South Africa’s number one local directory for parents.
Community Voices
Community Voices is a space for real stories, from parents within The Mom Archive community, sharing their everyday experiences of family life in South Africa. These honest, personal reflections speak to the realities of parenting across different homes, cultures, and circumstances, offering perspectives that many parents can relate to.
Each story is shared to create connection, understanding, and a sense of community—reminding parents that they are not alone in the ups and downs of raising a family.
Practical Homeschooling Support
How To Get Started With Homeschooling Your Children
“An honest look back at how I got started homeschooling. The wins, the losses and all the lessons learned along the way. Establishing our why and finding so much of the incredible joy this lifestyle has to offer”
Why We Decided To Homeschool
"Our kids are currently seven, five and we have a busy toddler. Our eldest two did a relaxed three terms of play school at my dear friend’s play school in Port Elizabeth, during the lockdown year of 2020. We moved back to the Overberg in January 2021 and have kept them home ever since."
My Favourite Homeschool Resources
"Let me start with a preface that I’m not your typical homeschool mom with a usual list of homeschool resources. I’m a bit of a dreamer with a minimalist approach to homeschooling."
Family Organisation Made Simple
Tips on Travelling with Baby/Toddler
"Traveling with babies and toddlers is nothing short of an adventure. Yes, it can be exhausting and nerve-racking, but it is also the biggest joy. We did a total of 28 flights and 5 continents with our first child, before he even turned! We now have 5 children, and we still seem to be increasing our travel plans every year."
My Tips For Managing/Organizing a Large Family
"I definitely felt the switch when we welcomed our third child into the family. Suddenly we were a ‘big’ family. Now we have five children and a lot of our daily routines and organizational habits, have become absolute second nature for me, that I do not even notice I am doing them in a certain way"
My Top 10 Tips on Staying Organized as a Busy Mama
"Being organized is key to me feeling capable. Being fit is key to me feeling energized. Being supported is key to me feeling strong. And living in a clean and ascetically beautiful space is key to me feeling calm. My Top 10 Tips on staying Organized as a Busy Mama."
Meal Planning & Dinners as a Busy Mother: How I Keep It Simple & Stress-Free
“The key to stress-free dinners is planning ahead. Every Sunday, I sit down with my Stellarize Meal Planner and map out our meals for the week. I consider what we already have in the pantry, what fresh ingredients we need to use up, and what meals will best fit our busy schedule.”
Special Needs: Real Stories of Care, Strength & Hope
The Box. Find Your “Village.”
"Heaven forbids any behavior outside that unrealistic box that will guarantee you a few stares, rude remarks, or spiral into a pang of mom guilt."
Navigating Life as a Medical Mama: Our Journey with Prader-Willi Syndrome
"Hi, I’m Savannah, a proud mom of two beautiful kids—Luka, who is 9, and Luna, who is almost 3. Being a mother is a joy, but when your child has special needs, like Luna, it’s an experience unlike anything you could anticipate; nothing can prepare you."
Adoption Stories: Journeys of Love & Belonging
Our Adoption Story: Embracing Difference, Dispelling Myths, and Living Love
"We can’t shelter them from everything, but we can teach them the truth in such a way that enables them to embrace their differences confidently. They may encounter remarks about their skin colour or their story, but we want them to respond with grace rooted in truth."
Miracle Baby and a Promise Fulfilled
"One final push and your promise will be born. These words ran through my head as I sat quietly in God’s presence. Alone on my bed, on a cold, misty morning in Ireland, I was definitely not pregnant. At least, not in the natural"
Our Adoption Journey: A Story of Hope and Love
"Adoption. It’s a word that carries so much weight—filled with sensitivity, complexity, and yet, unmatched beauty. I share our journey with the hope that it will bring encouragement, weaving a new narrative for those considering this path."
Hope in Action: Stories from Those Who Serve
How My Eyes Were Opened to the Vulnerable Child in Front of Me
“I wondered why he wasn’t dressed in the hospital gown that all children in the surgical ward wear. He seemed healthy. What brought him here? And then the truth came spilling out of the mouth of a mother doing all she could to protect her son. I listened hard.”
It Takes a Village – Now More Than Ever: Standing With Vulnerable Children
“It is easy to feel overwhelmed in these situations. The African proverb states that it takes a village to raise a child, this means that an entire community of people must provide for and interact positively with children for those children to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment. Is this dated or can we be part of the village we so often talk about?”
Why do NGO’s exist in South Africa?
“As moms, we all want the best for our children—a safe home, a good education, and the chance to thrive. But for many families in South Africa, these basic needs are out of reach. This is where NGOs, or Non-Governmental Organizations, come in. These organizations are doing the hard work of tackling poverty, unemployment, and gender-based violence, offering vital support to families and children who need it the most.”
The Crisis of Vulnerable Children in South Africa
"The crisis of vulnerable children in South Africa and how one person’s life can make a difference Overwhelmed, anxious, exhausted, weary, apathetic. These are all words that could have described how I was doing in 2014."
A Village on a Hill: Where Children Would Have a Mom Who Loves Them
"Being a mother has always been a desire of my heart from a young age. When people would ask me how many kids I’d want one day, I would say “six.” Since actually becoming a mother, this number has decreased significantly but my desire for a big family continued to increase and God, in His kindness, has granted more than I ever could have dreamed."
Real Talk: Parenting & Motherhood
My Tips on Maintaining a Strong Marriage Throughout Parenthood
“We work hard at times in our marriage, and other times it all just feels easy. And that is normal! My husband, Robin, and I are 11 years married today (and nearly 18 years together), and as I am reflecting on our marriage (and on our bond as parents, as lovers, and darlings of each other’s hearts), I want to share some learnings, some reflections and some practical tips with you.”
Tearing Down the Fences: How Real Community Transforms Motherhood
“One thing I have learned about mom circles is that while we crave connection, we often struggle with authenticity. I remember attending my first mom’s group, and everyone seemed so put together. It felt like an unspoken competition of who had it all figured out. But the moment I shared a raw, honest struggle, something changed. Other moms started sharing too. Vulnerability opened the door for connection.”
Why I Took Postpartum Depression by the Horns
“I did what most mothers do: I tried to push through. I added more structure, more rest, more help. My husband stood beside me, steady and kind, while I did everything that was “right.” And yet, the anxiety would not lift..”
A Parenting Series: Attachment Is Not Built in a Day, Nor Broken in a Day (Part Two)
"Probably the greatest gift to come from the mistakes we make in parenting – we have the opportunity to repair the relationship. The relationship will not rupture in one moment, and the re-connection is almost as powerful as the connection itself."
A Parenting Series : The Importance of Attachment (Part One)
"In a world of information overload, parents have a wealth of knowledge at their disposal. While the value of this is enormous, it also comes with potential downfalls."
Finding Rhythm in the Chaos: Anchoring Our Motherhood in Faith, Grace, and Real Moments
“In that moment, the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart: “May your first lesson of motherhood be to let go of control and trust Me.” That one whisper has shaped every day of my motherhood since.”
The Mom Archive aims to provide helpful, well-researched information and practical insights from a wide range of contributors within the family care and supportive services space. Our content is shared from a neutral perspective, drawing on real experiences, professional knowledge, and general guidance across different situations and scenarios.
While we do our best to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the information shared, all content is intended for informational purposes only. We encourage readers to use their own discretion and to conduct additional research or consult qualified professionals where appropriate before making decisions or implementing any advice.
Each family’s needs are unique, and what works in one situation may differ in another. The Mom Archive therefore cannot guarantee specific outcomes, and responsibility for how information is applied remains with the reader.
