Today we meet South African mom blogger Karabo, who blogs at Black Mom Chronicles.
1) What do you normally get up to on an average day? (Give us a brief description about yourself)
I am a working mom, so a bulk of my weekday is spent at the office. My husband is also on a 9-5, and when he is at home he pursues his business adventures. . Weekends are strictly family time. So me and the little one would sleep in (yes, waking up at 7 am is sleeping in now) and we catch up on the cuddles we missed during the week. When I am not mothering, I am connecting my friends or writing. I am a simple human being that loves hiking and hugging.
2) How do you feel about motherhood – what are your struggles and joys?
My best way to describe my motherhood journey is: the best thing I have ever done. I was not planning on having a baby at the time I fell pregnant, but I shortly fell in love with the idea of having a little version of myself. On the flip side of the coin it is motherhood being one of the hardest things I have ever done. The idea of an entire human being solely depending on me still gives me anxiety. This is why I work as hard as I do. I need to make sure that my kids want for nothing.
3) Tell us about your kid(s)
My smallest best friend is a little over a year now and she is just a big ball of joy. She is starting to be quite talkative and energetic. Sometimes I miss the new born stage where I could leave her on the bed and find her there. Now? I leave her on the bed and find her chilling in the shower. She has given me a couple of mini heart attacks, but nothing compares to the amount of joy she has brought to our lives and our home. She was born 2 weeks earlier than her expected date of delivery, but I believe she came that early because I asked her to. We have always had a good relationship. Two days before her birth I was physically overwhelmed and had a one-on-one with her to brace us with her presence, only if she was ready. And she did, and that for me will always be a reminder of the nature of our relationship. She is still mommy’s girl, and I am enjoying our time before she becomes dad’s girl.
4). How did you start blogging?
I love writing down my feelings and thoughts about pretty much everything, one thing I took from my mother. I turned to a lot of blogs during my pregnancy and they served as a good source of information and comfort. When my daughter turned 3 months, I started sharing my motherhood journey on a much bigger platform. I say bigger platform because I was already sharing a lot about how I was postpartum and our new found routine. I thought it would then be a good idea to share with a larger audience.
5) Share with us a valuable blogging tip you’ve learnt. (or more)
It is very crucial to share openly with your audience. Motherhood is challenging and there is absolutely no reason to mask it as anything else. Bloggers have the responsibility to be honest with other moms and share the challenges of parenting as much as we share the cute stories and pictures.
We all share the same experiences as moms (and dads). Therefore, there is a lot we can learn from each other. I would have a blogging idea, for example, writing about the anxiety I had when I had to get a nanny, and two days later another blogger would write about the same subject. Our shared experiences are the very reason why people turn to blogs for comfort or advice, so it is important to be brutally honest with people that read our blogs.
6) If you make money from your blog, give us a breakdown on how you do it. Give us some of your methods on how to get started on this, or any tips or advice.
I have not started making money yet, but I am currently engaging with a couple of brands for collaborations. I will be reviewing their products in exchange for their products.
Social media handles:
Blog: www.blackmomchronicles.com
Instagram : Blackmomchronicles_sa
Facebook: Black Mom Chronicles
Twitter: MotsiriK
I Second you on honest experiences. 🙂 Love the picture of you and your daughter.
Interesting read. You are doing a great job mommu and we absolutely love Tshimo:-)
Heather, thanks so much for sharing this.
Thank you all for reading. The feedback is so heartwarming.
I made a pact with myself when I started the blogging journey that I want to touch as many lives as possible. That is only possible when one is being absolutely authentic with oneself. Not everyone is understanding of me being this open about my experiences with pregnancy and birth (like my birthing video), but I have engaged with so many moms and moms-to-be, like a lot of you here, who get excited at the idea of becoming parents.
Thanks for the continued love and support.
Here is to more honest blogs, and an exciting journey further 🙂
i am looking forward to more blogs. You are an inspiration Karabo. You are open and honest. Cheers to more blogs and learnings in the future 🙂
I love this blog. Karabo is so open and real about her experience. I must say, I am looking forward to being a mom one day because its such blogs that make us know that parenting has its ups and downs but we can be great parents.
Karabo continue making your experience a learning tool for us.
I absolutely love these blogs. What makes them so special is how open and honest Karabo is about the whole journey…. Share the good, the bad and the not so pretty parts of mothering. My favorite has to be where she talked about people commenting on her parenting style, I think any new mom could relate to the frustrations of being second guessed by strangers on your own child.
I absolutely enjoyed her blogs ☺️
Wow. I feel so inspired. It’s so good knowing that all this facets of parenthood happen to many of us. I’d sometimes ask myself if I’m in a dream world. Being a mother is amazing. Despite all the challenges we come across. I think that’s why it’s so fascinating.
Hearing God’s creation call me mom gives me goosebumps everyday. It’s insanely phenomenal.
Great read, enjoyed the mini stories of your life a mom. Stay blessed!
Its absolutely about the shared experience and the reassurance to know you not alone and that whatever struggling you going through is normal. I love your work Karabo keep it up
Karabo has actually taught me how to really embrace the beauty of a mother /daughter hood. She has made me realize how beautiful pregnancy and delivery is, not forgetting the new body shape you develop and the scars that come with it.
I would do it over and over again in a heartbeat.
Well done 👏 on this blog and many other initiatives you taking.
I love the fact that you’ve been brutally honest about your parenting journey since day one,I think that’s why everyone seems to fall inlove with your blogs not forgetting you. Thank you for sharing and preparing us for the future. You’re one special daughter,sister & mommy on planet earth. Kisses to you and baby T. Keep on shining Karabo😘
I absolutely enjoy reading through your blog. I’m always looking forward to the next post 😊. Keep it up! We love you guys ♥️
Loved it. U are very special, and I’m glad you found your purpose.
I’ve been following her blog closely and I must say I am learning alot about parenting. Both the ups and downs. Big ups Karabo
This is one of my favorite blogs. I am not yet a mother but while I plan my journey to becoming one- I read the stories, funny anecdotes and tips that not many people are open about. It’s important for moms to read about these experience not only to share or learn but to remember that they are not alone.
Thank you for representing black moms 😘
I am using Blackmomchronicles as a preparation course for my kids. It has also helped me in comforting my friends with newborn babies and those still on the journey. You are doing beautifully Karabo❤️😍.
Awesome! Karabo is such a great mommy blogger 🙂