Where in the world do you live? And, are you from there?
I live in Canada – in Victoria, BC. I’ve lived in Victoria most of my life but was born in Calgary, Alberta, home of the 1988 Winter Olympics and the Calgary Stampede. If you ask me where I’m from, I still say Calgary even though we moved to Victoria when I was 5.
What language(s) do you speak?
English is my first language and I’m fairly fluent in toddlerese. I studied French and German in school, and studied in Germany for a few months as well. I still understand some of both languages but my fluency is limited.
When did you first become a mother?
My son was born on June 13, 2008, and I’ve been working on my identity as a mother ever since.
Are you a stay-at-home mom or do you work?
I work full-time in communications and am now doing more and more writing work. My husband is a stay-at-home dad.
Why do you blog/write?
I write because it’s in me. Writing is how I naturally express myself best and, whether I was actively writing or not, I’ve always drafted stories in my head.
I started blogging in January 2011 because I was still really struggling with postpartum depression and I needed an outlet for it. I thought I was writing for myself, but I discovered a whole community of others in a similar position and have been inspired by the support and the opportunity to support others. That support and friendship extends to moms from all backgrounds – it’s a tough job, and I love that we can share our stories through blogging.
How would you say that you are different from other mothers?
I spent the first years of my son’s life thinking I was different from other mothers – that I wasn’t cut out for it, that I couldn’t do it and that everyone else had it figured out and I’d never get there. I’ve since learned that’s not the case and, in fact, I’m much more alike other mothers than I thought.
Based on comments from other moms, I think what does make me different – at least to a small degree – is that I’m willing to share the hard parts about being a mom. I’m more open now about my experience with postpartum depression, which is hard for a lot of women to talk about. I’m willing to admit being a mom is the hardest job I’ve ever had, and I try to support others who are stuck striving for perfection the way I used to and feeling bad about themselves as a result.
What do you view as the challenges of raising a child in today’s world?
I see the same challenges many parents do – trying to instill values in a world that’s different than when we were growing up, ever-changing technology that makes it easier for kids to be exposed to potentially unsafe or inappropriate things, feeling busy and wondering how we’ll ever fit it all in. But, I think the biggest challenge for me is that society now seems to hold parents to a standard that’s hard to meet, and creates expectations about what having a child will be like that’s not the true picture. It makes it very hard for moms to feel good about the job we’re doing or to admit that it’s not easy or even (gasp!) ask for help when we need it.
How did you find World Moms Blog?
Through @MomPhotographer on Twitter, who is now writing for the site as well. We connected over a similar story, and she mentioned she was sharing it on World Moms Blog so I came over to check it out. Such a fantastic idea, I just had to get involved!
You can also find Robin on her blog, Farewell, Stranger.
Do you have any questions for MamaRobinJ?
Photo credit to Rich Farr.
Welcome to World Moms Blog, Robin!
“I started blogging in January 2011 because I was still really struggling with postpartum depression and I needed an outlet for it. I thought I was writing for myself, but I discovered a whole community of others in a similar position and have been inspired by the support and the opportunity to support others. That support and friendship extends to moms from all backgrounds – it’s a tough job, and I love that we can share our stories through blogging.”
You are inspiring and brave! 🙂
Jen
Hi Robin! It’s great that you could join us and thanks for sharing your story about PPD – so important that women know they’re not alone.
Great to see another familiar face here!! Welcome! It’s nice to get to know you a little better. I agree that writing about our difficult experiences isn’t just for ourselves – but for those that are just finding their own way.
So great to see you here Robin!
And thank you for introducing me to a new site!
You are an inspiration to me and I love you big time!
Wow, after reading your blog and some of the others on WMB I can’t believe how many of us mother’s share the same tragic experience of Postpartum Depression. I’ve written about it as well as I was almost locked up in a hospital after I had a complete breakdown. I had very severe PPD, to the point that I slept only an hour a night for two weeks, lost 35 pounds in a month and then began hallucinating. It was the most terrifying, scary experience I’ve ever had in my life and unless you’ve been there, you think there is no way out of this darkness. Mine was actually more anxiety but it lead to depression which I guess I’m prone to because 4 out of 5 of us in our family have gone through a similar ordeal. I was so embarrassed that I was a failure, something I’ve never been in my life before, by accepting to stop breastfeeding at 6 weeks, get back on the pill to rebalance out my hormones and take an antidepressant. I was mortified by my thought of being a failure. I went to a pyschologist, began the medication, and within three months I was back (well almost) to myself. I seriously believed I wouldn’t make it, yet after going to a PPD support group and seeing that other mom’s a year out were suicidal, I knew I’d somehow pull through. Thanks to my unbelievable husband and family, I made it and am even was able to go through another pregnancy and have my daughter. Today, I am PPD free! What angers me is how so many doctors don’t talk about this common problem and how society deems you unfit to not be perfect and seek out help when it is needed. I am still on my medication today and I don’t care anymore. I am me, not a failure, and will do what I can to be a happy, anxiety-free mom and enjoy my life to the extremes! THanks for sharing your post and I’m glad I let a load off my shoulders as well!
Robin, you know I love you and your blog. I was so happy to see that you’d joined WMB when you did. It truly is a great community.
Everyone, Robin did her first video log (vlog) this week, you should really check it out! She shares her obsession with birds – what better way to know someone than through a vlog where you can see and hear her? She’s lovely!
Glad to “meet” you via WMB, Robin. I appreciate you sharing your story and your honesty about how tough it can be to be a parent. So true! Looking forward to reading more.
Hi Robin! Great to have you here! I’m glad you joined us!
Robin! Wonderful to learn so much more about you friend! Great job with this! XO
Thirdeyemom – thanks for sharing your story! PPD takes so many forms – yours sounds very scary! So glad you got help and got past it. Knowing others who have experienced this helps a lot!