The Other Mum - Instagram Mum

I have another for you all, this is Aoife aka @edinburghmumma. She isn't a blogger but an Instagram star. This lady produces some of the funniest, loveliness and sometimes emotional stories. If you get a chance check this brilliant woman out!!

I’m a 37 year old mum of 3 and I set up my Instagram as a way of entertaining myself and showing that having a disabled child doesn’t mean you can’t live a perfectly typical, happy life! I also started a blog for my daughter and she has her own account, @t21girlcan, to show people she is more alike than different, and in the hope that people can see the girl, not just a diagnosis. 

Are you from Edinburgh? If not how did you come to live here?

I’m from Cork in Ireland. I came here 14 years ago to stay for a couple of weeks- and here I am all those years later, married with 3 kids! My gorgeous husband is a local Edinburgh boy! We got married after 7 years together and now we have Dillon, almost 7, Ciara who is 5 and Hugo who is 17 months. 

Before Kids, where would we have found you on a Saturday night?

Somewhere cool like City Cafe, Cabaret Voltaire or Bongo Club (the original and then the other one!) 

What is your average Saturday like now with kids?

Mostly, Saturdays are for relaxing! 

I like to have a night out of the house every week, as I’m a stay at home mum and there’s a very real risk I might lose my marbles if I didn’t have a change of scenery, and a break. I tend to get that Friday feeling, and end up heading out on the Friday, but not too late as there’s swimming lessons bright and early on a Saturday morning. The kids are usually pretty tired after swimming so, if we have no parties to go to, they are happy to chill and do crafty stuff, or watch movies/ play with the iPads for the afternoon. I have a ‘no housework’ rule at weekends so we try to chill and recharge our batteries after our busy week of running and racing. During the week the older one has swimming, judo and Enjoyaball, middle one has swimming, ballet, and Enjoyaball, and they go to different schools so all the dropping, picking up and organising is draining. The baby one has to come with us every time so I feel like he’s in and out of the car all day long, which isn’t ideal but he’s a chilled little dude. I do love being a stay at home mum but it’s important to feel comfortable saying ‘I need a break’ and doing just that. If I don’t have an evening out I’ll try to get my nails done or do something just for me. 

What did you find hardest about having children?

The shock I felt after having my firstborn was very difficult. I wasn’t aware of how isolating it can be and how hellish the exhaustion would be. Breastfeeding was traumatic for me. Trying to get him to latch took about 30 minutes, to the point where I would be crying and he would be crying, he had reflux so would throw a lot of it up anyway.. ugh it was horrible. So I felt like a total failure at the beginning. I think I had been so brainwashed that formula was bad that I was really upset when I didn’t have enough milk, and he had to be topped up daily with formula. I struggled with the adjustment to my life not being about me anymore and it was also very hard to not have my own family nearby to help, as they are all back home in Ireland. 

Tell us a time when becoming a parent blew your mind. What challenges have you faced?

Giving birth to my second child Ciara was a big shock. As soon as I pushed her out I could see she had Down Syndrome. The whole world did a ‘shift and tilt’ that day. We had a new normal. It took a long time to accept the diagnosis but she has had the most powerful, positive impact on us and our entire family. She has taught us all what’s really important, what’s not, and how to appreciate life for what it is. 

If you have a quiet childfree afternoon in Edinburgh, where would you spend it?

A stroll up George street, into Jenner’s and Harvey Nichols (as I find these stores impossible with kids in tow!) 

I’d have a nice lunch and a couple of glasses of fizz somewhere like Cadiz or Baba too! 

Favourite place for a cocktail with the girls?

Epicurean bar, Tigerlily, or Lucky Liquor 

Your hidden gem in the city?

Epicurean at the G and V hotel. It’s a hotel bar so I think people don’t think of it as an option but it’s awesome. Table service, excellent staff, lush decor and lighting - it ticks all my boxes! 

What do you love most about being a parent in Edinburgh?

The endless amount of child friendly stuff to do and places to go. There are so many galleries, country parks, and castles to see. On my list of things to see at the moment are Archerfield Walled Garden, Dalkeith Country Park, and World of Play in Dunfermline.