MEET MEGAN

Next up on the mom series is Megan, she is a mom to the cutest little boy Noah, she is our Adoptive mom, I once briefly met Megan at a bloggers meet up, it was too brief and I don’t even know if she remembers but from what I noticed she is a beautiful person and an amazing mom, here is her story…

Give us a short introduction Meg!

Hello! My name is Megan and I blog over at Hopefull Treasures. I am a wife to Jason and mommy to a handsome little boy named Noah. I started my blog in 2015, just after Jason and I started our adoption process. We met Noah and became a forever family towards the end of 2015, and life has been once big adventure since then! We lived in Durban at the time of our adoption, but moved to Cape Town at the end of 2017. I have 2 jobs – I work at a boutique twice a week, and I work for an NGO as well. I am learning to paint and draw at the moment which I love! And I so enjoy a good book…so if you have any great must reads, please let me know!

Describe your typical day in 5 words or less

 Busy, from sun-up to sun-down!

Name 3 things you can’t live without

My quiet time in the mornings with Jesus, coffee, cuddles from my boy.

Attach a picture of your current mom bag and what’s inside:

My bag, filled with my purse, some toiletries and tissues and hand sanitiser…I just recently cleared out all of Noah’s toys!

Name 1 thing you wish you knew before you became a mom

I wish I knew just how tiring it would be some days. I mean, you always hear moms saying how exhausting it is, but you never really know until you are a mom.

What do you do when the kids are asleep or napping?

I’m a sleeper, so I will convince myself I need a nap too. Most time it works. But there are times when my convincing isn’t good enough, and I actually have to stay awake and do adult stuff.

What’s the best part of your day?

I love when my Noah wakes up in the morning. I cannot remember him ever waking up grumpy – even when he is sick. He always wakes up with a the biggest, most beautiful smile, and is so cuddly, when he is still a little sleepy!

Name a few of your mom Guilty pleasures:

Sneaking in those chocolates – that not even Jason always knows about. I’m all about having a moment to myself, eating a delicious chocolate all by myself, in peace and quiet.

What has been the scariest moment of your mom life and who did you look to for support?

Two days after Noah came home forever, he was admitted to hospital with bronchiolitis. That was terrifying. The worst moments were when they had to try and put a drip up, and they couldn’t find a vein. This mama’s heart was shattered! I looked to my sister, who stayed close to me at the time. And my mom who was always a phone call away. They were incredible. And Jason did everything he could to make sure Noah and I were alright.

Who is your hero and why?

I don’t have one specific hero. But I take my hat off to any mama out there, doing her very best to provide for and look after her family. Whether you are a single mom, married to your baby daddy, a step mom, a heart mama. If there are little people in this world who call you Mommy, and you do your very best to care for and love them…I so admire you! Keep doing what you are doing!

Name one thing (anything) that you would do if you weren’t afraid and were fearless and there were no consequences and nothing to hold you back;

I’d write a book and/or speak in public.

Name something that your mom taught you that you have taken into your own motherhood / parenthood.

One of the things I remember most from my childhood, is my mom insisting that each day we begin by reading a Bible story and praying. She instilled in us (my sister and I) a love for Jesus, and the importance of spending time with him. As a mom myself now, we don’t necessarily start our day with a Bible story. But we definitely do end our day with a Bible story and prayer.

How has motherhood changed you?

Everything I do now, every decision I make is geared towards how it will affect Noah. Before, I was selfish, and only did what worked best for me. Now I have a little person to consider, and no matter how much I want to do something, if it won’t be good for him, I won’t do it.

Proudest Moment?

Hearing Noah say, “I love you, Jesus” always makes my heart soar!

If your house was burning down, name 3 things you’d grab besides the kids and pets?

-Our Bibles

-As many photo frames and photo albums as I could get my hands on

-Noah’s art book

Send me a photo when you were at your worst or best during your motherhood journey and tell me why you chose it.

My best mom moment is seeing my son pick up any book to sit and read to himself, but especially his Bible!

Name one thing you would change about yourself and one thing you wouldn’t.

I would so love to change my temper – I can’t handle it when I lose my mind over silly things. I wouldn’t change the way I love my husband and my son. Everything I do is for them.

What piece of advice would you give to a new mom starting her journey?

You know what is best for your child. Have a few ladies who you seek advice from, and everyone else, just smile and wave. They are experts on their children, not yours. You do what you feel is best for your child.

Who is your biggest support, attach a photo of you and him/her;

Jason – Noah and I really couldn’t ask for a better husband and father.

What is the best part of being a mom, only ONE thing please, I know it’s a hard one?

The endless cuddles and kisses from my sweet boy!

 Best book you’ve ever read:

Kisses from Katie, by Katie Davis.

Have you ever been judged for how you do things as a mom or how you parent? If so why?

Yes. Quite often actually. It drives me crazy! Jason and I know our son better than anyone else. We have worked out how best to parent Noah and discipline him. Our style may not work for everyone. And that’s ok. Because it works for us. And that’s all that matters!

Worst parenting advise you ever received?

“You must pick him up when he cries, otherwise you will spoil him.” It goes against every fibre of my being to not go to my child when he is upset or crying. That is not how I choose to parent my child. I want him to know that Mommy is always a safe space for him to express his emotions. And that works for us!

Being a mom comes in many forms, do you ever feel adoption is not the real deal?

Adoption is definitely the real deal, with it’s own set of unique challenges. There is a little boy in this world, who went through a traumatic experience as an infant, and it is up to me as his mom, and Jason as his dad, to help him deal with those emotions one day, at the same time as raising him to be the very best version of himself. When my boy is upset and only wants Mommy to comfort him, that is when I know that motherhood through adoption is the real deal. I am mommy! And I will always treasure that role!

 Why did you adopt, it’s amazing!

Jason and I always knew we both wanted to adopt one day, even before we met each other. So when we started talking about marriage and a family, one of the first things we agreed on was that we would adopt. If we ever do have a biological child, that would be amazing. Noah would make the best big brother! For us though, adoption has always been a part of our “plan A” for our family.

What is the hardest part of the adoption process?

The hardest part has really started in the last 2 weeks or so. Noah came home from school, and said to me, “Mommy, remember when I was a baby, and I was in your tummy?” We have since started to explain to him in an age appropriate way that he grew in another Mommy’s tummy, and I am his heart mommy, because while he was growing in her tummy, my love for him was growing in my heart. It’s been tough watching my boy trying to understand this, and figure it out in 4 year old mind. Some days he accepts it and is alright with it. Other days, he refuses to accept it, and insists he grew in my tummy. I will continue to lovingly share his story with him, remind him how much we love him and what a joy he is to us. It’s tough watching your child grapple with such hectic things!

Megan your story is inspiring and so heart warming, thank for for allowing me a glimpse into your amazing family and your absolute beautiful heart!