By Mandy Oakham
Geelong mothers suffering post birth blues are about to get the biggest helping hand from a new one-stop resource.
The new web resource, Ellaslist, is about to officially launch its Melbourne website which will include a Geelong section filled with practical advice and tips for women trying to get through another week with young children.
Established in 2010, the website features daily, local reviews and general inspiration to help mums use the digital world to get offline, get outside, and to make real life connections in their local communities.
The website’s biggest success has been in breaking down feelings of loneliness and isolation for mothers which could lead to serious mental health issues.
Lauren Humphris is a young mother who has already benefited from the service and is now helping to build the resource for women in the Geelong region.
“This truly is a one-stop shop for young mothers who wake up and think ‘what am I going to do with the kids today’,” Lauren said,
“It is so easy for young mothers with young kids to fall into a funk and just retreat into themselves and stay at home because it is all too hard.
“It is so easy with all the mummy blogs and Instagram out there portraying this perfect image of mothers with flat stomachs, looking beautiful with perfect children to fall into the trap of thinking ‘I am so bad, a failure’.”
Practical information on the site includes things like whether restaurants are kid friendly, whether or not a pram will fit into the premises, how far the nearest parking is, and how much a day out will end up costing.
Lauren said she considered herself one of the lucky ones having now moved on from her broken marriage and building a new life with her kids Flynn, now three, and Ned almost 18 months, and her part-time position as a media/English teacher at St Joseph’s College, Geelong.
“When my marriage first broke down and I had to move back in with my parents with two very young kids it was just awful,” she said.
“Motherhood can be hard, messy and boring and resources for women like council-funded mothers’ groups and Ellaslist really do provide women with a genuine life line.“
