Last Christmas, I realised something that stopped me in my tracks. I had bought gifts for everyone… except myself. I stayed up late wrapping presents, scribbling last-minute lists, rushing from shop to shop, organising food, decorations, and family schedules. By the time Christmas morning arrived, I felt completely depleted — physically, emotionally, and financially. And while my children were delighted and the day looked beautiful from the outside, inside I felt empty. I had

By Mubina Khan-Daniels There are days when I wake up already exhausted — before the coffee, before the emails, before the school drop-offs. Days when my mind is already running through the checklist: Be a good mum. Be a supportive wife. Be a kind daughter. Be a present friend. Be a capable manager. Be a person of faith.  And somewhere in there, don’t forget to be yourself. It’s a lot. And if you’re a working mother reading this, I know you feel it too — that quiet pressure to

By Alicia Douglas Last week, I had the privilege of delivering a workshop at the Black and Diverse Safeguarding Conference (BDSC). I stood before a room filled with social workers and family practitioners, speaking on “Understanding Black Mothers’ Avoidant Attachment Styles in Family Practice.” As I shared insights on attachment and motherhood, a wave of reflection came over me. Twenty years ago, those same traits I was describing so academically were also describing me . At