Ever since deciding to take a different direction with my work, I’ve been soul searching what my next steps will be. My beautiful friend who runs Nourish with Tanya (who was also my amazing doula after having our fourth baby two years ago!) has recently opened up a new offering called Mother Helper.
When she shared this new service, it really got my mind spinning because ultimately my heart’s desire is to support mothers. Over the years I’ve done this in various ways, mostly through sharing resources online and occasionally via classes and workshops, but never really one-on-one.
I feel that at this point in my life… after 17 years of raising children… I would feel honoured to share any skills and experience I have directly in someone’s home to support them in their own parenting journey. So I’m excited to announce that I’ll be offering my services as a Mother Helper, occasionally teaming up with Tanya, to support mothers both in their homes and/or through consultancy online.
Some topics I’m passionate about sharing and supporting others with:
Organising spaces
- Entryway for ease of organisation
- Family spaces to foster connectedness
- Kitchen for ease of use
- Bedrooms to foster a sense of sanctuary
- Play spaces to feel usable and fun
- PRINTABLES: Decluttering, play ideas
Managing the calendar
- Sharing digital calendars
- Making physical calendars the kids can see
- Setting schedules and routines
- Planning for events ahead of time
- Shopping on particular days of the week
- PRINTABLES: School Holidays calendar, seasonal family activities
Planning events
- Prepping early (shopping ahead of time to save money!)
- Budgeting
- Simplifying
- Deciding what makes it special for each person
- Planning to feed guests
- PRINTABLES: Event planning
Meal planning
- Setting priorities for your family’s diet
- Recognising your strengths and sources of overwhelm
- Building a rotational menu or a protein centered menu
- Prepping for lunch boxes
- Supporting you to learn the skills of shopping online
- PRINTABLES: Meal planning, menu outline
Building a community
- Making a list of possible needs
- Outsourcing
- Creating lists to help manage expectations
- Training your help
- Recognising when to ask for help
My current face-to-face rate is AUD$60 per hour, plus a $15 flat fee for travel within Townsville, with a two hour minimum. I can work on a range of topics or concentrate on one area, depending what each mother feels the need for.
It may feel strange paying someone to help with these areas of life/work as they are often devalued by society as “women’s work”… seemingly unskilled and most often unpaid. But how much would we pay a plumber to come in and fix a leaky tap? Or a gardener to tidy up a lawn? Or a cleaning service for a Spring Clean?
Running a household, raising kids, feeding people, being a mother is WORK that requires SKILLS and sometimes TRAINING! It doesn’t always come “naturally,” it develops through effort and experience and a supportive community. Sometimes skills are taught to us by our own caregivers but often they are learned through hands-on experience and our own determination to seek knowledge and skills from others.
I’m excited about offering this service and truly hope I can be a supportive set of hands to other mothers who are no doubt trying to give their all to this intense, amazing, and sometimes complicated journey that is life. Reaching out for help isn’t a weakness, it is a sign of striving… of upskilling… of delegating… and that is a sign of strength.
I look forward to supporting YOU (or someone you know, if you’d like to gift my services).
With all my love,
Chelsea
You can contact me via Instagram or via email momentsaday@gmail.com
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