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Lucianna | South Wales Adventure Mam

@thebiggsescape

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🌿just a mum trying to make other mums feel better
✌🏼founder of @hikingmumswales: a FREE community
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 South Wales

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It's only been two days and it's hit me hard 🫣

I moan all year about how busy and chaotic our lives are, how it's unfair that through the week I get such little quality time to spend with my kids, how much I hate the fact that teachers see my children more than I do. And then I get to the summer holidays and I immediately start to struggle. That panic and anxiety begins to set in, the noise and the demanding grates on me and I realise I have absolutely no idea how to keep my children entertained for several hours a day, 7 days a week.

How ironic, right? And then the guilt creeps in. Those sneaky little thoughts. The 'are you making it special enough's, the 'why can't you cope's.

I actually posted something on my stories about how we haven't done anything exciting or special so far this summer and a friend of mine replied with:

'childhood is pretty magical by default. You're doing a great job' and honestly it has shifted things entirely for me. I just need to chill the eff out, do what I can and when I can and try to enjoy it a bit whilst also realising that there will be moments when I also hate it and that's ok.

So if you are struggling, if you are worried you're not making it magical enough, if you've already lost your patience several times and especially if you are still working around your children's summer holidays then I SEE YOU and you are doing enough. You have got this 💪🏼✨☀️

Lots of love
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#summerholidays #motherhoodunfiltered #southwalesmums #mumof3 #womensupportingwomen taken in South Wales by @thebiggsescape

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14

3 days ago

After a pretty heavy week of seeing lots of hateful and hurtful posts/comments/acts on social media, this lady honestly restored my faith in humanity today at Porthcawl 10k. What a legend.

We could all do with a bit of this in us. Cheering each other on and I don't mean just at races either.

💪🏼👏🏼🙌🏼❤️🥰

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#porthcawl10k #positivevibes #runningsouthwales #kindness #kindstrangers taken in Porthcawl by @thebiggsescape

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20 days ago

It's totally normal!

Patience wearing thin? Me too! Snappy and irritable? Me too! Don't feel like doing anything with them? Me too!

The heat is not their fault but it also isn't your fault that you're feeling this way so give yourself a break!

And take this as your go ahead to embrace slowness, screen time, ice lollies and rest.

This too shall pass ✌🏼

Lots of love
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#heatwave #heatwaveuk #motherofthree #southwalesmums #unfilteredmotherhood taken in Cwmcarn Scenic Drive by @thebiggsescape

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a month ago

Just checking, huns...

Mum guilt almost destroyed me, especially in my early years as a mother and social media was almost certainly the biggest culprit. It still catches me off guard sometimes now.

Luckily I'm much more sure of myself as a mother now and I can see through the perfect-mother narrative because it is bull. No one has it sussed. It's not possible to suss it because it's too hard and the goal posts change on a DAILY basis.

We can only do so much and your best is good enough.

Sending lots of love to anyone mama beating themselves over something tonight as you put them to bed because I know there are millions of you out there doing it. I see you. I've been there and just know that it wasn't that bad and if you care that much, you're doing a great job.

Lots of love ✌🏼

P.S. I have seen a few versions of this post and I'm pretty sure it's a bit of a trend so I can't credit the original creator but this is not my original idea!
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#southwalesmums #motherhoodunfiltered #mumof3 #mumguilt #mothersmentalhealth taken in South Wales by @thebiggsescape

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a month ago

Little man went from backpack bestie to tackling 5km hikes overnight and I am not ok 🥺

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to see the back if the 'carry me'' phase (although I fear I'm not out of the woods yet) but there's just something so sad about the last [insert here] of anything with your last baby.

What last are you struggling with/dreading? Or are you looking forward to one?

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#hikingkids #southwalesmums #motherhood #trigbagging #kidsoutdoors taken in Caerphilly Mountain by @thebiggsescape

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a month ago

Anything I've missed?

Social media does a pretty good job of convincing us that a normal childhood is not good enough but that's bull!

Just remember that social media is an illusion and the algorithm is a twat.

This week I had a right panic because I saw a post of a mother who does positive body affirmations in the mirror in front of her kid and I beat myself up all night because I've not been doing that and now it's too late and my daughters will hate their own bodies for the rest of their lives.

Then I remembered that raising children isn't a giant game of "spot the parenting hack."

My children don't need me to perfectly execute every tip, trick, activity and expert recommendation that appears on my feed. They need a mum who loves them, listens to them, shows up for them and occasionally remembers where she put their water bottles.

The truth is, for every post telling us what we should be doing, there are thousands of perfectly happy adults whose parents never did any of it.

So here's your reminder: you do not need to optimise your child's entire existence.

A normal childhood. A loved child. A family doing their best.

That's enough.

Follow along if you want weekly reminders that you are enough as a mother ✌🏼
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#mumguilt #motherofthree #motherhoodunfiltered
#normalisenormal #goodenoughparenting taken in South Wales by @thebiggsescape

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2 months ago

Praying this doesn't reach the wrong side of the internet so I don't have to start a comments war 😂🫣

Have you ever experienced judgement as a parent? And what's your experiences when travelling with your children abroad? I genuinely would love to know if you've had similar experiences.

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#letkidsbekids #travelwithchildren #motherofthree #motherhoodunplugged #relatable by @thebiggsescape

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2 months ago

Restored my faith in humanity today 🥹❤️

May this post find this cute couple 🙏🏼

Living proof that you need to keep moving 💪🏼

What a legend!

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#runvalencia #ageisnothingbutanumber #generationallove #abuela #corre taken in Valencia by @thebiggsescape

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2 months ago

If you use the outdoors as an escape, let's be friends ✌🏼

Motherhood is no joke. It's not something I do naturally or find easy. I struggle with overwhelm, overstimulation and overthinking every single move I make as a mother.

Social media doesn't help. Constantly being told you should or should not be doing this or that as a mother. It's hard to see the wood through the trees at times.

The only place where those thoughts and those feelings feel less is outside. And so this is my confession: I was never really outdoorsy. I became outdoorsy once I realised how suffocating it was to be inside with my children.

If this feels like something you can relate to, my name is Lucianna, follow along 💛 and let me know what's the hardest thing you find in motherhood 👇🏼
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#outdoormums #southwalesmums #hikingfamily
#motherhoodunfiltered #motherofthree taken in South Wales by @thebiggsescape

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2 months ago

Say it with me: I don't need to buy fancy gear or clothes to be outdoorsy 👏🏼👏🏼

✨Unfiltered Motherhood✨

☝🏼This is the first in a series of posts where I will try to balance out some of the pressures placed on mothers on this platform. The pressures to do better, be better and give more. I'm very aware that I can contribute to that noise so this is my due diligence. Showing you the realities of motherhood behind the curated posts!

To start... You do NOT need to buy yourself or your children fancy gear or clothing in order to be an outdoorsy mum.

The outdoors is for EVERYBODY and honestly, I have never really spent lots of money on expensive gear and clothing! I am a firm believer in investing in key pieces you will use again and again if you are able to but you certainly don't HAVE to! Most of the gear and clothing we own is preloved or unbranded and we do just fine.

For any mothers in South Wales who do struggle to access the outdoors, please reach out to @hikingmumswales who operate a donation scheme of outdoor clothing and gear. We do not believe any mother should have ANY barriers preventing them from getting outdoors so if you need something, we can hopefully get it! 🫶🏼✨

Follow along for more unfiltered realities of motherhood and of course, my usual theme of surviving motherhood using the outdoors as a coping mechanism 😂

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#unfilteredmotherhood #southwalesmums #outdoorsymum #southwalesblogger #MotherhoodUnfiltered taken in South Wales by @thebiggsescape

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2 months ago

What would you add?

These are tried and tested things that have made our outdoorsy lives immeasurably easier. NO ads! Some of these brands we have worked with AFTER buying and using their items for years but anything recommended below we have bought, used and loved!

1. Cannot recommend. @skysper_packs_media enough for first-time hiking backpacks for your little ones. We have used and abused ours and taken them everywhere for years and they still look as good as new

2. Waterproofs are a must. We love the dungaree style and ideally light ones as you can layer up and wear in every season. Tip: size up at least one size to get more than one season. Absolutely love @didriksons_kids and @spottyotter

3. The Holy grail of hiking boots @vivobarefoot . Might have cured my plantar fascitis. Love love love and will never wear another boot again. Also, the only boot I've ever owned which is actually waterproof.

4. This @outnabout_official buggy is the sole reason I've been able to stay running fit with three kids. Absolute life saver! I have done massive runs with this thing and on all sorts of terrains

5. Comfortable and easy to use - the OG for a reason

6. Cannot recommend @isobaamerino enough. Their hiking socks are the only ones I've ever worn which don't give me blisters.and their thermal layers keep us warm in all weathers!

7. Not an essential but blinking awesome. We have had hours of fun with this

8. Not just a lockdown purchase!

9. Trust me - you'll never leave the house without them

10. Love our @rubbastuff to death. Super light, easy to
pack away, spill proof and SO cute

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#outdoorsyfamily #kidswhohike #hikingfamily #outdoorgear #southwalesmums taken in South Wales by @thebiggsescape

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2 months ago

A whole MONTH off Instagram and, spoiler alert: no one died. Yes, I lost some followers. Probably no more than when I post 🫣😂 but I gained some quiet, some time to focus on 10 things instead of 100 and some clarity in my thoughts. I highly recommend it! But don't tell the algorithm gods. They will punish me mightily.

A lot has happened though so I thought I'd fill you in on some of the highlights. I'm sure you've been waiting eagerly for my return 😂

1. After years of suffering with Body Dysmorphia, I finally plucked up the courage to go to the GP and seek help. I'll be documenting my BDD journey as things progress so I won't labour on this too much now but if you think you are suffering from BDD then please listen to the first episode of the Beating BDD podcast. It is extremely enlightening and it is really important to know that it can be cured and you should seek help!

2. Another year around the sun and I don't think I'm getting much wiser but my body continues to get stronger 💪🏼 so I can't complain.

3. Waking up on the day of a half marathon to your period is the news no one wants and to top it of 💩 💩 IYKYK but I bloody did it and yet, I was still so hard on myself initially but I gave myself a talking to and came to the conclusion that we are BLOODY rockstars, us women!

4.@hikingmumswales is something I'm extremely proud of and doing my last carrying hike with them last week was a very emotional moment for me but we move onto different stages which it's important to embrace and so I embrace the mighty toddler hikes now 💪🏼

5.Thanks, once again, to the amazing ladies at @orthodonticcentrepontprennau and the @mydentistuk
team who continue to look after my now super straight teeth 🫶🏼 I can't believe the results already #ad

6.we have been working hard in the background making some BIG life decisions. We have finally submitted 1-year sabbatical applications in both our jobs...eek! So now all we can do is wait but let's just say things could be changing drastically for us fairly soon 🙏🏼

Well, now you're all caught up. I promise to be a better social media-y person.

Hope you're thriving ✌🏼

#lifeupdates #gapyear #beatingbdd taken in South Wales by @thebiggsescape

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2 months ago