MEET THE MOTHER: Aly Boghici
Introducing Aly Boghici, mother to three, long-time parenting blogger and founder of All Mums Talk. We chat about the isolation of motherhood, supporting small businesses and how her love of dresses keeps her sane.
“We all know it takes a village to raise a child. Sometimes you need to create your own village”
As the first of her friends to have a baby, and without family close by, Aly found herself feeling the type of isolation and loneliness so often experienced by first-time mothers. It was while on maternity leave that Aly began brainstorming ideas on what to do next. Although she loved her old job, she craved a flexible work life that would allow her to maximise her time with her infant son.
With her husband studying for exams to qualify as a lawyer in the UK, whilst working full time, Aly knew that returning to her previous job would mean both parents would miss important milestones; something which didn’t feel right for her. It was her husband who first came up with the idea of a website to document her parenting journey, and through her interest in travel and photography, as well as her experience in helping friends’ small businesses with their social media, the idea for ‘All Mums Talk’ was born. Originally a place for mothers to chat and share experiences, the platform gained pace once Aly began to host small events, beginning with a few café meet-ups in Canary Wharf. This then grew to hosting a Halloween party as well as charity events.
“I know how hard it is to create something from nothing and put all your energy into it, without having a loud voice”
Today, Aly mainly focuses on parenting in her work yet has a particular interest in living a sustainable lifestyle while supporting small brands; “from the very beginning, my goal was to form a supportive community to help and encourage first-time mums who don’t know what to expect at the start of their parenting journeys”. Added to this, Aly aims to support sustainable brands, motivating herself to improve her own family’s lifestyle in this regard. Aly’s family is her greatest source of joy. Living with her husband and three children, the family recently moved from London to Buckinghamshire. While she wishes her relatives were closer, she counts her blessings and is truly grateful for what she has. Although, she does confess sympathy for her neighbours since her “noisy lot” moved in.
“It’s a feeling. It sounds like a cliche, but my heart feels full”
With three children, Aly admits she often wakes up and hopes for the best. While not one for strict rules, she relies on taking some time each evening to prepare a simple structure for the next day. Although things don’t always go according to plan, Aly has found herself rise to the challenge of having a large family, including honing her planning and multitasking skills. Busier than ever, with less time for procrastination, she’s found herself able to manage three kids easier than one. It is evident just how much Aly enjoys motherhood, with slow weekend mornings when the kids pile into their bed a particular favourite. Yet she admits to being quite soft when it comes to her children’s bedtimes. One thing that has helped create a more regular evening rhythm is bedtime story reading. Her youngest was born during the first lockdown and, as he grows, she’s constantly reminded of how quickly time passes with children. And reminding us all, that before we know it, we’ll be exchanging bedtime stories for battles over screen time.
Aly keenly encourages new mothers to always follow their instincts, and to try to block out as much external noise as possible. As much as people around us want to help by offering advice, mother really does always know best. One of the hardest things about new motherhood is that feeling of being lost while time slips through our fingers. But Aly reminds us that asking for help is a sign of courage, and that when we do, we’re doing it for ourselves and our children. And this includes those times when we’re feeling helpless when under the weather and lack the energy to do all that needs to be done. For Aly, it has been her personal experience of speaking out to lessen the load that has had the most positive impact on both her parenting and also her work.
One of Aly’s greatest strengths is the way she’s able to inject humour and humility into everyday situations, while sharing the highs and lows of motherhood. But there’s no denying, this lady has style. A lover of pastels and monochrome patterns, her growing family has inspired a new love for effective organisation. With three young children, clever toy storage and family planners has never been more welcome. However, after her family, it’s dresses that add more joy into her daily life. Aly swears by the mood-lifting powers of wearing a dress, and alongside the demands of a busy family life, she’s staying sane by doing just that, while also making ‘reels’ on Instagram, a new lockdown hobby. As a break from her regular work, they’re also offering her a brief respite from constant snack requests and general pandemic woes (I highly recommend you check them out).
Join Aly’s caring community by finding her website here, and also on Instagram for a little extra daily pizzazz (and a peek at her much-loved dresses), where you’ll also find plenty of helpful information to help you on your parenting journey.