When you read this
I will be at The Mother and Baby Awards
Dressed in my Starlight dress
For Baby Tilda
Beside my husband
My children in my heart
I will have just accepted an award
For being Britain’s Bravest Mum
My beautiful friend Heather nominated me
And the judges made their choice
I was so touched and proud that Heather had nominated
That she or anyone else thinks I deserved consideration for such an award
I was worried about accepting it
I talked to my family
My closest friends
My husband
A heart wrenching, soul searching day
Ended with a sign from a pink and purple sky
And I knew then what I needed to do
Tonight I stood up on a stage in front of 600 people
And I accepted an award
Not just for me, for Tilda
But for every mother who has lived longer than her child
For every mother who has lost
I do not think that I am any braver than any other mother
Living after loss
I do not think I am braver than any other mother
Being a mother is a tough tough job
It pulls at your heart strings
Such decisions are made each and every day
Such responsibility
For tiny little precious lives
Everyone is brave every single day
What does it mean to be brave?
Doing something that terrifies knowing it is the best thing to do
Stepping out of your comfort zone
Getting through whatever life throws at you and admitting how tough that can be
Using adversity to create something amazing, facing the world and making a difference in whatever way
Holding your head high & carrying on for someone else when you are breaking inside
Not letting life destroy you but using it’s experiences to help and share
Pushing your own boundaries
Saying or doing the right thing even if it goes against the norm and/or brings consequences
Doing new things with a smile and pushing on through fear
Exposing yourself to failure
Resiliency, sometimes we experience things we would never volunteer for but because we are brave we keep stepping out and expose ourselves even more because of it rather than hiding away
Facing something that you can barely think about because it hurts so much with dignity and love. That’s bravery!
So many people are brave in their daily life
In the roles they perform each and every day
Mothers
Fathers
Sisters
Brothers
Families
Friends
Doctors
Nurses
Fire Fighters
Teachers
People have to be brave to live
It is not always easy but people do
People live after the loss of a child
People live after the loss of a parent
A partner
People battle sickness and disease
People brave disability
People fight for what they believe
People fight to save lives
Find preventions, find cures
People support others when their own hearts are breaking
Put themselves at risk to save strangers lives
We are all brave
I am privileged to know some truly brave people
People who have survived more than most can imagine
Have lived their own horror and helped me through mine
They know who they are
Tonight I have accepted an award for Britain’s Bravest Mum
And if you are a mummy
And especially a mummy who has lost
A mummy living without a part of themselves
I accepted the award for you
Because you are awesome
And wonderfully brave
Because you are wonderful you x
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
― John Wayne
Well done Jennie. You did it. For Tilda and for all the other mums who brave each day without their angels. So proud of you
xxxxxxxxxxxx
You may not think you’re the bravest but you’re the bravest I know which is why you were nominated. So incredibly proud of you. You really are beautiful inside and out, just like Tilda. You represent all the brave mums so wonderfully so you are the perfect choice xx
Well done Jennie for standing up and accepting that award for yourself and for other parents and what a lovely, sad but inspiring post xx
Jennie, this made me cry, you are so brave and yet such a crutch to others my lovely. Tilda is here making a difference everyday xxxx you deserve that award for making a difference to so many others x
Well done lovely.
xxx
You are the bravest person I know and you inspire everyone else around you, even when you are breaking inside. Look at all you have achieved in this your toughest and most heart-breaking nine months, you should feel as proud of yourself as all those around you feel of you. Sending a big hug and congratulatory kiss xxx
Well deserved Jennie. You are battling through every mothers worst nightmare and you will continue to do so. You may not have chosen your path, but you have undoubtedly shown bravery and so much more in the face of it xxx
Congratulations.. This is the most deserved award of the night.. Xxx
Well done!. You continue to be an inspiration to others. xx
So proud of you x Beautiful post x Lots of brave mummies out there but you are the bravest I know! An inspiration as ever x Glad David was by your side x x
You deserve this. Even if it was just for writing what you have written here you would deserve it – beautiful, moving, and so wonderful to help so many others x
This beautiful post alone deserves another award (Coco&Co’s single category awards “Most gracious award acceptance” 2013 maybe?!). So proud of you!!! And of Tilda x x x xx x
I agree! Fabulous post!
This award was so deserved. Your posts tug at my heart strings every time I read them. My heart aches for your loss but I’m also so deeply inspired by how you take each day that comes. You tackle it head on, even when your hurting inside, you get through it. Your truly amazing and I so SO happy that you got this award! xxx
Beautiful words from a beautiful person inside and out.
So proud of you Jennie.
You are brave, and although I wish you had not won this award, it is much deserved.
You will look back at this, and one day you will see just how amazing and brave you are.
xxxxxxx
Perfect xxxxxx
Well done Jennie, you are an inspiration x
Congratulations Jennie…..so well deserved! I’m really pleased that you’ve received this recognition although the word ‘brave’ doesn’t seem big enough to me. You may never really know the full positive impact you and beautiful Tilda have made on so many lives, including mine. As I write this I am taking a short break from painting pink and purple salt dough stars to go on our Christmas tree. My girls and I will be finishing them together tomorrow. It may seem a small thing but your messy play ideas and so many other inspirations have enhanced our lives in so many wonderful ways. Thank you and well done xxx
Beautiful words Jennie, you are a inspiration to so many.
I have followed your journey. Some of your posts have bought me to tears, some have made me smile as they are filled with joyful memories but behind these posts you have wrote so bravely, sharing with the world how you feel.
You are amazing and this award is so deserved.
Helen x
I wish you did not have to be awarded for being brave and I wish that gorgeous girl was still here. But many would have crumbled, not raised awareness and thousands of pounds in the aftermath. I think that is very brave. You are being brave with such dignity and grace. Well done xxxx
You are brave and beautiful My respect and admiration for you is enormous, you deserve all the awards though I know they won’t rest your heart. Sending love to you x 🙂
Brave and beautiful and so wise. Love, Dxx
You may not feel brave,
You may not feel strong
You are just trying to carry on
But by carrying on
Every day
You are getting stronger
Because you ARE brave
Lots of love and kisses
Oh wow, Jennie what a beautiful post, you and all the Mummy’s and Daddy’s who have lost should all deserve this award, but I am so glad was you as you do so much to raise awareness xx
Well done! Nobody can truly comprehend what you have gone through and you are so brave! Tilda will be watching over you with pride x
Such a lovely post, Jennie. Well done…you are one special person 🙂
Such a well-deserved award! With the tragic loss of Tilda you have shown such courage in sharing the reality of life after her loss, you shine a light and find ways to inspire people every day.
Tonight I am with everyone else. You really do deserve this award brave lady and I know you accept it with a broken heavy heart but you make us all proud. You do this for Matilda Mae and that is why we stand together and salute you Jennie xx
fabulous you. im sure you did your little girl so proud. Love that last image of her, havent seen that one before. blessings xx
A stunning post from an amazing lady. Thoroughly well-deserved, well done – Tilda has made such a difference to so many people’s lives, and so have you xx
Wow, well done to your friend Heather for nominating you.
Sending love and well done for accepting such an award.
Jennie you touch so many people, you are a light to parents everywhere.
Your beautiful girl was so loved by you, you can see how happy she was in all of your photographs you share, your a beautiful Mummy to 3 beautiful lovely children.
well done jennie for standing up getting your award xx
You are so worthy of this. Not only did you allow yourself to grieve (which not everyone does) but you put Tilda’s name in starlights with your charitable efforts. I went to the wake of my friend’s adult son on Saturday; they don’t know why he died as they were out of town. It may take up to 6 weeks to get the autopsy results. No mother should have to go through this. xxx
Congratulations Jennie…you deserve this and are an inspiration to others! Xx
Fabulous Post, your words Touch my
Heart!
This the most beautiful piece of writing I’ve ever read, congratulations on your award. I am in awe of brave women like yourself who are mammies to beautiful angels. Be proud of yourself, xxxxx
Congrats Jennie, u deserve it!….and as always ur blog has made me cry!! Love Tamara.xx
Jennie, you are not only brave because of the courageous and dignified way that you have coped with the loss of Tilda. It’s also that by raising money and awareness you are sharing the pain of baby loss and breaking down the taboo of talking about it xx
So deserved – well done. You not only display enormous courage but you help us all to find that extra bit of courage we need to face our challenges. Thank you
CONGRATULATIONS! Nobody deserves it more than you Jennie. *big hugs* xxx
Oh so very well deserved x