Love Bonnie & Me Baby Massage

06/01/2021

She’s her Dada through and through 😊 When Margaux was born and we were in the Nicu, I held her in my arms and kissed her sweet face during the first few hours we were able to hold her. I looked down at her and I knew she needed him. I turned to Jack and explained... Its you she needs. I handed her little body over to him so he could cuddle her close to him right under his chin. I knew from the beginning they’d be inseparable and for a lifetime. That he is the one she will sit down with over a hot chocolate when she’s a teenager to chat over her dreams with through the years. And in those moments a tiny baby in and out from under the lights... it was him that she needed equally. I smile at how close they are. Our souls come here for many different reasons. As parents we must learn to honour all the reasons our children are here with us. What they’ve come here to do and what support they need and don’t need to get there. And for us as parents to smile when they are being uniquely themselves, even at day one.

Love, Kara

23/11/2020

Hi! I knew I was going to enjoy teaching mums and dads how to massage their babies and all about the benefits of baby massage, but I am also discovering that zoom classes actually do feel in many ways like you are right there all together. So! 😊

I am planning on offering my next set of
zoom classes:
Beginning the first week of January
Mondays/ 10am-11.15am UK time
(5 classes)
If you are in the USA/Canada and would like to do a zoom class with me, I am happy to setup a second class come January. It would be Mondays around
3pm- 4.15pm USA/Canada time.

1-1 sessions and or (3-4 friends) possible. Will keep each class at a maximum of 4 mums and babies, so we have time and attention for each mum and each
little one. ☺️

- birth to 8 months

Love, Kara ♥️

17/11/2020

I am offering baby massage classes (small group & 1 to 1 via zoom.

5 week course
Mondays

Mess me if you and your little one are interested

07515479382 😊

Love, Kara ♥️

10/11/2020

Today Margaux and I sat in the bath as she played in the middle of the day.

This is so not easy Mamas.

So important we give ourselves grace and try our best to take care of our minds and bodies. Even on the days that feel so long and we struggle.

Lots of Love to all ♥️♥️♥️

13/07/2020

Thank you, Kerrine Kafwembe!! We’ve got one super excited girl here! She would like to be a doctor when she grows up- perhaps a Scientist too!

Thank you for paving the way for girls who will grow up to make a huge difference to this world- just like you!

💪🌎 👍

All the best!

Isla & Kara 💕

02/07/2020

In this week’s Mothers Around the World interview we are honoured to share glimpses into Sophy - mother, teacher and business owner’s life story growing up and what life is like living in Phnom Penh, Cambodia today while raising her daughter. Sophy’s determination, strong work ethic, and caring nature are incredibly admirable. Sophy very much lives by and believes that education is power and the key towards changing lives and that every challenge put before us can be overcome with dedication and hand work.

Sophy thank you so much for inspiring us today by reminding us that our dreams and goals are more than possible no matter how far off they can feel and no matter our starting place.

You are an incredible woman. It is wonderful to not only see you achieving your goals and helping others, but also to watch your daughter who is growing into a strong, beautiful, inspirational young woman as well! Imagine a world of Sophys- how amazing that would be.

Thank you so much 🙏

Love,

Kara ♥️

- - - - - - - -

Q: Where did you grow up? Where do you live today?

A: I grew up in Toul Kok, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I left my house around 7 years ago. Now I'm back to live in the house where I grew up.

Q: Who were your greatest teachers growing up? Why?
A: My Math teacher; she was very strict in class but kind.

Q: What is a favourite memory you have while growing up?

A: Playing football with boys in High School. I had only a few female friends who liked the same sport as me. But I played with boys most of my time.

Q: What is your favourite memory with your daughter?

A: When my daughter was 4 years old, she told me how delicious it was. It was my first time cooking food for her after I divorced her dad.

Q: What challenges have you faced in your life? What has gotten you through these challenges?

A: Discrimination when I was young because I lived in the Karaoke area where bar and prostitution business have grown like mushrooms. People labeled me as a night worker, because I was a song operator. I have gone through this painful moment by keeping myself learning languages. I went to Pagado and Public school to learn how to read and write English. A year later, I enjoyed singing English songs. From 1996 I kept learning until I could speak English quite well. I graduated High School in 2000. I got a teaching job as a kindergarten teacher in the same year. I could not do much, so I learned from teachers around me and connected with foreign teachers to improve my speaking skills.

Q: What do you feel are your greatest achievements?

A: My greatest achievement is having a wonderful daughter. It was hard to raise her alone without a man, but we had lots of good memories, especially in an international school where she absorbed the best education.

Q: Did you always know you wanted to be a mother?

A: No, I gave birth to my daughter when I was 18. I didn’t know anything about mother life or wishing to have a baby.

Q: What advice can you give to new mothers trying to calm and soothe their baby?

A: I am not sure what advice I could give. But I would like to share what I have done. I hugged my daughter gently every time she cried. Sometimes she walks with a baby troller. The hardest time that I tried to calm her when she cried badly was I had to put her on the moto, drove her around until she fell asleep.

Q: What did you enjoy about being pregnant? What did you least enjoy?

A: I enjoyed eating all kinds of foods and fruits. I don’t know why. I gained from 44kg to 65kg. Sleep stressed me out most of the time. I cannot even hold a marker to teach. So I had to drink litter of coffee to keep myself awake.

Q: What has surprised you about Motherhood?

A: Breastfeeding. I was shy when my daughter was hungry when I was on the motor.

Q: What is the best part about raising your daughter? What is the hardest part about being a parent?

A: The best part is I am 37 years old but I have a 16 years old daughter which is good for me. I am having a personal assistant who could support me with technology, design and ideas. She is like a best friend to me. Also, I am delighted because my daughter understood well about our life goal after we struggled to live with her father.
The hardest part for me as a single mom is Time! I didn’t have much time to spend with my daughter beside bringing her to private tutoring with me. On top of that, I could not work somewhere else beside school because I could not afford the high tuition fee.

Q: You have several different careers and businesses? Can you tell us about them and what motivates and drives you?

A: I am working full time. Running a coffee shop, running only business like household cleaning and skin care products for extra income. I found part time business keeps me busy so I don't have time to stress about anything else. Also, giving my daughter studies tasks on how to control my stocks. We made extra income from our free time instead of wasting time with something that made us unhappy.

Q: Who do you admire in this world? Why?
A: My father. He always stands by me as a best friend. Good listener who showed me his kindness to people around him. Positive impact in my life. That is why I worked hard to make him happy and show him that I can do it because I love him.

Q: What do you wish for the world?
A: Peace for the world!

Complete each sentence ….

The first time I saw my daughter’s face I was so proud to be a mom.

I would love to travel to England because I have my best friends who I want to see every year.

I live to support my family I think. I want to see everyone smile.

I dislike discrimation.

I can’t wait to have my retirement from my mom after my daughter graduates university.
My daughter is amazing. She hardly asks me to get things that I could not afford.
I hope one day my daughter says that her mother is “Thanks for being a mom and a friend to me”

If I had to do it all again I would not give birth too young.

I still don’t know how old it is for a woman to raise her kids.

What makes me sad is that I could not cook many kinds of foods for my daughter, because I don’t know how to cook Khmer food well.

Something I love about myself is working hard to better my living and raising a daughter without a man.

If I could go to lunch with any three people in this world, I would choose...
My daughter, my fiancé Steve and my dad.

The best advice I’ve ever been given is...
The first advice from my father “Honesty and Kindness will bring you lots of good friends”
The second one “If a guy lives without socializing or having friends around, you have to think about it”. From my friend Kieran. One of my Heroes!

The third one “Do one good DEED a day to keep your peaceful mind”. It was from an old man I met on the bus in England after I left Heathrow airport.

Each day... I love my family and friends.

I know I could do many things to keep people positive about their lives!

Thank you, Sophy! You have certainly uplifted us today and are encouraging us to go out there and chase our dreams!

Love, Kara

🦋♥️💖💕🌟

26/06/2020

Wow, get ready to be in awe of the enormous amount of strength and love Kerrine and her beyond sweet family are showing each day as they wait to be able to all be together again.

In this week’s ‘Mothers Around the World’ interview we are honoured to share with you

Kerrine’s incredible journey of becoming:

An electrical engineer, the founder of a publishing house- Butterfly Books wwwbutterflybooks.uk, talented dancer, mother of two, wife and so much more!

Kerrine, your story gives hope to everyone struggling to heal and for those still walking through the unknowns and stresses of our current situations today.

Thank you for your honesty regarding having your precious babies after several miscarriages, thank you for spreading hope to women who are experiencing that their road to motherhood is on hold right now and or feeling the deep pain of miscarriage during such isolating times.

We cannot wait to hear the day you and your family can all hug each other and close your eyes together each night.

You are a very special woman. To be brave and never giving up rings true more today than ever before. You are an inspiration to all. I can’t wait to share your books with my own daughters and son!

Thank you 😊

Lots of Love,

Kara 💖

- - - - - - -

Q: Where is home for you?

A: I live in New York, USA but home for me is Birmingham, UK!

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: Birmingham, UK.

Q: How many children do you have?

Q: Where is home for you?

A: I live in New York, USA but home for me is Birmingham, UK!

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: Birmingham, UK.

Q: How many children do you have?

A: 2 (Skye, 3 years old and Zoey, 7 months old)

Q: What do you love most about your partner?

A: He’s the smartest person I know!

Q: What is something not everyone knows about you?

A: I was once on the TV game show – the Weakest Link.

Q: How do you think where you grew up has shaped you as an adult?

A: I don’t think the physical location has a great impact but definitely the people who I’ve interacted with, from teachers, to friends and family members has shaped who I am as an adult.

Q: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose? Why?

A: London – I lived there for 10 years. It’s vibrant and diverse with lots going on, and not too far from my family in Birmingham!

Q: What challenges have you faced this year?
What has gotten you through these uncertain times?

A: Due to COVID-19 I’ve been separated from my husband for 4 months so far. I’ve been staying with my mum in Birmingham who got very ill with suspected COVID-19 and at one point I was looking after her plus the two kids. I’ve also gone back to work (remotely) after maternity leave. Since my mum recovered her support has helped me get through this tough time.

Q: What advice can you give to other people today who are unable to be with their loved ones as well?

A: Keep busy doing the things you love and all the stuff you’ve been meaning to get done. It’s wonderful that we have technology so that we can still see our loved ones but it’s obviously not the same as a hug. The main thing is that we stay safe and healthy.

Q: What do you feel are your greatest achievements?

A:

1. Publishing multiple children’s books. My English teacher once told my parents that my English grades were low and there was nothing he could do to improve it. Now I’m an award-winning author so there you go!

2. Becoming a fellow of the Institution of Engineering and technology a couple of years ago was a huge achievement as it recognises the high level of experience, knowledge and ability attained during an individual’s career

3. Childbirth twice without pain relief.

Q: Did you always know you wanted to be a mother?

A: I never really thought too much about it but I always imagined I would have kids. My husband and I were married for 7 years before we tried for kids.

Q: What advice can you give to new mothers trying to calm and soothe their baby?

A: I think that babies sense our panic. If we remain calm then they tend to become calm too. Sometimes the solution might be passing baby to your partner.

Q: What did you enjoy about being pregnant? What did you least enjoy?

A: I can’t say I enjoyed being pregnant. After multiple miscarriages I was constantly worried, and with both pregnancies I had severe back pain and nausea all the way through. What helped was pre-natal yoga classes.

Q: What is the best part about raising your children? What is hardest part about being a parent?

A: The best part is watching them learn new things about the world they live in, which can also be a hard part as not everything in the world is good. We have to do our best as parents to prepare them for the real world.

Q: You have an amazing career and are the founder of a publishing house- can you tell us about each?

A: I am an electrical engineer and have worked in the energy industry for 15 years on multiple projects worldwide. I currently work in Manhattan, NY for a large organisation as a power systems engineer in power generation and delivery.

I’ve always had a passion for educating youngsters on what engineering really is as there are many misconceptions and negative stereotypes that limits the number of people- particularly women, from entering the field. This led me to publish my first book ‘My Mummy is an Engineer’ (co-authored with my brother Jason Bryan). It was based on my own experiences.

Q: How did your publishing house Butterfly Books come to life?

A: We decided to self-publish our books to ensure we had control over the illustrations and messages that needed to be true to life and address real life problems, we decided to set up our own publishing house to do this. Since starting we have published 7 titles.

Q: Who do you admire in this world? Why?

A: My mum. As one of only a few black children in my school she told me I would need to work twice as hard to get half the success of my white friends. I’ve lived by this and always try to give that bit extra in anything I do. She has taught me to work hard for what I want.

Q: What do you wish for the world?

A: Equality.

Q: What is something that everyone says that you are finding to be true?

A: You can never be too careful.

Complete each sentence

The first time I saw my babies I... smiled

I would love to travel to... the moon

I live for..... dance

I can’t wait to... see my husband

I did not expect... to give birth more than once

I hope one day my children say that their mum is.... an inspiration.

If I had to do it all again I would... take more time to enjoy moments

I still don’t know... who my ancestors are.

What makes me sad is...inequality

Something I love about myself is...I never give up

If I could go to lunch with any three people in this world, I would choose... Barack Obama, Prince William, Oprah Winfrey.

The best advice I’ve ever been given is...never think you know everything (there’s always an opportunity to learn more)

I love.... my family

I wish for... a fair world for my children to live in.

24/06/2020

About me 😊

I was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. I was born premature baby- at 32 weeks- in 1982. A team of Drs saved my life. As a result of being born premature, I have a lung procedure to clear my airway of scar tissue every few years. I grew up skiing at our local ski hill, spent hours in the gym practicing gymnastics, and I rode the same yellow school bus with each of my two best friends- one sat on each side of me- all through school. Well, until we could drive. My parents taught my sister and I to never judge or make fun of somebody else based on the way a person looks on the outside. Sometimes I smile and think is that all my own children really need to understand to navigate this world?

I studied Special Education and History in college. I learned at that time just as much outside of the classroom (working in a diner, student teaching and socialising) about people and life as I did in. About heartache, struggle, what it is like for people to live pay check to pay check, anxiety/depression, single parenthood, divided politics, how a diploma can change the story for a generation, how sometimes pure talent and grit is enough to succeed. How travelling can blow everything you thought you knew right out of the water.

In 2006, the same year I’d graduate, I did my final practicing teaching in Perth, Australia.
I learned how enthusiasm and kindness can be contagious, how to enjoy a Sunday afternoon watching sports and hanging with people that are important to you. Australia taught me to relax- maybe a bit too much! I took the Kiwi bus at 24 years old to explore New Zealand and figure out who I was outside of the small town that I grew up in and for the first time in years as a single young woman- without even a working mobile phone. I’ve still never seen rolling hills, quiet & beauty as I witnessed in New Zealand.

I flew to the UK with two large suitcases in June of 2007... being dropped off by plane then a bus to Liverpool Street Station. I was blown away by the sheer number of people all living in one city. A new friend told me “Welcome to the Big Smoke!” By September I was living in East London, Poplar with four friends- one whom I’m met on the Kiwi Bus the year before- in a close a walk away from Westferry DLR. I began teaching children/teenagers with special education, History GCSE and Art in Peckham, Southeast, London. My students taught me more about life, strength, perseverance, raw talent & the power of having a kind heart than I could ever imagine I’d learn and a times heartbreak for what sometimes life throws our way.

I met my husband at a busy London bar just after the New Year in 2010 through mutual friends. He stopped me in my tracks. I knew after our third date that we were gaga in love, and that I’d decline my offer to Grad school at DePaul University in Chicago. We were living together and had a huge beautiful American/British wedding in Up North, Glen Arbor, Michigan after a year and half of being together. With 40 some guests flying over from the UK for our wedding week. People made life long friends during that week.

In 2013, we decided it would be too expense to try to live in Putney, so we moved to Hitchin, Hertfordshire. My first son was born in July 2013, my first daughter February 2016, and my second daughter, five weeks early in July 2019. My family is my absolute heart. I love the communities that we are surrounded by. August 9th we moved into our new house on Wilbury Road in Letchworth Garden City. I love the way our house makes me feel- more than I ever knew I could love a house as I’ve never been one to want to stay in one place for too long.

A year ago I realised how much I loved and benefitted from doing baby massage with all three of my babies. I’ve combined my teaching skills, love for babies, and my passion for working with people into my own Love Bonnie & Me baby massage business.

I’m surviving this pandemic so far through chocolate, zoom calls, Frozen II on or with my three children at home with me, while my husband works as a doctor in a busy London Children’s hospital.

I can’t wait to be able to get a coffee with friends and see family again, and for the day when new mums can come for baby massage classes.

Until then... we wait... not even completely realising our new, next chapter has already somehow begun.

Love,

Kara 💖

23/06/2020

She’s out! Let the rushing to put laundry away begin! 😅♥️💖👍

21/06/2020

Happy Father’s Day to all of the amazing dads in this world! You are magic.

We are lucky to know and have you.

💖

18/06/2020