There’s one thing that’s inevitable with being a woman and that’s the ability to rear those cute and cuddly little kids.  But, there’s no reason having children should stop you from fulfilling your dreams of getting out there being the adventure woman you are.

When we girls start a family, sure priorities have to change. Managing work with children’s schedules can make it hard to continue with all the fun activities you love.  But, thanks to some awesome Mom’s out there in the world, help is on the way!

You would be surprised how many Moms out there are just like you! Check out our profile of these women who are balancing their love for freedom and the outdoors with their children, and find out how you can do it too!

SurfingMums.com

Surfing is not just a hobby; it’s a way of life for most surfers! But, it can be pretty tough to catch that perfect set when you’ve got a baby on the sand! So, when new mums Julia and Vanessa couldn’t stand sitting on the shore anymore, they decided to team up and hatch a plan.

The pair would take turns babysitting or ‘beachsitting’ the other’s kids allowing each woman to grab a half hour surf every day. When they realised how well it was working they decided to form SurfingMums.com, an online community dedicated to connecting women wanting to meet up and hit the surf. 

Vanessa says,”Surfing Mums Incorporated (or Moms for those of you in the US and Canada) is all about uniting mothers from all over the world in our passion for surfing.

Surfing Mums Incorporated is a network of women who surf and are mums (of course), but what sets up apart is that we still want to surf as much as we did before we had kids. It’s not about how well you surf, or if you are a long boarder, short boarder, kneeboarder, bodyboarder, body surfer or learning to surf, it's about getting wet and having fun!”

She also says that SurfingMums is great for ‘sharing stories with other mums who understand my passion for surfing and the joys and tribulations of juggling my love for my child and the ocean’. Her local surf break is one of Australia’s most popular central coast beaches, near Byron Bay. She loves beaches that have great waves and great spots for the kids to play, such as ‘The Pass’, which has “one of the best right hand point breaks in Australia and good rock pools for the kids”.

When not surfing, Vanessa concentrates on looking after her beautiful four-year old, fixing up the SurfingMums website and working as a Human Resources Consultant. (Phew! One busy Mum!)

For Julia, SurfingMums is about making sure she can give her children and family the best she has to offer. Julia says, “A good mum is a really happy mum and I need to stay active to be a happy mum! For so many of us life can get in the way of ‘me time’, leaving us stressed and grumpy. SurfingMums allows us to take time out for ourselves, without having to spend hundred of dollars on a day spa and a babysitter!”

Julia also loves the sense of satisfaction she gets from seeing her friends get out and enjoy the waves, “I enjoy the commitment I can make to my friends to make sure they get out there, and (I can) support them through life’s challenges”, says Julia.

Check out SufringMums.com to find a group nearest to you. If there’s nothing nearby you could even start your own group so you’ll always have a ‘beachsitter’ on hand and make some great, likeminded friends in the process!
 
www.SurfingMums.com

Wild Women on Top: Mums Kick!

Imagine leaving the kids at home for the weekend and taking off for a hike through lush valleys, glorious mountains and stunning, rocky gorges. Wild Women on Top (WWOT) specialize in taking women from all over the world, with all levels of fitness, on unforgettable journeys. From Macchu Pichu to Mr Kilimanjaro they’ve been there before and want to take women and moms alike on their next journey!

For the ladies behind WWOT, looking after Mom’s needs is their number one priority! WWOT are all about encouraging women to lead healthier, fitter, happier lives and enable them to share the happiness with the people closest; their families! After all, when you feel unfit and stressed with life’s demands it’s hard to be your fabulous cheery self all the time!

WWOT teaches women about nutrition, health and fitness, so once the climb is over you can go home and continue down your healthy, happy path!

Managing Director Di Westaway says, “Wild Women on Top is fantastic for women, because it empowers them to step out of their comfort zones and do things they've never done before! And, by getting really fit for adventure, our teams of women end up doing extra ordinary things! Some of them even want to climb Mt Everest!"

Planning an adventure with WWOT could be a great way to get fit once again before or after pregnancy. Setting fitness goals and time lines for achieving them gives you something to work hard for.  Taking a great adventure is a sure fire way to get you moving once again. After all WWOT all started with a Mum's Kick program and now offer Adventure Fitness Training in Australia, too.

www.wildwomenontop.com

Adventurous Moms on ExplorerGirls.com

If you’re a Mom or Mom-to-be and want to meet up, chat and get active with other likeminded women, check out the possibilites on ExplorerGirls.com!

Why not start a forum thread to find other SurfingMums in your area or women who have participated in WWOT events who are willing to share their experiences.

You can also set up a live chat to discuss Mommy issues and plan adventurous activities and form support groups in your own neighbourhood.

www.ExplorerGirls.com / Courtney Crow, Gemma Considine

Photos: SurfingMums.com and WildWomenonTop.com