Well I did it.
I went to Brit Mums Live and faced 500 people, most of whom I had not seen since the day that Tilda died.
Many of whom I had never seen before at all.
A few who are fast becoming the friends I will hang on to with hands and heart for the rest of my life.
Going to Brit Mums without Matilda Mae was not an easy thing to do.
And I am so grateful to the people who helped me get there.
Ensured I stayed
And held my hand along the way.
And all the tears and all the cuddles
Proved to be exactly what I needed.
At times I was desperately sad
Just once I had to run out of a room
Mostly I realised that these beautiful, wonderful people
Have taken me and my blog baby to their hearts
And I am not just that lady whose baby died.
Thank you x
It was such a pleasure to meet you at last. For me you are my ultimate inspiration xx
Jennie, I’m so glad it went well. We have indeed all taken your blog baby into our hearts. Even those us of that don’t know you would give anything to be able to help.
You did it indeed. It was an honour to meet you Jenny, and to hug you and share a tear for Matilda Mae.
Much love
H
So lovely to give you a hug, so glad I spotted you xx
Jennie, I looked for you at the event to say hello but I never found you and I’m sorry about that. I’m so pleased to hear that the event turned out to be what you needed.
was lovely to meet you Jennie. xx
You are never ‘just’ anything. You r amazing, a wonderful friend xxxxx
You did it indeed. Was amazing to finally meet you and I am proud to have you as my friend.
oh Jennie, I’m so glad you went and it was ok, and I am so very sorry that I didn’t manage to find you. Lots of love, Emma xxxxxx
It was lovely to be able to give you a hug. You were so brave and did so, so well.
Thank you for what you said. It has been on my mind for a very long time.
Much love Jennie xx
You are a mother to three beautiful children – and you are Jennie, the bright, witty, intelligent, caring, gentle woman who is a friend, a sibling, a daughter, a wife, an educator, a woman with passions and interests and love and drive and so, so much to give to the world.
Being a mother to three children is a part of who you are – but it doesn’t define you.
So losing Tilda won’t define you or become you either. Many people know you and your story because losing Tilda is so big and the reach of her small life has spread so far and touched so many. She is in the hearts and thoughts of thousands of people in thousands of homes every day – as are you. You are her Mummy. Many people know you because of Tilda. Many people found you through Tilda.
But you are still Jennie. And that’s ok. You can be all the other things that you are, every second, and it will never, could never, ever, mean that Tilda and the twins are not your world – but you are still Jennie.
I am glad that I met you, and I hope that we meet again, often, and as well as sharing hugs and tears we can share passion and learning and laughter. You are a wonderful woman.
You did a brave thing coming this weekend and I am so glad you had a good time and met some of the incredible friends who have been supporting you. I am so glad I got to meet you just after Katie Pipers talk, I know you had run out and I wanted to just come and give you a hug- I am sorry if it was a bit too long, I just didn’t want to let you go.
I think you are a beautiful (inside and out) inspiring woman. I have always loved your blog and your writing, and it was one of the first I ever read. Your passion for helping children learn and also the love for your children has always stood out for me. Xx
I’m so glad it went well Jennie and was what you needed and wanted it to be. I would have loved to have been there to meet you – maybe next year 🙂 You will never be ‘just’ anything xx
No you are not! You are Jennie; Jennie the mother, Jennie the wife, Jennie whose baby died, Jennie who was a cracking teacher, Jennie who does good play prompts, Jennie who is a stunner in her sequin top from Next, Jennie who is a friend, Jennie who is Jennie.
I’m glad you had a good time, and I’m glad you cried. And I know that sounds weird, but as I said to you last night, I think this is just what you needed to do.
I am so glad you came, and stayed. It was amazing to meet, and hug, such an amazing, inspirational and strong lady.
I’m so pleased it went well Jennie, I would have loved to have been there to meet you. Perhaps next year.
I’m so glad you went – it has been lovely to meet you. And you are just as I expected, funny and clever and warm. And you are baby Tilda’s Mummy – you will always be the lady who is that xx
Jennie, you were amazing and I’m so glad you went. It was great to see you. I wholeheartedly agree with everything said above, you are SO much more. Glad it has been good for you. Xx
It was lovely to meet you at last! You are definitely not just the lady whose baby died, noway. You are so so much more than that. You are a fantastic lady for many many reasons!
Jennie it was so very lovely to meet you. You are not “just” anything. You are so much more than words can describe. Next time I hope we get to talk more.
Everywhere I went this weekend, I heard people talking about how nice, friendly and lovely you were and how keen those who hadn’t met you were to meet you. I’m only sorry we didn’t get more time to chat. x
Dear Jennie
It was lovely to meet you briefly and I am so pleased you attended. You are an amazing woman and inspiration to so many and should be so proud of yourself.
Love
Natalie x
You can never be just that, Jennie. You can never be just anything in fact. I only wish I’d been able to spend more time with you but I always knew that Sue would be by your side helping you through it. The time I did get with you I will always hold close to my heart and I didn’t want to say goodbye at the station on Saturday evening. You will always be Jennie to me – an amazing mother and a wonderful friend xx
Of course you are not just the lady whose baby died Jennie. You are a remarkable woman anyway! I’m so sad I decided not to come this year, was thinking of you lots though x well done for going, and staying, and being amazing! xxx
I’m glad you had the courage to go, I bet it was very emotional for you x
You never were, and never will be “just the lady whose baby died”. You are so much more to so many people – not least your other children and husband.
Sorry I wasn’t there to meet you, but I hope we meet soon.
L
So very happy I got to see you albeit for a moment only and so glad it was a positive experience for you. I know it must have been difficult but you were surrounded by love and people concerned that you were ok, big hugs to you and very well done
I spotted you many times over the weekend before we finally said spoke…. and almost always you were smiling and it was so heart warming to see.
The community has taken you and Tilda to their hearts because you have opened your heart to them – in darkest times and in your journey forward.
Yours is a wonderful smile, from someone who deserves to smile again.
Am so pleased you were there Jennie, it wouldn’t have been the same without you.
Brave, brave you. I’m so glad you came along. It was a pleasure and an honour meeting you Jennie and my Little Man definitely reserved his best smiles of the day for you 🙂 x
((hugs)) And to me, you are also Jennie who likes to wear Seasalt almost as much as I do xx
You are brave, beautiful, amazing, talented Jennie. I am so privileged to have met you, and to have cried alongside you.
You are mummy to Tilda, forever. And still Mummy to your beautiful twins too. And we are always here when you need us, for a hug, a tissue, a reassuring hand in yours.
So glad you got so much from Britmums.
I’m so glad to have had the chance to meet you, to hug you, to tell you how sorry I am for the loss of your beautiful baby girl. Sorry that I couldn’t hold back the tears though. It was great to swap toddler “challenges” experiences with you though too and I look forward to more meet-ups and chatting in the future 🙂 xxx