LM Mum of the Month: Omoronike Bello-Adepoju

Meet our LM Mum of the Month: Omoronike Bello-Adepoju

Our LagosMums of the Month series explores frank questions with LagosMums on motherhood, their philosophies on life among other things. We always learn when we read someone else’s story and they share their experiences with us. Meet Omoronike Bello, Mum of one and a baby on the way. She tells us about her life as a mum so far, how she spent Valentine’s with the family and how she copes with pregnancy while raising a toddler.
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As our Mum of the Month of Love, how did you spend Valentine’s day?

Valentine was a little bit relaxed in my home this year, I have sort of outgrown the valentine brouhaha, I guess I am getting old or something (Lol). I spent the morning doing assignments because I have a looming deadline to kill, I’m running a professional course that is taking a chunk of my quality life. But my husband being a sweet heart that he is still made sure we went out in the evening for dinner and a late night movie, I got to see the movie ‘’fifty’’ I have been longing to see it for a while. I ended up having a very beautiful unplanned valentine.

 How did you meet your husband? And how did he propose?

I met my husband in 2009, we both were invited for a programme, I as a student and he as a guest speaker. He kept staring at me the moment I entered the hall and I remember saying to my friends ‘’why is this dude staring me at me like this, abeg ooo Lol’’. He found a way to get to me at the point we were about leaving the venue and asked for my phone no, my first reaction of course was ‘’for what?’’ but something touched me and I released my phone no for the first time to a guy without my usual lengthy interviews. To cut the long story short we stayed friends became lovers and now mummy and daddy. The proposal wasn’t a big deal as we kinda just knew we were headed for the Mr n Mrs thingy, we were already planning our introduction when he said ‘’ ahaaa, I have not even proposed to you o’’ I said ‘’abi o’’ he bought the ring one day and gave me at a dinner date, no biggie, to me it was just an opportunity to add a golden ring to my jewellery collection (Lol).

 Please introduce yourself and your family

My name is Omoronike Bello-Adepoju, I’m a 28 year old working mum resident in Lagos. I’m Yoruba, Muslim and a mediaIMG_20151226_164037 practitioner. My husband’s name is Adebayo, we have a daughter, her name is Fareedah we call her Yasmin, she will be two in March.

What are the different hats that you wear?

I wear the hat of a wife, mum, media practitioner and student

Where do you work? please tell us about it.

I work in a media independent agency. We do strategic research, media planning and buying.

 As an expectant mum, how has the experience been?

I’m currently expecting my second child; I’m approaching the second trimester. Compared to my first pregnancy this has been bliss, I kinda feel like God is making it up to me (isn’t He a sweetheart?). With the first one I was in and out of the hospital, feeling sick to my stomach every minute for four months but with this pregnancy I am really grateful. Yes I feel tired and irritable but am I complaining? NO. Right now all I crave is pepper, any meal that contains large amount of it is welcome.

 Does your daughter know about her little sibling on the way?

The tummy is not showing quite yet I am one of those that do not show early. With my first one no one was quite sure I was expecting till I was over five months. I have explained to her severally when she tries to climb or sit on the tummy, I say to her ‘’baby is inside here so be gentle, do you want baby to cry ?and she says no’’.

IMG_20151228_171308 (1)What support system do you have in place while you juggle your different roles?

The most constant support system I have is my hubby. He’s been more than amazing from the first pregnancy till date, all I need to do is ask and it’s done. Just like now he’s taken over the primary care of our daughter while I battle with tiredness. I also have my sister who has been in and out for a while but presently she’s doing her NYSC programme and has come to stay with us. The importance of a support system cannot be over emphasized especially when you’re a working mother. You need to be comfortable when you’re not in the home, no mother will be at her best at work when she’s constantly worried about the safety and upkeep of her kids. So a support system comes in handy when you can’t be there. It’s not easy but it’s worth it.

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 Do you have a Nanny? How do you cope with Nanny/house-help issues?

I have had to rely on the help of creches and maids sometimes but I have never had a nanny. I have learnt not to rely on maids when it comes to my child, they could help with chores and all but I don’t quite relinquish the care of my child to them. This is one because I am finicky and partly because of the scary stories here and there. But with the second child on the way I am seriously considering the help of a professional nanny in order to reduce some of the difficulty I experienced after the birth of my first child. I do not think I had the best post natal experience as I had to deal with so much too early.

IMG_00000289What surprised you the most about being a mother?

I think the most surprising thing about motherhood which is also amazing at the same time is the fact that you’re almost constantly stressed out of your mind but you still enjoy it at the same time. You have a sense of fulfilment every time you put a smile on the face of your little one. Also the amazing love that comes with the little kisses and hugs, everything that comes with motherhood is superb.

 Do you think the way you were brought up is similar to how you raise your children?

My upbringing is definitely different from the way I’m raising my child. Children of today are quite intelligent and sensitive; they are the computer kids as my mum would say so I try to be sensitive to her feelings as well. The major difference in my upbringing and hers will be in the area of communication, I communicate with my madam a lot; I talk to her and ask if she understands. I try to establish a foundation of free communication where she’s not afraid to discuss anything with me or her father I did not have that with my parents. However my mum was a woman of virtues and she thought me value and self-esteem, by God’s grace I am doing the same with mine, it’s the most beautiful gift I was given as a child.

 What is the funniest thing your toddler has ever said?

IMG_20151018_152710Sometimes when she is being naughty I say to the next available person ‘’please get me my cane’’. My child is actually very expressive for her age so one day she was asking her father for something and he was not obliging then she said to me’ “my mummy get me my cane’’ (hilarious)

 What one thing do you think should never be missing from any home?

Love, happiness, plenty hugs and kisses. They are a necessity for a child’s well-being.

 What’s the most important skill that LagosMums need?

LagosMumS needs to be able to multi task for survival. Your constant situation as a mother is having a lot to do in such little time, so you need to be able to mentally calculate and achieve all these little tasks without seeming confused or incapable, you have to practically be a super woman to survive everyday life in Lagos.

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