Blogger Spotlight: The Muddled Mum

Welcome to the Blogger Spotlight Interview. This week we have Kate from The Muddled Mum taking part.

If you would like to take part, and your blog is under six months old, or has been re-launched in the last six months, please email me randommusings29@gmail.com

1 Firstly, tell us a little bit about yourself

Hi, I’m Kate AKA The Muddled Mum. Once upon a time, I was a fierce feisty girl who travelled the world, followed my dreams and laughed long and loud. Since taking on a new name – Mummy – I have struggled with my mental health. I’ve felt lost and my confidence plummeted. My mission is to work out how to be both Kate and Mummy: a new me.

2 What is your blog’s name and what is it about?

My blog is The Muddled Mum – a collection of my battles to become mentally well whilst juggling parenthood. You can follow me through my journey to mental wellness as I try my hardest to overcome depression and anxiety.

Along the way, I have been trying to make sure my daughter still gets everything she needs despite my struggles. I’ve written up some of the things and activities we do together that help both of us. Both of us need to make it through the muddle together.

3 Why did you decide to start a blog?

After a devastating miscarriage, I could feel the dark cloud I had been under during my post-natal depression looming. I knew that the best way to get through the storm was to talk – so I decided to write my thoughts down in a blog.

For me, being open and honest with how I am feeling has been a revelation. Some of my posts have touched on difficult subjects – miscarriage, depression and anxiety and suicidal thoughts.

I think it’s really important that we break the stigma and start to learn how to talk about these things. Without talking, I would be lost.

4 Do you have any goals for your blog?

Moving forward, I want to be able to write more posts on how I made it through the muddle (because I WILL make it through). I also want to be able to help other parents who are struggling to cope with managing their thoughts whilst simultaneously dealing with a tantrum.

Being a teacher, I have expertise in creating engaging activities that have the benefit of aiding development.

Being depressed, I now have the expertise of making sure these activities are achievable when motivation and energy is at an all-time low.

I would love to work with brands who create items that make parenting easier and make childhood more fun.

5 Tell us one random fact about you

I used to live in Tokyo, Japan. I have a small obsession with Studio Ghibli thanks to my run taking me past a giant Totoro in my local park.

6 What is the best piece of blog related advice you have received so far?

For my type of blog – one that deals with really personal topics – someone told me to think about my worst enemy reading it. I was also told that I don’t have to tell my whole story. This has really helped me focus on what details I want to tell and which I can keep to myself.

7 What is your favourite thing about blogging?

Writing gives me great joy. I have always loved writing but haven’t had an outlet for it in years (probably since university). The fact that other people enjoy my writing blows me away.

8 Is there anything you would do differently if you were starting over knowing what you know now?

I would go self-hosted sooner. I bought a domain on wordpress.com thinking that meant I was self-hosted. It didn’t.

Having to pay again and swap everything over was not fun – but worth it. I love that the content is all mine. I feel incredibly proud to be the owner of my blog.

9 Anything else you’d like to share with us?

Blogging has already given me so many amazing opportunities to connect with like-minded people. Of course, it would be amazing if my blog took off, but knowing that I have helped some people and made new friends is fantastic in itself.

10 Where can we find you? (blog link and links to any social media)

My blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.