NORWAY: How do single mums do it?

I will be the first to admit it – having children is a lot of work.  Nobody ever said it wasn’t, but before I had children myself I didn’t necessarily believe it. I couldn’t love my two children more, and after having a few problems along the way, I feel so lucky and blessed to have two children.

But again, it is a lot of work. It is a lot of work when there are two parents present, and now my husband has gone away for a two week training course, and my respect for single mums is growing by the minute!

If you have read any of my previous posts you will by now know that I worry quite a bit, and now that there are two children and only one grown up (I really don’t like using the term “grown up” about myself, but I guess I have to face the facts and realize that I am indeed a grown up… how scary is that!?), I find it difficult to give both children the attention I feel they both need. Luckily, the 3 month old has turned out to be a very patient little soul, and she is happy to lay on the baby gym or sit in the bouncy chair whilst her older brother gets more attention. (more…)

Astrid Warren (Norway)

Astrid is a Norwegian thirty something, married, working mum to a wee lad who is almost three and a baby born in 2012! She grew up in Norway, but moved to London, England after she met her husband. After living there during her twenties, she has since returned to Norway and settled down in her nation's capital of Oslo to raise her family. She finds herself slowly turning into her own mother as her free time is spent reading, walking, knitting and meeting up with other mums for coffee. (Ok, she still secretly loves going to the pub, too!). However, there isn't much time for any of the above, as she now enjoys spending most of her time crawling around on the floor, while playing with her children! Check out her blog, Quintessentially Burrows. She's also on Twitter @MrsSWarren.

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HUMAN RIGHTS: The Lessons of 22 July in Norway

HUMAN RIGHTS: The Lessons of 22 July in Norway

My daughter in Norway in August 2010.
For many in Norway, the terrorist attacks on July 22, 2011 represent the loss of innocence.

On the morning of July 22 last year, I read the breaking news of a car bomb attack in Oslo, Norway.  I clicked on the link to the NRK live coverage, forgetting that my three children rise and swarm, like mosquitoes from tall grass at dusk, at the slightest potentiality of a video.

“WHAT IS HAPPENING?” yelled my then-9-year-old son.

“It looks like a car bomb exploded in downtown Oslo.” (more…)

Jennifer Prestholdt (USA)

Jennifer Prestholdt is a lawyer and the Deputy Director of The Advocates for Human Rights, a volunteer-based human rights organization that works locally, nationally and internationally. Her work in human rights takes her around the world, but she spends most of her time in Minneapolis, MN, where she lives with her children (two sons and one daughter), her husband, an elderly cat and a dwarf hamster.

As Jennifer’s kids are now all in school (1st, 4th and 6th grades), she is finally finding more time to do the things that she used to love to do, especially running, writing and knitting. Jennifer loves to travel and has had the dubious distinction of having been accidentally locked in a bathroom on five continents so far. Australia and Antarctica await!

In January 2011, Jennifer made a New Year’s Resolution to start writing about her experiences in order to share with her children the lessons learned from 15 years of work in human rights. The result is her personal blog, The Human Rights Warrior. The name comes from her son Simon, who was extremely disappointed to learn that his mother is a lawyer, not a warrior.

You can find her on her blog The Human Rights Warrior or on Twitter @Jprestholdt.

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NORWAY: Preparing for a second baby

Having just been for my 18-week scan, and seeing that all is well, I feel like I am finally starting to relax a bit. After two miscarriages last year, I have been careful not to get my hopes up too much, but now I feel like I can start to think about the future.

The morning sickness is starting to ease off slowly (after having it 24 hours a day, it is only in the morning now) and I am starting to feel like having my latte in the morning, so I think it is going the right way now. (It probably also helps that spring is finally here and that the days are longer and lighter).

We are so excited about having number two – but at the same time, it is slightly scary.

Maybe ‘scary’ isn’t the right word, but we know it will change our current life, and especially the life of our wee lad who has just turned two. How do we go about preparing him for this big change, and how do we best take care of him through all this? I am quite tired at the moment, and have a feeling it is going to get worse (I am not one of those mothers who ‘glow’ during pregnancy and get extra energy; I am quite the opposite! ) – and I can’t blame ‘the tummy’ for being tired all the time, as I don’t want him to ‘dislike’ the baby even before it is born! (more…)

Astrid Warren (Norway)

Astrid is a Norwegian thirty something, married, working mum to a wee lad who is almost three and a baby born in 2012! She grew up in Norway, but moved to London, England after she met her husband. After living there during her twenties, she has since returned to Norway and settled down in her nation's capital of Oslo to raise her family. She finds herself slowly turning into her own mother as her free time is spent reading, walking, knitting and meeting up with other mums for coffee. (Ok, she still secretly loves going to the pub, too!). However, there isn't much time for any of the above, as she now enjoys spending most of her time crawling around on the floor, while playing with her children! Check out her blog, Quintessentially Burrows. She's also on Twitter @MrsSWarren.

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THE WORLD: Messages Of Love And Joy

Today, we bring you festive cheer from around the globe! Read the special holiday messages from our World Moms…

Alison Lee of Malaysia writes:
“May your holiday season be filled with love, laughter, family, friends and joy.”

Asta Burrows of Norway writes:
“Happy Christmas everyone! Hope you all manage to avoid the stress, and just enjoy this holiday ”

Dr. Lanham of Arizona, USA writes:
“Have a blessed and happy Christmas and New Year!”

Eva Fannon of Washington State, USA writes:
“Wishing you a joyous holiday season that gives you precious moments to share with loved ones.”

Inspiration to Dream of Australia writes:
“Christmas to me is about family and friends and creating wonderful memories to carry you through the year. So, I hope you’re all creating amazing memories with your loved ones this year.”

Jennifer Burden of New Jersey, USA writes:
“Wishing you a healthy, happy and peaceful holiday season around the globe!”

JPrestholdt of Minnesota, USA writes:
“Wishing you and your family joy this holiday season and peace in the new year.”

Kirsten Doyle of Ontario, Canada writes: 
“May your family and friends surround you with love and joy this Christmas. May beautiful memories of departed loved ones warm you from the inside. May your dreams come true in 2012, and may you party hard this Christmas with the knowledge that calories consumed at this time of the year don’t count.”

Kyla P’an of Massachusetts, USA writes:
“Who better to understand a holiday celebrating the birth of a baby than mothers? So, from a blogging Mom on this side of the world to Moms everywhere, Merry Christmas!”

Maman Aya of New York, USA writes:
“Happy holidays to all of you and your friends and families. I hope 2012 is a healthy, happy and prosperous year for everyone!”

Ms. V of South Korea writes:
“Wishing all a peaceful holiday filled with the spirit of giving and gratitude. Joy to the world!”

Polish Mom Photographer of California, USA writes:
Many thanks to Polish Mom Photographer for supplying us with the wonderful image accompanying this post.

Simona Rinfreschi from South Africa writes:
I wish everyone a Healthy, Happy and Peaceful Festive Season, irrespective of personal beliefs. Personally, I love “Merry Christmas”, though. 🙂
Best wishes from Cape Town, South Africa, Simona. xoxox”

Susie Newday of Israel writes:
“Wishing everyone a year and life of tolerance, love, health and inspiration. May this year be the start of a time of peace and understanding that spreads person by person around the world.”

Tatterscoops of Indonesia writes:
“May the holiday bring you lots of joy, peace and most importantly love to share with everyone near or far.”

The Alchemist of India writes:
“Here is my greeting – I wish you all joy, grace and precious time with your beloved family and friends this holiday season. May the spirit of christmas be with us all through the year.”

ThirdEyeMom of Minnesota, USA writes:
“Wishing you peace, happiness and health in 2012!”

TwinMom112 of Pennsylvania, USA writes:
“No matter what you believe in this holiday season.. believe in yourself and the spirit of love, family and friendship. Sending love this season from my heart to yours.”

Unintentionally Brilliant of Nevada, USA writes:
“Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!
May this New Year be filled with health, happiness, and – most of all – love.”

– World Moms Blog

Photo credit to Polish Mom Photographer.

World Moms Blog

World Moms Blog is an award winning website which writes from over 30 countries on the topics of motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. Over 70 international contributors share their stories from around the globe, bonded by the common thread of motherhood and wanting a better world for their children. World Moms Blog was listed by Forbes Woman as one of the "Best 100 Websites for Women 2012 & 2013" and also called a "must read" by the NY Times Motherlode in 2013. Our Senior Editor in India, Purnima Ramakrishnan, was awarded the BlogHer International Activist Award in 2013.

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NORWAY: A Year On…

I was reminded recently that it was about a year ago when Jen asked if I fancied writing some articles about motherhood. I had never seen or read a blog before, and never thought that I would be able to write one but I tried, and I got hooked!

I just read the first article I ever wrote – and though I recognise everything I wrote, it still feels like a different me and a different time.

I had only been back to work for a couple of months after maternity leave and I was just getting used to this new ‘reality’ – and here I am, a year later, and this is reality now. Both my husband and I are working full-time and the wee lad is in nursery and he seems to enjoy it as he gets to run around as much as he likes. My husband takes him to nursery in the morning, and I pick him up in the afternoon, and we seem to have found some sort of a routine that works, for now at least.

A year feels like a very long time ago, and a lot of things have happened this past year. The wee lad’s first Christmas, and first birthday, first step, first word – a lot of ‘firsts!” Quite a bit of traveling as well to see (more…)

Astrid Warren (Norway)

Astrid is a Norwegian thirty something, married, working mum to a wee lad who is almost three and a baby born in 2012! She grew up in Norway, but moved to London, England after she met her husband. After living there during her twenties, she has since returned to Norway and settled down in her nation's capital of Oslo to raise her family. She finds herself slowly turning into her own mother as her free time is spent reading, walking, knitting and meeting up with other mums for coffee. (Ok, she still secretly loves going to the pub, too!). However, there isn't much time for any of the above, as she now enjoys spending most of her time crawling around on the floor, while playing with her children! Check out her blog, Quintessentially Burrows. She's also on Twitter @MrsSWarren.

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Travel Itinerary for the Week of November 14th!

This week we start off in Massachusetts with Kyla P’an. Kyla’s post, written in response to Tara B.’s post last week, talks about how Kyla’s relationship with religion has shifted over the course of her life.

On Tuesday, we head to New York to hear from Maman Aya, who has been trying to take a break! As all of us moms know, this is virtually impossible! Maman Aya tells us about a family vacation that has kept her almost as busy as she is at home!

On Wednesday, grab your passport for a trip to Switzerland! We will hear from new writer Kristin Kolb, who recently had to dig up her own passport for a trip across the ocean sans kids. She talks about how she helped her family cope with her absence.

On Thursday, we travel to another part of the world as we visit with Karyn at Kloppenmum in New Zealand. She broaches the subject of independence in our children, and the conflict we sometimes feel when our babies start doing things themselves.

And on Friday, we head off to Norway to hear from Asta Burrows. Asta looks back over her first year with World Moms Blog and reflects on the milestones that have happened in her life since writing her very first post.

We have two new writer interviews this week! On Tuesday we hear from Ms. V of South Korea, and on Thursday we hear from Melanie Oda from Japan.

On Saturday, check out the Saturday Sidebar with Eva Fannon, where the World Moms give their thoughts on an important topic, and chime in with your answers to the week’s question!

— World Moms Blog

Our World Moms Blog logo was designed by the creative Erica Joyner Designs in Virginia, USA.

World Moms Blog

World Moms Blog is an award winning website which writes from over 30 countries on the topics of motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. Over 70 international contributors share their stories from around the globe, bonded by the common thread of motherhood and wanting a better world for their children. World Moms Blog was listed by Forbes Woman as one of the "Best 100 Websites for Women 2012 & 2013" and also called a "must read" by the NY Times Motherlode in 2013. Our Senior Editor in India, Purnima Ramakrishnan, was awarded the BlogHer International Activist Award in 2013.

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