This week’s feature mother comes all the way from my home country of Australia, way down under! Danielle lives in the beautiful Gold Coast with the most amazing beaches and is a busy mum of three .Danielle juggles motherhood with work and like all of us works to find the best balance that works for her with family . She always has a smile on her face and loves to laugh! You can follow Danielle on IG at @daniellemillington.gc
Thanks Danielle for sharing your story with us!
1.How many children do you have , name and ages?
I have 3 children: Rosie 6, Noah 11 and Jack 14
2. What is your current occupation?
I am an Arbonne Independent Consultant and Business Trainer/Assessor at Gold Coast International College
3. What are the challenges of balancing work and parenting?
Balancing being there when the kids need me, with completing what I want to get done. Sometimes, I just need to accept that one or the other needs to take priority. I have a very strong work ethic and I love my work, however, my priority is my family’s happiness and setting a good example for them. That is why I work. My work hours are flexible so this means that I can choose to be there for them when they need me.
4. What is your life philosophy?
Choose joy, love yourself, have fun , be kind to others, be self motivated , look after our planet and take action.
5. What is a piece of advice you would give other mothers and what is one thing you wish you had known before having children?
When Jack was a baby a very good friend told me that “everything is a phase.”This was a brilliant piece of advice as it helped me see different stages of difficult behaviour (ie not sleeping at night, crying for hours on end, tantrums) would not last forever. We would get through it and move on. I wish I had known this before I had children as it would have made the first few months a lot easier. (I spent a lot of time googling things that we absolutely normal phases of infancy)
One piece of advice I would give mothers is to focus on what is wonderful about each of your children Write a list for each child, detailing the special things you are grateful for about them. Add to it regularly. If you are going through a difficult phase with a child, focus on this list, read it out loud. Tell your child how grateful you are for them and what you love about them. This has really helped strengthen my relationship with my kids.
(What a lovely and unique thing to do!!!)
6. What is your greatest accomplishmnt apart from your children?
Creating a beautiful life on the Gold Coast with my husband Gary. We get to do the things we love in a gorgeous place.
(yep got to agree, it is a beautiful place to be!)
7. What have you done that you thought you could never do?
I’ve become an effective leader in my own business. Secondly, I have become a confident public speaker.
8. What books do you/did you like reading to your chidlren?
The very hungry caterpillar by Eric Carle and Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney.
I used to read those books to my kids too and they especially loved the Very Hungry Caterpillar. I hope that you can add Three Times the Fun to your book collection Danielle.
