"You find out who your true friends are once you have a baby"

#MummyMemoirs

"You find out who your true friends are once you have a baby"

I have seen this quote surface on social media countless times, and I have never for one second related to it. I have had the same friends around me since I was 11 years old, and they are still here today.

This post isn't about bashing my friends, but merely a self reflection on my life since becoming a mother.


Before I became a mother I had big dreams, and I still do, but once my little baby arrived those dreams had to be put aside for a minute. Fast forward to when my son reached the age of one, I was back in the game, I had just landed a job as a presenter for Arsenal Fan Tv. Now, as crazy as it may sound, being a presenter doesn't mean turning up to a location, filming your little piece and then your done for the day (well it does when your established) There is a lot more to it than that. Just like breaking into any profession you need a lot of time, A LOT of baby free time and that is something that us mothers never have. So as you can imagine, its extremely hard to balance a start up career whilst being a new mother. But as they say, it takes a village to raise a baby.

Where is my village?!

I have never really relied on anyone for anything, except for my parents. My parents have their own life to lead, so whenever there was a time I needed to be at an event, or travel to the other side of the UK to film OR just travel down the road to film at the Emirates for 20 minutes, and my parents were unavailable to help with babysitting duties : "Sorry I can't make it" became my punchline.
I slowly became unreliable and inconsistent with my presenting. This is no way to start a career and make a name for yourself.

My friends would always say to me; "Hows the presenting going, your so determined, you're going to do great things, I'm proud of you, hows Raph?"

I feel as though my friends shouldn't have to ask me these questions, you should know how my careers going because you support me right? well at least thats what I'm told.

Hows Raph? you tell me, why don't you watch him for me whilst I film this little segment.

I may sound a little angry but I'm not, as I said this is just self reflection, as I look back on the past four years, I'm nowhere near where I should be, and this is just from lack of support. I have so many friends, but very few people to rely on to help me raise my child.

Now, I'm not asking for my friends to babysit, whilst I go out on date for a few hours and may return in the early hours of the morning, or whilst I travel the world, or whilst I'm out on the town with some other friends. I honestly don't feel like I'm asking for too much.

My friends are always quick to invite me out to some kind of social event, literally every weekend, which I would most likely attend.

But now I'm lost in space, just sitting here self-reflecting. My friends want me to find a babysitter so that I can enjoy a night out with them, but they can not babysit for me, whilst I chase my dreams.

I have been analysing this situation for the past two years, as I get older my dream runs further away from me.

Im using my time now to focus solely on my child and my dreams. Im doing this for the both of us and every other single mother out there. Trust me I know its not easy, the easiest thing to do would be to give up, but whats the point in that? We would only look back and regret all those poor decisions. All that money and time spent on nights out instead of investing in our future.

I urge every single mother reading this, actually, I urge everyone reading this, to never give up on your dreams.

Love Pippa x