“There is no excuse for letting mums die as they give birth“ - Sarah Brown, Global Patron, White Ribbon Alliance
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Thoughts, articles and occasionally explainations
Decisions, decisions, decisons.....
Posted 27-Jan-2010 at 13:33 by TallPoppy
You know that whole thing about 'the greater good'? Doing things to benefit the majority rather than the few?
I don’t like that much.
I'd like it to be so everyone benefits, all the time.
This time, I think I’ve managed it.
SMNET as you know is growing very very very fast, daily. We are hitting 100,000 visits a month these days, are almost at 10,000 registered members and are averaging @1,500 regulars daily. And all in just over 2 years.
Two years ago I had decided to take time out from year 3, spend time with my new family, settle my new son with special needs and his teeny little brother, the boys were 5 and 8 when the 'stork' brought them to me, via a rather gorgeous stork too, named Rob.
To stop me missing midwifery for the year, we set this site up.
Sounds really simple when you say it like that.
'We set this site up.'
Well it was simple, we just did it.
And BOOM!
Then THIS happened!
The most marvellous, gorgeous thing, the community you are part of was born and grew and grew and grew.
So recently I have had to decide about the greater good. When I go back to Uni, we would quite possibly have to take SMNET down, it’s expensive to run, it’s massively time consuming and its tiring. I can’t do both. Simples. *Cue the meerkat*.
But what about my community? Where will they go? What will they do? Who will look after them?
Sell SMNET?
Cue loud cough that sounds like 'On your bike'.
Leave it up to ramble away and not meet its potential?
I feel another cough about bikes coming on.
Make it my full time job, don't go back and qualify?
I don’t feel like coughing about bikes. I feel like, who wouldn’t want a job where they can be creative, supportive, foster a big 'ol online love fest of likeminded people.... who can help make people’s dreams comes true?
That coughs gone.
Decision made. It took me 6 months to make it. Thinking of SMNET and the community was the easy bit, thinking of never catching another baby, supporting another woman in labour, sharing those special once in a lifetime moments. That’s the hard bit.
But I can’t do everything. I can make more of a difference in the profession by continuing with SMNET than I ever could by being one midwife in one unit.
The SMNET ethos is me. It’s how I think, its how I think women should be cared for, how babies should be fed, how midwives should treat students, how lecturers should interact, how students should treat one another. So even if I only influence the views of one of you, I’ve made a difference. I know the figures are a lot higher, I know from what I see on here and the PM's and emails I get that SMNET is reaching so many thousands of people, so I don’t think the profession will lose me (as someone recently told me, 'but you not practising as a midwife would be a loss to the profession', very sweet and very flattering ...). The profession won’t lose me it will gain thousands of midwives who think like me, who are born of OUR community, the one we love, the one we spend most of our days in, the one that if I didn’t do this – this wouldn’t be here in this way.
So the decision for the greater good, actually feels like it’s the decision for me too.
I’m going to stick with SMNET. With my community.
Neither I, nor SMNET are going anywhere.
In fact, you will be seeing a lot more from us both.
Recently, we had a conversation with a MAJOR corp. who likes what we do here; they wanted me to write them a campaign (all to be revealed soon). I did and they love it. Yesterday I spoke with a Uni lecturer who likes what we do and wants to get involved, I spoke to a Ward Sister who is on maternity leave and wants to help us with moving some important projects about student support along, I also spoke with students who need help and support. My days are full of good things.
I have a job where I can’t wait to get out of bed and get to work, to talk with all these fabulous people, to get projects moving, to do wonderful things to benefit SMNET and our members and most importantly to affect change for the better.
I’ve made the right decision.
A Uni lecturer recently, described me as a 'hybrid midwife/lawyer' due to my background in employment law, HR and midwifery.
She also said 'You are a force to be reckoned with and I think the future of midwifery looks good with women like you at the helm'.
Flattered, yes. Bashful, yes. Rising to the challenge? You betcha.
ALL ABOARD!
The Good Ship SMNET has left the port and Capn TP is here at your service.
I don’t like that much.
I'd like it to be so everyone benefits, all the time.
This time, I think I’ve managed it.
SMNET as you know is growing very very very fast, daily. We are hitting 100,000 visits a month these days, are almost at 10,000 registered members and are averaging @1,500 regulars daily. And all in just over 2 years.
Two years ago I had decided to take time out from year 3, spend time with my new family, settle my new son with special needs and his teeny little brother, the boys were 5 and 8 when the 'stork' brought them to me, via a rather gorgeous stork too, named Rob.
To stop me missing midwifery for the year, we set this site up.
Sounds really simple when you say it like that.
'We set this site up.'
Well it was simple, we just did it.
And BOOM!
Then THIS happened!
The most marvellous, gorgeous thing, the community you are part of was born and grew and grew and grew.
So recently I have had to decide about the greater good. When I go back to Uni, we would quite possibly have to take SMNET down, it’s expensive to run, it’s massively time consuming and its tiring. I can’t do both. Simples. *Cue the meerkat*.
But what about my community? Where will they go? What will they do? Who will look after them?
Sell SMNET?
Cue loud cough that sounds like 'On your bike'.
Leave it up to ramble away and not meet its potential?
I feel another cough about bikes coming on.
Make it my full time job, don't go back and qualify?
I don’t feel like coughing about bikes. I feel like, who wouldn’t want a job where they can be creative, supportive, foster a big 'ol online love fest of likeminded people.... who can help make people’s dreams comes true?
That coughs gone.
Decision made. It took me 6 months to make it. Thinking of SMNET and the community was the easy bit, thinking of never catching another baby, supporting another woman in labour, sharing those special once in a lifetime moments. That’s the hard bit.
But I can’t do everything. I can make more of a difference in the profession by continuing with SMNET than I ever could by being one midwife in one unit.
The SMNET ethos is me. It’s how I think, its how I think women should be cared for, how babies should be fed, how midwives should treat students, how lecturers should interact, how students should treat one another. So even if I only influence the views of one of you, I’ve made a difference. I know the figures are a lot higher, I know from what I see on here and the PM's and emails I get that SMNET is reaching so many thousands of people, so I don’t think the profession will lose me (as someone recently told me, 'but you not practising as a midwife would be a loss to the profession', very sweet and very flattering ...). The profession won’t lose me it will gain thousands of midwives who think like me, who are born of OUR community, the one we love, the one we spend most of our days in, the one that if I didn’t do this – this wouldn’t be here in this way.
So the decision for the greater good, actually feels like it’s the decision for me too.
I’m going to stick with SMNET. With my community.
Neither I, nor SMNET are going anywhere.
In fact, you will be seeing a lot more from us both.
Recently, we had a conversation with a MAJOR corp. who likes what we do here; they wanted me to write them a campaign (all to be revealed soon). I did and they love it. Yesterday I spoke with a Uni lecturer who likes what we do and wants to get involved, I spoke to a Ward Sister who is on maternity leave and wants to help us with moving some important projects about student support along, I also spoke with students who need help and support. My days are full of good things.
I have a job where I can’t wait to get out of bed and get to work, to talk with all these fabulous people, to get projects moving, to do wonderful things to benefit SMNET and our members and most importantly to affect change for the better.
I’ve made the right decision.
A Uni lecturer recently, described me as a 'hybrid midwife/lawyer' due to my background in employment law, HR and midwifery.
She also said 'You are a force to be reckoned with and I think the future of midwifery looks good with women like you at the helm'.
Flattered, yes. Bashful, yes. Rising to the challenge? You betcha.
ALL ABOARD!
The Good Ship SMNET has left the port and Capn TP is here at your service.
Total Comments 33
Comments
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OMG TallPoppy, i thought the end was in sight when i started reading...... But no. On behalf of me, Dharma from Wales I want to say a mahousive thankyou to you, Rob and the rest of the staff...... I feel like my life support machine would be turned off with out the fabulous SM.Net.
You are an amazing lady, and again i want to thank you for all your good work, and for very selflesly (sp?) "giving" up your career as a midwife, to help wannabe's like me fulfill my potential and become one of the next generation!
I luv ya, and am honoured to be a member of your amazing, loving, friendly and fun community!
TP you rock
xPosted 27-Jan-2010 at 13:55 by Dharma
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Wow! Thats is truely amazing!
I dont really know what to say but I guess a huge thank you and big portion of appreciation should come yours and Robs way!!!
Welldone and Thank You to you both, I know I certainly would not be where I am now without this site and I can almost guarantee it will be one of the driving forces that keeps me on track and fighting through over the next 3 years! x x xPosted 27-Jan-2010 at 14:58 by Chatty mummy -
Ahh TP, I remember you talking about this at the table at the Christmas party... I hope it feels like the right choice to you. I'm (as we all are, I'm sure!) THRILLED for all of us that you have made this decision, but I grieve for the individual amazing midwife you could have been.
Actually, you already *are* a midwife: you are supporting, educating, advocating for, and encouraging the thousands of us who use SMNet along the often-difficult and unpredictable journey from conception (that we might actually give this a shot), through our labours of access, applications and interviews, to the neonatal midwives that we become. You comfort and soothe those of us whose dreams are lost, either temporarily or permanently. And you work in a fabulously talented, multi-disciplinary team.
Three cheers for TallPoppy!!!!!
THANK YOU.Posted 27-Jan-2010 at 15:16 by Mumkey -
So do I when I've started reading first i though that this website is going to close... But thank goodness NO!!! I want to say big Thanks to you TallPoppy and Rab for everything what you have done for us, this website is fabulous it brings so much supports and hope i can't imagine my life being without SMNET again,Posted 27-Jan-2010 at 15:24 by Nataly
Updated 27-Jan-2010 at 19:27 by Nataly - I just want to re-iterate what everyone else has said, you guys do a fantastic job and you have all ready made way more of a difference to so many lives than you would as a midwife.
I definitely believe that you are a midwife, you are certainly 'with woman' (and some men) on this site and are definitely doing all the things a fantastic midwife does for her ladies.
Keep doing it TallPoppy! - You are ACE!!!Posted 27-Jan-2010 at 16:19 by pinkyminky -
Ship's crew reporting for duty! *Salutes Cap'n TP and first mate Rob*
I'm proud to be able to say that I'm not only part of this wonderful family, but lucky enough to be helping to keep the cogs turning.
SMnet truly is amazing - and TP, you may not be a qualified midwife, but what you and Rob have achieved makes leaps and bounds forward for midwifery - like you said, you can make a few ripples is the midwifery ocean by being a midwife, or you can make a tsunami with SMnet! I vote for the BIG WAVES!!!!
Love you tons!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxPosted 27-Jan-2010 at 18:57 by Mkunga -
OMG!!! I was worried when I first read this..... I love this site and everyone in it, especially you TP xxxxPosted 27-Jan-2010 at 19:48 by tcalamity -
I didnt know what support was till i found this sitePosted 27-Jan-2010 at 22:26 by Laurauk638 
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I'm not around here as much as I'd like to be any more, but I'm glad to hear that you've found the strength to make your difficult and altruistic decision and chosen to stay here making the midwifery world better for small poppies everywhere xxxPosted 28-Jan-2010 at 11:39 by Bunny -
I totally agree with all of the above comments, you should be inordinately proud of what you have achieved so far. I love this great ship called SMNET and all that sail in her. xx
Posted 28-Jan-2010 at 22:35 by Dream Catcher -
I'm so glad you managed to reach a decision, I know you were talking about the decision that you had to make at the Christmas party and I know that this is a decision that has not been an easy one for you to make. I totally agree with all that has been said above. OK, so you won't be a fully fledged qualified midwife but you (and Rob) through this site have helped bring all of us like minded people together, the site is growing daily and the best is still to come...you have done more for the future of midwifery than you will ever know. You are awesome xxxxxPosted 29-Jan-2010 at 09:34 by upsy daisy - Fantastic news! You do a fantastic job and its a great comfort to know that you'll be here for the long run. Well done, congrats and cant wait to see what the future holds.Posted 29-Jan-2010 at 14:42 by NCD
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All I can say is PHEW
For one scary minute then I thought SMNet was gone! I've nosed round other sites, gotten totally lost in their hard to follow structure, poor search engines and total lack of 'community' feeling. I visit here every day and would be ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ on my midwifery journey without it!
So Yay, yay and yay again!
XXXXPosted 29-Jan-2010 at 15:09 by Mumsy -
Tallpoppy well done on your decision, I feel from reading your post that it was a hard decision but one that you are happy with. I must say that I am delighted that you are going to remain at the helm of SMNET and also by the sounds of it you will be at the forefront of many campaigns to come.
I am only a recent member and I visit the site everyday - what you have achieved is nothing short of fabulous - I do not know of any other support site for any other profession that is as thorough or as friendly as SMNET - a real tribute to you and Rob. TP you have already taken time to PM me when I asked you for advice, you are a true inspiration and good luck in the future.Posted 29-Jan-2010 at 21:25 by yellowrose -
Thats fantastic news - as an SMNet addict I'd be lost without the fantastic work you and Rob do. I hope you don't missing "catching" too much. Heres to the future and all who sail in her ! (Another ship pun !).
Carol xPosted 30-Jan-2010 at 17:56 by CarCan -
Thank you so much for your wonderful words. Its reading things like this makes me realise Ive definatley made the right decision. So thank you all xxPosted 31-Jan-2010 at 12:46 by TallPoppy -
Oh my gosh, like everyone else when I first started reading I though oh no what am I gonna do without this site?!?!?! Nearly had a heart attack, dont scare me like that again hahah!
I just wanna thank you so much for setting up this site, its amazing and I really dont think that I would have got my offer without it. Its a great way to just absorb loads of helpful info for interviews etc while just browsing and reading stuff that youre interested in anyway!! I know so much stuff from this site, and honestly feel like when I start I will be sooooooo much more preapred that if I didnt have this site to go on. I'm still in sixth form and dont know anyone else applying for midwifery and although I annoy my friends and family by always going on about midwifery, its so nice to be able to talk to people who are the same as me!!!!
Its so helpful during applying like to know if your uni has started interviewing and what the interviews are like and that. I'm so pleased your not leaving, you do a great job!!! Thanks so much!!!!!!Posted 31-Jan-2010 at 12:58 by Strawberry -
I just want to say that your story is an inspiration. What you have achieved and all there is still to achieve. SMNet truly is a family community for help, support, advice and guidance. Not to mention the relationships that have been formed. I feel that 'when' I am a student, I will be here to offer advise, when I am qualified, I will be here to offer advise. Possibly be in a position to help you with projects, training days etc....Im onboard and will continue to provide and seek support. THANK YOU J. xxPosted 01-Feb-2010 at 09:38 by SilverFox -
Just wanted to say that I am so glad that SMNet is not closing, the help and support I have from here is amazing, I don't think I would have got this far without it. It must have been such a difficult decision for you to make but you have made it, not just thinking about yourself but thinking about the support that everyone gets from this site. I really admire what you have done and I will stick with this site for as long as I am able to. It has helped me through college, and if I get any offers I dont doubt for one minute that it will help me through uni. And when I am a qualified midwife (PMA!!) I will still be here hopefully helping to support people like all the others have helped me.
Thank you TP (and Rob), you are both wonderful, selfless people and here's to the future of SMNet xxxxxxxxx
Posted 01-Feb-2010 at 10:39 by Bubbles67 -
I just want to say a great big thankyou for sticking with SMnet
. Without you, Rob the other staff and the fab community you have built here I know that I wouldnt be still here trying for a third time to get on the Degree . You have got me through my unsuccessfuls and encouraged me to carry on , hopefully this time next year you'll be helping me prepare for uni. I know with your help it will be third time lucky especaily with the new interview help-yet another fab idea
to help us hopefuls.
Again thankyou so much.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxPosted 01-Feb-2010 at 12:19 by chul
Updated 01-Feb-2010 at 12:22 by chul (Hadn't finished.x)
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