Meaningful Mamaville

"It’s about the adventures (and misadventures), insanity and ultimate contentment of being a mother… There’s everything from random thoughts to researched data, first-time experiences and lightbulb realizations, confessions, trials and tribulations,” states London based Nicole Dastur-Arsiwala on her blog, Tales from Mamaville.wordpress.com, launched in January 2016. First-time mothers will be able to empathize with her narratives while the more experienced ones may smile indulgently as she describes her journey "from rookie mom to a been-there-done-that kind of mom.”

Mother of two-and-a-half-year-old Zach, Dastur says in response to Parsiana’s queries, "This blog is my ‘second baby’ — it keeps my creative side alive amidst the routine (and often monotonous) tasks of motherhood, keeps me connected with other mums around the world and gives me a sense of identity. Sometimes after becoming a mum you become so engrossed in your child, you forget to nurture yourself and your own pursuits, and that’s just as important. So even though I am exhausted after a long day, I make it a point to dedicate at least an hour every night to my blog, or during Zach’s naps or when he’s at nursery.” She even makes time to attend bloggers’ meets and has already registered her blog with Tots100UK and BritMums which are blogging websites that will enable her to connect with others from the fraternity.

"Looking after a baby is a full-time job, especially when you’re living abroad with no domestic help,” states Dastur-Arsiwala who started designing and giving shape and identity to her blog once Zach started nursery. "Most of the initial posts were on thoughts I had/ things I wanted to write about since a long time, for instance the ‘New Mums Handy Inventions Wish List.’ Being a journalist, the blog was "a wonderful way to get back to doing what I loved and knew best… Motherhood is what is currently defining my life, my role and my time… And there is no dearth of subject matter to write about since my energetic toddler does something new every day.” She also considers this venture "a special tribute to my son, a fun way of chronicling his growing up years. One day when he’s older, we can read the blog together and laugh!”
In the introduction to herself on the blog she mentions that she writes about "lifestyle, travel, food, art and culture, and anything else that catches my fancy.” Daughter of Drs Nergish and Naasha Dastur, following her early studies at the Queen Mary School in Bombay, she graduated in psychology from St Xavier’s College, did her postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Xavier Institute of Communications and worked for six years with Bombay Times, The Times of India. Her writings have also featured in Femina, DNA (Daily News and Analysis), Conde Nast Traveller and Asiana. Marriage to Sameer Arsiwala who works as vice president, Morgan Stanley, took her to London in 2011.
A mummy blog, feels Dastur, "gives mums a sense of bonding, of sisterhood, of support.” As she further confesses, "The blog is honest, comical and borderline satirical (every mum needs a bit of dark humor to survive) and hopes to bring a smile (or smirk) to a tired mum’s face.”
One of the most readable articles forewarns mothers that long flights can be traumatic for toddlers and mothers. "How to survive the skies while keeping your dignity intact,” allays the anxieties of a young mother whose journey can be smoothened with a little consideration by co-passengers. Her narrative of the simple hide-and-seek game acquires a new dimension when expressed in the words of an observant mother to whom her child’s smile is the best reward for any mundane chore.
Of probable use to new mothers would be some product reviews, tips n’ tricks and occasional nutritious recipes like oat-apple-cinnamon cookie recommended for breastfeeding mothers. The Links and Musings page carries informative articles and posts from other mothers and experts trained in childcare. With 80% of her blog content being original, Dastur-Arsiwala says she puts up a new post every three or four days. Since her blog also has a Facebook page and a Twitter account, she is constantly replying to comments to acknowledge the time spared by other moms. She will soon be introducing another category on her blog, "Days Out” to chronicle her trips with Zach to interesting and child-friendly places.
Favoring the "the absurd, the unusual and the out-of-the-ordinary,” the blogger is convinced "motherhood is a little slice of each… As Little Man (as she refers to Zach on her blog) toddles around innocently, learning the ways of the world, I realize I am learning so much more.”