KIRA PLESNER
QUESTION: What’s motherhood like?
ANSWER: In one word: Crazy. It’s the hardest job I’ve ever had in my life. And I have had a variety of crazy jobs. But it’s amazing. And it sounds like such a cliché, I know. It’s a mix of all emotions in one big pot.
Q: Do you want to raise your children the same way your parents raised you?
A: I think everyone wants to do better. I think it’s in our nature. No matter how amazing our childhood was. I want to raise Lily to be a good person first and foremost. And I want her to know she is amazing no matter what she decides to become. I was raised with the feeling that I could become everything I wanted. My mom always said, “you can become whatever you want. If it’s a cleaning lady, that’s what we will aim for. Next President in the US? Let’s go for it”, and I am so thankful for that! I have brought that with me in raising Lily.
Q: As a mother, is there anything you have promised yourself you won’t do?
A: "I have promised myself a lot of things. Most of them I haven’t been able to keep. So now I made a promise to myself that I won’t make any more promises. I will raise her with love and with my heart. That’s really the best anyone can do."
Q: How do you manage to be a working mom?
A: First and foremost, I have an amazing boyfriend who is a stay-at-home dad. Lily has never been to kindergarten. So I have to be honest; my life as a working mom is probably easier than other working moms. I can work and travel without having to plan much, and I know Lily is always in the best hands. So my struggle is not about the practical stuff. It’s more about my emotions, really. And finding the balance between my job as a Sales Director and my job as a Mother.
Q: Any advice for mamas-to-be?
A: If you’re doing it with love, you’re doing it right. That's the best and most important piece of advice I can give.
FREDERIKKE RAUN
QUESTION: What’s motherhood like?
ANSWER: To me, motherhood is not something that necessarily has anything to do with having a child, but more a gut feeling. Sometimes, of course, it starts with having a child, but to me, it’s more universal, and you can feel it in relation to a close friend, a sister, or even a stranger. So to me, it feels like something that has always been there but now reinforced by giving birth to my daughter - truly wonderful!
Q: What’s the hardest part of being a mom and what's the most wonderful part?
A: The hardest part so far, having in mind that I’m only three months into it, is putting yourself aside and having someone else’s needs as your main priority. That took me a little while to get used to. Now the hardest thing is the constant concern that I’m not doing a good enough job helping my daughter’s development. The most wonderful part is the unconditional love that you already feel from this little creature, smiling all day long, making all the worries and concerns worth every little bit of it.
Q: When did you know (if ever) you were ready to become a mom?
A: "I have always been ready to become a mom and loved babies and children since I was a kid myself, but I wanted some external matters in check before emerging into motherhood to be able to enjoy it to the fullest."
Q: What has been the most surprising about motherhood?
A: The most surprising thing is that every day is a surprise and a gift that keeps on giving. I never thought that was even possible, but it truly is.
Q: Any advice for mamas-to-be?
A: Trust your instinct. You get a ton of advice, which is really nice when you’re a first-time mom, but remember that not all babies/children are the same, and you know your baby the best, so don’t stress over the fact that some things don’t work with your child and know that that’s completely normal.
JO ANDERSSON
QUESTION: What has been the most surprising about motherhood?
ANSWER: I'm still figuring that out. So far, I feel that its the most amazing and hardest learning I have ever had to do.
Q: As a mother, is there anything you have promised yourself you won’t do?
A: I will try not to be judgemental about how my children decide to live their lives, and I hope that I can always listen to what they have to say.
Q: When did you know (if ever) you were ready to become a mom?
A: "When I got to know Morten, I knew that he was the one I would like to raise a family with. I (almost always) love the person I am when I'm with him, and I admire the way he is with our daughter."
Q: How do you manage to be a working mom?
A: I'm still figuring out the balance between work and being a mother. Sometimes you give more at work, and then there is less time and energy for your family, but sometimes its the opposite, and I think that's how I try to make it work.
Q: If you could do it all over again, would you do anything differently?
A: I'm pregnant with our second child, so we are doing it all again. Now I know that everything is a phase and that it will pass, and there will be other things.
CHRISTINA FELDSKOV
ANSWER: Motherhood is experiencing emotions you didn’t know existed in your body - both the good and the bad. There is nothing to compare motherhood with. It is challenging and wonderful, all at the same time.
Q: What’s the hardest part of being a mom and what's the most wonderful part?
A: For me, the hardest part of motherhood has been accepting the fact that I am not even close to being perfect. The best part is when I feel that I succeed as a mother and receive unconditional love and affection from my children.
Q: As a mother, is there anything you have promised yourself you won’t do?
A: "I always put my kids first and always will. But it is a hard job being a good mom and making rules and promises for yourself you can’t keep. This will only make that job even harder. If I became a new mom today, now that I know what it feels like, I would tell myself every day that I am as perfect as I can be, and that is enough."
Q: What has been the most surprising about motherhood?
A: The power and the strength you feel after becoming a new mom are surprising and amazing. I felt I could walk through fire. At the same time, I was so fragile, and I had no idea what I was doing. But deep down, you know, things work out, and I have two wonderful kids I love and adore. I feel very lucky.
Q: Any advice for mamas-to-be?
A: My advice to myself and mothers-to-be is to lay down our weapons and stop fighting for being perfect. We only fight ourselves, and that makes it really hard.
