OH! Magazine - Australian Version May 2016 | Page 6

( OH WOW! )

MAKING THE MOST
OF A MID-WIFE CRISIS
In honour of Mother’s Day, share in Diane Westaway’s life-changing
experiences, that have since changed many more lives as a result.

I

can joke about it now, but back
then, it was no laughing matter.

Being a frumpy, frazzled, fed-up mum
fighting 40 was not what I’d signed up for.
I’d lost my sparkle. I’d lost me. I’d
nurtured everybody else and neglected
myself. But little did I know it was about
to get worse.
When my husband returned from a work
trip to find me curled up in the foetal
position, blinds drawn and cockroaches
crawling over last night’s dishes, he told
me to ‘snap out of it’. But I didn’t know
how.
Then, out of the blue, a friend’s personal
trainer invited me to join his group trek up
a high altitude mountain in Peru. The
thrill of adventure beyond the drudgery of
my white picket fence and my complete
lack of fitness motivation inspired me to
sign up.
A few days later the guilt kicked in and I
couldn’t believe what I’d done. Next came
the fear. Friends told me it was dangerous,
I was irresponsible, I was a bad mother. I
could die. What was I thinking to take
such risks?
Then I told my husband. We both knew I
needed a break. His sister would come
and help him with the kids. It would be
good for him to try being mum for a while,
to do the thinking for two little humans
24/7, and do time at the kitchen sink
between bottom wiping, counselling,
cooking, teaching and first aiding.

6

MAY 2016 ( OH! MAGAZINE )

Because it was me who needed some first
aid and if I didn’t get it, I’d probably end
up in intensive care. I had everything; I
was supposed to feel happy. But I didn’t.
What I needed was a change.
The prepa