'Your baby will be here in 20 minutes!'
After 30 hours in labour, I was ready. And 20 minutes later my life changed forever. I’d always known I wanted to be a mum, but nothing had prepared me for the journey I was about to take.
"A duck to water" was the phrase I heard again and again. It was instant love for me and my daughter and each day my love got stronger.
For the first two years, I juggled a senior role in the oil and gas industry, and went against my instincts. For three months Skye cried at pick-up and drop-off, and then when she moved to the pre-school year, she cried uncontrollably in fits and I had to leave her to go to work. It broke my heart. She had para influenza, a chest infection, tonsilitis and cuts that I had to pick her up from. One day, she turned blue, and I wasn’t there while my husband picked her up. And each time I was at work when I got the call, having someone else look after my heart – my girl – when she needed me.
When the call came to say my role had been made redundant – 4 months after delivering our baby William, who we lost half way through our pregnancy – I didn’t have the energy to juggle any more. I wanted to be there for pick-up, drop-off and everything in between.
I’ve struggled with this decision since but I wouldn’t change the life I have. I get to pick my daughter up from nursery and walk home by the denburn. I get to be there in 5 minutes if she bumps her head. I get to cycle to the library with her each week to get our books for story time. We have had a million memories together since. And I don’t have to call someone if she is sick.
I’ve done all I can to give my daughter a good life and I’ll leave this world a better person now that she’s here. And I believe achieving my dream of being a mum is something to celebrate.
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