mums around the world: kelly müller

As part of our Mum Around the World series we ask mums living in different parts of the world about themselves, their little ones and their location. We loved hearing from Kelly Müller, mum, and fashion, beauty & lifestyle brand consultant. She shares a bit about what it’s like living and raising a family in Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia.

I am a proud and obsessed mama to 16-month-old Sunny Marlow Müller…

I had been waiting for her for a long time before I fell pregnant. Prior to Sunny, I worked as the Marketing Director for an online retailer and I thought I would be able to manage a realistic work/life balance. But once she was here, I knew I couldn’t go back in the same capacity that I had been working before. I couldn’t imagine leaving her for hours on end or working those long hours whilst staying motivated as both an employee and a mother. I started consulting when Sunny was four months old and I work across fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands including P.E Nation, Zulu & Zephyr and The Vista. I worked from home, on my own, for the past year but have just hired my first staff member, moved from sole trader to a company and we’re in the process of confirming an office space.

Having my daughter made me see what I truly wanted from life – flexibility and freedom to do great things for brands I love, whilst being a hands-on mama to my child. Sunny goes to family daycare three days a week where she’s one of four kids. It’s just around the corner from our house and she loves the interaction. I work really hard so that we can live a life we could only have dreamt of before.

Josh, Sunny and I live in Bondi Beach in Sydney- we’re 5 minutes’ walk from the beach and our days generally start and end in the water…

My husband and I are originally from New Zealand and the majority of our family lives in the beautiful Bay of Plenty. We love New Zealand and we miss home, but the lifestyle we have here is pretty special - it’s basically summer for nine months of the year. 

My mother in law once told me ‘everything is temporary’…

That really resonated with me. It’s a reminder that the tough times will pass but you should also soak in the good times because the time really does go so fast. 

This parenting gig is such a personal journey and we all do what works for us best. I think everyone needs to find his or her own groove, so I try not to offer advice unless specifically asked. However, the one thing I learnt in my first year of parenthood is that your attitude is your strongest asset. Go for a walk, get some fresh air, and try to see the good in every situation. Positivity and gratitude can move mountains.

Sleep deprivation is tough. Like, really tough…

I have experienced times of complete and utter despair, desperation and helplessness in Sunny’s 16 months earthside, as she has continually challenged us with her own version of what sleep should look like. When she was 10 months old, Josh and I were running on empty so we changed the way we approached things and her sleep improved – only to go backwards once she started teething again. What we learnt, is that parenthood is constantly evolving. Things are hard, then they’re easy, and then they’re hard again. It’s more challenging than anything I have experienced in my lifetime, because as a first time parent, you really are doing things for the first time. Rather than becoming fixated on the tough times, we have tried to see the light at the end of the tunnel and trust that it won’t last for too long – plus, the smiles, cuddles and milestones ensure any challenges are fast forgotten.

Thank goodness for technology is all I can say!

Several of my friends had babies around the same time as me - sadly, we all live in different parts of Australia or in different countries. Karla, Jade, Chloe and Jamee have been constant comrades for me and while we all approach parenthood differently, they have never faltered to offer me support or comfort when I needed it most.

It’s tough being away from our family and our closest friends…

And a couple of times a year Bondi Beach is unbearably busy, but we’ve made it our home and we love living here. We think the lifestyle is amazing for Sunny. The weather enables a lot of outdoor time, whether that’s the beach or Centennial Park or just in a bucket on our balcony. We have an abundance of fresh food on our doorstep and everything is convenient.

I don’t know if ‘balance’ really exists, I see it more as prioritization, looking after your health and wellbeing is a choice…

There’s never enough time in the day to do everything life demands of you, but it’s up to you to work out what’s most important. I go to the gym twice a week and I try to eat well – because I need all the energy I can get to be the best mum I can be.

We start the day with a bike ride and a swim and usually end it in the ocean at North Bondi – and if we’re lucky a glass of rose watching the sunset. Bondi is a pretty busy little beach town but it’s fast become home. We have a vast range of cafes within walking distance, a lot of our friends live here and we have the most beautiful beach on our doorstep. Centennial Park and the harbour beaches are also all only 5-10 minutes away so there’s plenty to see and do.

It’s a team effort. Josh and I are constantly singing, dancing or doing stupid things to make Sunny laugh…

She’s a sassy little character so says and does things that have us laughing out loud daily. We’re also all for getting messy – I am a clean freak but that doesn’t stop us traipsing sand or dirt all through the house. We encourage Sunny to explore and to get her hands dirty - if you’re not having fun then what’s the point, right?

For the first year of Sunny’s life, we used to spend Saturday mornings snuggled in bed together…

I documented it on social media via the hashtag #saturdayswithsunny – and then she got way too wriggly and distracted for cuddles! Instead, we now start our weekends with a bike ride and a swim, and more often than not, an acai bowl by the beach. 

Such a lovely little family, thank you so much for sharing with us Kelly! Enjoy that Bondi Beach sunshine xx Nb