"I was rattled, scared and was left with a constant anxious feeling about life."

My name is Stephanie; I am a mother to 3 beautiful and amazing children whom I raise on my own with no family support. Through the ups and downs of my life I sure have had the spiky end of the stick. But being the strong natured person I am, I have a motto in life and I sure as hell stick to it!

No matter how bad your day has been, no matter the challenge you have had that day. Before I sleep I take a DEEP breath and count to 10, I accept everything in my life and understand who I am and why I am here. I thank the universe for all the good I have. I then say to myself now tomorrow is a new day and you never know what’s coming next.

In the January of 2013 I welcomed my third child in to the world, after the traumatic experience of labour and birth I was rattled, scared and was left with a constant anxious feeling  about life.

I was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. I left hospital and was referred to my maternal child health nurse in the area to come and do a home check after leaving hospital. So a day after leaving she came and she was AWESOME. She told me you are doing an amazing job, at this time my children were all under the age of three. So she said to me I have a parent engagement worker who will be perfect for you, I was excited to meet this parent engagement worker. A week later I met the parent engagement worker who was amazing she came at a time when I needed “help” the most. She was bubbly and simply amazing. So she says we are starting a playgroup I want you there and also hands me a Boucher for a program called “BUMP”.

“BUMP” is a program through the Raise Foundation which runs workshops and a mentor program for young mums.

At the first workshop I was a little unsure I guess because at this stage I didn’t really know anyone. But the workshop went on, and I continued to go. The workshops were amazing, and the women were amazing. To be in a room full of women who want to know you, who think you are amazing when the people who matter most in your life are non-existent  is so powerful and encouraging it made me feel strong and empowered.

So through the “BUMP” program I got a mentor who is also AMAZING and has supported me through so much, who constantly tells me I’m doing a great job raising my children.

My mentor also helped me with making the decision to return to study, and helped me decided on my exact course which is a diploma of community services. Just like the young parent engagement worker, who walked through my door and turned that light switch on in my head. She inspired me to be half the worker she is. My passion is to work with “vulnerable” people to turn the light switch on in their heads and have them feel as empowered as I was.

The friendships I formed out of “BUMP” there is no tearing us apart it is like we were all supposed to meet. Although we are all different when we are together we don’t shut up or hold back on what we talk about. We share everything and our kids well..  They all love each other and bond like we mums do. We have little mum parties. We are all at each other’s kid’s birthdays. We give each other advice and honesty is always a first. You could definitely say we are a powerhouse.

So here I am a year on studying full time and still participating in the “BUMP” program.  It’s hard to keep up with the kids and studying full time but like always we do what needs to be done to achieve these goals. And as for the ladies at “BUMP” well they are never getting rid of me!!