This will not be a typical “Doula” post 😊

Is self-care really a reality when you are MOM and everything and everyone else waits and relies on you? Your mama-brain in overdrive for the majority of time?

Let me tell you; It is not selfish to find your own moment of silence, fun and calm. Even so as a mum! And it’s even nicer with the right kind of people. They say what feeds the soul is being around people who give you a good feel about yourself. People who lift you up 😊

Don’t just group yourself with any folk you meet also! Check them out first! You want to be with like minded women, stable in their own lives, ambitious and content too!

When there is a group of women together you know it can be unpleasant too sometimes so being with women who are stable and happy in their own lives wades off the typical gossip, bickering and envy which can be quite common when women come together

✨Self-care: for my sisters and I... starts with us loving ourselves. In the Netherlands we have a small group of Kenyan women with whom I meet when life allows us. Together we play our Kenyan “chama” and are there for each other on all levels of life. You can’t selfcare if you are not comfortable in your own body first. You know the saying; you can’t serve from an empty cup? That’s very true 😊

With this tribe, we are in contact as much as possible even through the corona shutdown we had regular whatsapp video calls, attended a virtual birthday party of one of our children too. We thrive on updating each other on the daily or weekly news, sharing our highs and lows with each other, encouraging each other even from a distance till we can see each other again. When we meet.. it’s for the day or afternoon so we can really catch up! 😊

That day is filled with laughter, we talk the real talk about womanhood, mothership, being wives and embrace each other where we are at in our lives at that given moment. Sometimes there is a few tears.. and that’s ok!

We each bring a meal to share which is usually Kenyan. I am known in the group for my Biriani Mombasa style 👇🏾👇🏾

The moment you step out of survival mode and have that peace of mind.. you can really enjoy the company of others and the positivity shines through effortless ⁣ ⁣

💫The day of this 👆🏾photoshoot, because it was literally a day including a special Lebanese dinner in Amsterdam for birthday girl @miss_jaque (in yellow jumpsuit) all our husbands looked after our homes, our children and us ladies went photo-shooting in our selected clothes 👌🏾😊⁣ ⁣

💫We all have our baggage in this photo. Don’t be fooled by the make up 😉.. none of us perfect.. all faults and hardships but when we meet! You feel the true meaning of others holding your space. ⁣ ⁣

💫What binds us is the ability to love freely. To pick up where the last conversation ended, drama free. We give each other space to grow. To KNOW! You can always contact this lot and pour your heart out without judgement or “side-eye” is for me personally heartwarming

Self-care with the right energy is enriching to our souls.

They say even in the cities it takes a village… for us who are far from our own native land, having our own platform to share and embrace our own ways in a foreign land is even more vital. For your own sanity… find your ideal tribe too 😊

#WomenOfZeal #Sisterhood #GroupPhotoshoot #KenyansInTheNetherlands #WomenSupportingEachOther #Queens #selfCare #TheFOURofUs 💕 @wendykims @miss_jaque @fridzhorgan 📸 @alenamasselinkphotography