For our final post of today’s series, we catch up with blogger and creative director Clemmie Telford, she shares with us her journey to motherhood and how growing up in a big family has made her embrace the ‘chaos’ of parenting…

If you’re comfortable to share, how was your journey to motherhood? Was it planned, a surprise, or was it a challenge? 

It was very much planned; we decided to spend one last year ‘going big’ for ours and friends 30th (including a monumental trip to Ibiza) and then crack on with parenting. What a wake up call that was!

What has been the hardest period of motherhood so far for you and how do you deal with it?

For me nothing will compare to that first year of parenting. You think you know what to expect, but truthfully you can never comprehend how much it’s going to alter. Your body, your sense of self, your relationship, your social life, your finances: truthfully nothing remains the same does it? 

If you had to choose one parenting mantra for yourself, what would it be?

Hmmmm. I don’t have one? Which speaks volumes. Do your best and that’s more than good enough. 

You’ve recently started a series of podcasts called ‘honestly’ tackling challenging subject matters and have your candid interviews ‘Mother of all lists’, plus your a creative director and strategists, how do you deal with the work/life balance?

My husband has recently left work to become a Stay at Home Dad, so that has made life 100000% easier. It leaves me to really focus on my career during the week, knowing the kids are in the best possible hands with him. There’s now a lot of financial pressure on me, but what we have lost in income we have gained in balance.

Do you see or hear your mother in you when you parent?

Hmmmm good question. I am one of 5 kids so what my Mother, or should I say I my upbringing, has taught me is to be at one with the ‘chaos’ of parenting! 

What book would you recommend for our readers?

So many!! I am on a journey to learning to be at one with my post-babies body and two books have helped me in a big way. 

Just Eat It – Laura Thomas, PHD

Body Positive Power – Megan Jayne Crabb 

What do your children think your job is?

I can barely explain it to myself let alone them. Jokes aside I think they’d tell you:  ‘it involves writing and ‘going upstairs’ ie to my desk!’