When I became a parent, I was both excited and scared at the same time.  Here I was, about to embark on the most important job I ever had, with absolutely no training!  On the 22nd April 2004 my teacher came into my life with a full curriculum.  In spite of weighing only 3.2 kgs, she – my first child Eva – was the toughest teacher I ever had and she made it very clear (as she still does) that she knew best!  Three more children later, I still feel like there is so much to learn on the parenting journey and what works on one child will not necessary work on a sibling. In fact actually it rarely does!  However I have also learned that I am not alone… the more parents I speak with the more I realize we’re all in the same rocky boat.  There is ample opportunity to learn from each other, and particularly to give and receive support from each other.  

Furthermore, the deeper I get into parenting the more I realise how much this crucial role is taken for granted by society.  There is a lot of misinformation about issues related to pregnancy, birth, and parenting.  A lot of decisions are made without any basis in evidence or research.  Pregnancy and birth are no longer sacred, but have become simply something to get over with so that we can move back to our previous lives, undisturbed if possible. Because we feel very vulnerable while expecting a child, we allow these processes to be taken over by others in whom we completely place our trust and we forget our innate guiding instinct and power to make informed choices.

This is how mamaKNOWS was born – out of my own personal voyage to deal with all these issues.  I clearly remember the day when I was holding my head on the kitchen table, desperately trying to think of a name for this organisation. My perceptive daughter Eva, always looking for solutions to problems, was worried about the look on my face and asked me what's wrong.  I told her I was trying to pick a name for this organisation and that I had no idea where to start. She came over, shrugged her assertive little shoulders, and said "Don't worry, you'll find one... mama knows everything!" (talk about empowerment!). At that instant a light went off near my head and I said to her "That's it! You're right! mamaKNOWS!"   

mamaKNOWS offers a supportive community to new and expectant parents, educational initiatives, and awareness-raising activities aimed at changing practices.  I invite you to join our growing group of involved parents in changing the world, one baby at a time. 

Me with my teachers Eva, Ethan, Kieran, and Tristan.