Me...Mum of the Year?!

On Sunday 1st March 2015 I stood on a stage at The Savoy in London and accepted an award for Tesco Supportive Mum of the Year 2015.

I was in a room of people celebrating women who have achieved great things, causes they are truly passionate about and it was a great place for me to be reiterating that children of soldiers don't always have it easy and there must be a support community for them.

I felt so honored to have people listen to the story of how My Daddy is a Soldier Adventures came  about and to see my Little Trooper, Madison on a big screen telling everyone how it has helped her made everything worth it.

"Children are so resilient though"

So many say this to me, they are little people with feelings and emotions and sometimes we need to be their holding hand and help them process those feelings when they are scared, frightened, worried or just missing their soldier and if I can be that holding hand and can ease that separation period with My Daddy is a Soldier Adventures then we are achieving what I want.

A visit to 10 Downing Street the day after the awards was also a fantastic opportunity, we met Nicky Morgan Secretary of State for Education. I wanted to speak with her about the Service pupil premium that schools receive as I feel passionately that schools need guidance on that...will keep you posted!

Tesco Mum of the Year has been amazing, new friends met and so many memories made but as always this isn't about me it is about raising awareness of the challenges British Army families face on a daily basis and highlighting why this support is needed.

Many tears were shed on Sunday at the awards ceremony and so many mummy's in one place all proving that women with a passion can achieve anything.

Thanks Tesco, its been a blast!

Louise xxx

p.s Blue was a bit of a highlight too!!

Tesco Mum of the Year 2015

"Hi Louise, you've been nominated for Tesco Mum of the Year"

 

A bizarre phone call I took on a dark winter afternoon, what a lovely thing to be nominated for I thought. I did some research and saw that in its 10th year Tesco Mum of the Year was a great initiative celebrating women who are mum's but also doing some amazing things.

 

Being a mummy is something I truly love, my Little Trooper who is now 11 is something I am very proud to have created! to think someone out there thought I was worthy of Tesco Mum of the Year was overwhelming but there were thousands of entries and 28 shortlisted so I was sure I wouldn't win.

 

Just before Christmas I got a call to say I had won! I was Supportive Mum of the Year,  I was one of a lucky 7 women to have been chosen as winners for 2015 Tesco Mum of the Year! Blimey.....

 

I went up to London in early January for a photo shoot for Tesco Living magazine and met all the other winners, I was in great company, inspiring stories from women across the country all fulfilling their passion for various reasons often related to personal circumstance.



Enjoying some bubbles with some other winners after the photo shoot

 

When we experience things in life we often as humans want to stop others from experiencing the same hurt, discomfort, pain and it makes us try to create a barrier for others, this is definitely where My Daddy is a Soldier Adventures was born from.

 

Read all about the other winners and their stories here; 2015 Tesco Mum of the Year Winners

 

The 2015 winners

I'm humbled to be a part of something so special it really is a lovely team and its like a huge, warm hug of encouragement for what you are trying to achieve, I feel really lucky and definitely can't wait for the awards on 1st March at The Savoy in London!

 

Most of all I am so pleased the cause My Daddy is a Soldier Adventures and the Little Troopers is being talked about and raised as something important and worthy, children of British Army soldiers need support, they need a network and resources that enable them to deal with the unique daily challenges a military family can face and as lovely as it is to win awards such as this my main objective as always is to make sure the Little Troopers are continually supported.

 

Will update post the awards! Louise xxxx