest impact. As a result, I am constantly reminded to focus on the small things with my own children, like spending quality time with them, as these simple acts of love can have a significant impact on their well-being.

This means that whilst I worry about having a clean house, this isn't going to be prioritised over sitting down and reading a book with my kids or taking them for a bike ride on a sunny day. I have learned to embrace the chaos and messiness and avoid self-sabotage when I haven't vacuumed in over a week. And while I strive to cook nutritious meals for my family, there are times I don't. I view the act of serving my children a meal as an expression of love, regardless of how long it took me to prepare. Motherhood my way is about acknowledging that I am doing my best, and that self-sabotage only brings negativity into the home without serving any constructive purpose.

There may be weeks when I forget to hang out a load of washing or to have groceries delivered on time. I have learned to continue to move forward with a positive outlook. No longer do I go down the rabbit hole of self-sabotage, I simply carry-on. This allows me to prioritise what my children actually need to feel loved, such as being tucked into bed at night and receiving a kiss and cuddle, rather than becoming overly preoccupied with meeting unrealistic standards.

In essence, Motherhood My Way is about acknowledging that perfection is not my goal, but rather doing my best to prioritise what truly matters in nurturing my children.