Originally from Kitchener-Waterloo, Danielle has spent her adult life between Toronto and London, England. She originally studied as a dental hygienist, but after five years of practice, she sold everything, packed up her life and moved to London to model. Over the course of five years in the UK she has trained as a yoga teacher, opened an organic juice bar and started working with various health networks presenting healthy eating/drinking and fitness. Her hobbies are yoga, boxing, travelling and mountain trekking. She has trekked the Peruvian Andes, Atlas Mountains, Banaue in the Philippines and the three peaks challenge in the UK. After the birth of their beautiful daughter Lily, they decided to make the move back home to Canada to be near family! Danielle is currently working on a documentary to raise awareness on postpartum depression! Follow her in Instagram @daniellech.
1. How would you describe yourself before
having a baby?
Before Lily arrived,
I lived life quite selfishly! A free
spirit who would travel every month, sometimes for
long periods of time. Living day by day! I was confident, outgoing, and social and
would find it very hard to sit still. I loved going out for dinners, dancing,
football (UK) matches and practicing power yoga 5-6 times a week!2.
How would you describe yourself after having a baby?
After Lily arrived I was
so lost and quite miserable from the sleep deprivation. I was quite snappy and
just living in a daze. I tried to exercise as much as I could (half asleep). I always
felt irritated, especially with my husband. I definitely have lost a lot of my
confidence, mainly because I feel my brain is in a fog! If the conversation isn’t about
“baby stuff”, I feel lost, inexperienced and have little to offer. I find it
difficult to focus on things and try to
nap during the day when the baby does. I feel my
“spark” is overburdened with the new realities of motherhood!
3.
What is one thing you miss about your pre-baby life?Freedom! To travel for
long periods of time!
4.
What is one thing you wish someone prepared you for
when it comes to Motherhood?
I wish someone had told me how important it was to have a strong support system around all the time!!
From husband to family, friends and
hired. You can never have too much help!!
5.
How has Motherhood changed you?
Motherhood has given me
a new purpose, a much more important purpose! It has stopped me in my
exhausting footsteps, to lead a calmer and more selfless life.
6.
Do you feel like you have “balance” in your life and why?
As of recently, I feel I
am leading a more balanced life. I have enrolled at the The University of Toronto to take courses to help me
transition into a new career I am passionate about. I have
hired part-time help, gone back work (part-time) and moved back to Toronto
from London, England! I have time to exercise now, spend time with husband
and meet my friends for play dates!
7.
What helped get you through the postpartum transition into Motherhood?
Hiring help! I was
living in England, without any family on either side, so I really didn’t have a support
system. I joined mom and baby fitness classes
met with other moms on a regular
basis and went back to work part-time. Just knowing that there still was
“Danielle” in there somewhere, really helped me transition through the rougher
times.
8.
Motherhood is hard. What gets you through each day, day after day?
Any help (hired or
family) that allows me to exercise or do jobs! Also,
I keep telling myself “ it's just a phase!” (The best advice I have
ever received!) However, my husband and awesome mom
network are the reasons I can get through each day …Wine!
9.
What makes you grateful about motherhood?
The best part about
motherhood is you get to experience a love like no other, even though they stress you
out and can drive you crazy, it truly is a love so powerful! And those innocent baby
laughs are priceless.
10.
What is one thing you would tell a new or expecting Mother?
Ask for help! Don’t
expect to do it all, you have nothing to prove. Hire if possible, enlist family members,
do a nanny share. Anything!!
#HonestMom #LWAB10 #PPD #PPMD #Motherhood #MomTruths #MomTruth #MomConfessions #IAmMom
