I remember standing in my kitchen one morning, sterilising breast pump parts thinking:
Who the hell am I now?
Not in a dramatic way.
More in a I-used-to-spend-my-summer-clubbing-in-Ibiza-and-now-I-have-baby-sick-down-my-shoulder kind of way.
Motherhood doesn’t gently change you.
It flips you inside out, shakes you like a snow globe, and hands you back with a baby and absolutely zero instructions on who you’re meant to be now.
And honestly? Nobody warns you about that part.
Motherhood and the Identity Shift Nobody Talks About
Before kids, I was a person.
A woman with hobbies, opinions, and a personality that didn’t revolve around snacks and naps.
Then Roman arrived, and suddenly I became:
- Roman’s mum
- The Keeper of Wet Wipes
- The Human Snack Dispenser
- The One Who Knows Where Everything Is (Except some of the socks, where the f do all the socks go?)
It’s beautiful. It’s exhausting. And sometimes it feels like the old you just vanished.
If you’re thinking, “I feel lost after having a baby” – you’re not alone.
This is a completely normal motherhood identity crisis.
The Moment I Realised I Needed Something That Was Mine
After maternity leave, I hit that wall so many mums hit.
Who am I now?
What am I supposed to do with my life?
Is this it?
I love being Roman’s mum. But I missed being Claudia.
The girl who loved travel, chaos, big plans, and booking flights on a whim. (And actually falling asleep reading a book pool side without worrying about keeping a mini human alive).
So I started this blog.
Because I needed something that was mine.
Instagram Lies About Motherhood (And Travel)
I used to think family travel meant:
- Matching linen outfits
- Effortless airport strolls
- Kids who sleep on planes and eat olives
- Mums with brushed hair
Reality check: absolutely not.
Our version of travel is:
Roman screaming because I wiped a giant bogey off his nose.
Me stress-eating a £9 airport pret toastie.
Water everywhere. Someone’s always sticky.
And then him laughing so hard at nothing that I forget how chaotic everything is.
Motherhood is always both:
The meltdown and the magic.
The exhaustion and the joy.
Feeling Lost After Having a Baby? Read This.
If you’re stuck in the endless loop of:
- Nappies
- Nursery runs
- Nursery BUGS (fmal)
- Cooking
- Bedtime battles that take longer than the actual bedtime
This is your sign.
Start something today.
Say YES to that feral girls night.
Plan that trip.
Drink the wine.
Book Pilates.
Do anything that makes you feel like you again, not just someone’s mum.
Just. Start.
How Travel Helped Me Find Myself Again
Travel became my identity lifeline.
Swapping my kitchen for a hotel balcony or a beach reset my brain in a way nothing else could.
It reminded me I was still a person with dreams, not just a mum with a nappy bag.
Family travel gave me:
- A break from routine
- Memories to smile about
- A chance to feel adventurous again
- Proper quality time
- Stories we’ll laugh about forever
And yes, Roman still eats sand.
You Are Still You (Even If You Can’t Remember Your Favourite Colour)
If you’re reading this thinking:
“I don’t recognise myself anymore”
You’re not lost.
You’re just evolving.
Motherhood doesn’t erase you.
It rebuilds you – louder, braver, and slightly more obsessed with snacks and solo bathroom trips.
Let’s Figure This Out Together
Here’s to messy journeys, sleepless flights, grumpy passengers, food on the floor, shit high chairs, and memories that make it all worth it.
Here’s to becoming someone new – without losing who you were.
And here’s to you, finding yourself again, one tiny rebellious step at a time.
I promise you’re gonna be fine – better than fine.
Love,
Claudia + Roman xxx
Ps. Go now, start the thing!!!
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