#mumchat - mum of 2 toddlers Safa Alkubaisi shares her world

NAME: Safa Alkubaisi

AGE: 33

NATIONALITY: Iraqi ( grew up in Australia)

LOCATION: Stockholm/Dubai

NUMBER OF YEARS BEING A MUM: 4

TELL US ABOUT YOUR KIDS:

I’ve got two adorable toddlers 14 months apart, my son Noah, who’s four, is my little daredevil who’s convinced gravity doesn’t apply to him. He’s also my mini comedian, always ready with a cheeky comeback and constantly keeping us laughing. He’s a little jiu-jitsu champion in the making and an excellent negotiator. Somehow, he always manages to ask for treats or TV time at the exact moment we’re too busy to say no. The timing is impressive and I have to admire the strategy, honestly.

My daughter Naya is two years and seven months and she’s my independent princess who of course can do everything herself and needs no mama. She loves showing off her dance moves and insists we spin her around while she performs. She’s also just started jiu-jitsu and is already showing signs of being a future champion too. I’m constantly impressed by her organisation skills because she refuses to move on to the next thing until she’s done, she definitely didn’t inherit that from me, and I could probably learn a thing or two from her.

They’re wild, hilarious, stubborn, sweet, and the kindest little souls. They drive me mad and melt my heart daily, sometimes all at once, and I honestly couldn’t imagine my life without them.

INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @so.nourished

SHORT SUMMARY ABOUT YOU SO WE CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU. 

I’m the co-founder of So Nourished, a brand born from my love of creating wholesome, feel good food for the whole family. We focus on reimagining everyday meals with simple, nourishing ingredients especially for picky and neurodivergent eaters who need a little extra creativity (and a lot of patience!) at mealtimes.

I come from a business background with a Bachelor of Commerce and Marketing, but my real passion has always been in the kitchen experimenting, re-creating my kids’ favourite foods, and usually cracking a few jokes along the way.

I’m a proud mum of two little ones, they are my biggest achievement and constant inspiration and, occasionally, the reason I reheat my coffee three times before finishing it. They’ve taught me to laugh through the chaos, find beauty in the mess, and see nourishment not just as food, but as love, laughter, and connection.

1. What’s one thing you wish you’d known before becoming a parent?

I wish I’d known that I would never stop worrying about them, no matter how big or small they are. But I also wish I’d known how important it is to let them explore, climb, and be adventurous, even if it makes my heart skip a beat. I’ve learned that those moments of letting them slide down the big slide, ride their scooter down a slanted footpath, or try something new, are what shape their confidence, their courage, and their sense of independence.

Now, instead of letting my fear of them getting hurt hold them back, I try to step back, breathe, and watch them learn, grow, and challenge themselves. And while I still hold my breath a little, seeing them succeed, even in small ways reminds me that these are the moments that build them into brave, capable humans.

2. What’s something you swore you’d never do as a parent—but do now?

I swore my kids would never be the ones watching screens and eating at restaurants. Fast forward, and here I am: one running away while I chase them around the restaurant, the other climbing or trying to stand on the table, and yep… happy to say I now have two iPads. Because let’s be real, I didn’t come out to eat to stress myself out. Now I whip those bad boys out whenever I need to so the kids, myself, and everyone else around us can actually enjoy the meal.

3. What was the BEST piece of parenting advice you’ve received?

 To embrace the chaos! One day, the toys scattered across the floor will be gone, their little drawings on the walls will become cherished memories, and those middle of the night wake ups will remind me how deeply I mattered in those moments. One day “Mummy” turns into “Mum,” and you realise the chaos was actually the magic all along, time moves so quickly, I know now I will look back one day and the house will be clean and quiet and i will miss every moment of the chaos, every giggle, every handprint, and how little they once were.

4. Share with us your biggest “parenting fail” – we promise no judgement here!

Looking back, my biggest parenting fail was not knowing much about baby-led weaning and nutrition when my firstborn was starting solids. I relied heavily on packaged puree foods, thinking that was the best way to make sure he ate nutritious meals, but in reality, I wasn’t exposing him to enough variety. He often wouldn’t want to eat what I offered, and I found myself constantly distracting him to get him to eat, which usually ended with me giving up and offering the beige foods he would actually eat. At the same time, I was dealing with severe morning sickness while pregnant with my second, which made it even harder to focus on introducing new foods.

 The result was that he became a very picky eater and developed serious digestive issues. He was constantly constipated, and every bathroom visit was a struggle, which made me feel like I had somehow failed him. I wish I had known then what I know now about gut health, nutrition, and the importance of variety.

But that experience became the foundation for So Nourished. It pushed me to learn, experiment, and create nutritious, gut-friendly meals that even picky eaters enjoy. Most importantly, it taught me that even in moments that feel like failure, there is a way to turn them into something positive. Because of my mistakes, I now have the knowledge and experience to do this not just for my own child, but for all the kids who need help getting the nutrition their body needs.

5. How do you balance life?

Honestly, I used to think balance was about doing everything that needed to be done every day, and if I didn’t tick off a task, I’d feel like I hadn’t done enough. I don’t think that anymore. For me, balance is more about choosing what matters most in each moment. As a mum of two little ones and a founder, my days are full of chaos, coffee, and constant juggling. I try to focus on what really counts: spending quality time with my kids, making sure So Nourished stays true to my vision, and carving out little moments for myself, because the sink full of dishes can wait, I have to watch my episode of Love is Blind.

I’ve learned to let go of the idea that I need to be everywhere and do everything flawlessly. Sometimes that means letting the kids watch a bit of TV while I answer emails, and sometimes it means a later bedtime so I can enjoy a giggle filled moment with them. It’s messy, imperfect, and constantly shifting, but I’ve realised that’s actually what balance looks like: being present, making intentional choices, and finding joy in the chaos.

6. One parenting hack you’d like to share with us.

My biggest hack is choose your battles. Every time my kids do something that could make my blood boil, I ask myself: is this really worth it? Do I want this moment to be something they remember as fun, or as me getting upset?  For example, one time my son grabbed the kitchen paper towels and started running away with them, unrolling them all over the floor. Instead of being a party pooper, I chose to turn it into a game, I chased him around, wrapped the paper towels around him and myself, and we became mummies. My moment of annoyance turned into a memory we both now laugh about, because he thought it was hilarious. It hit me then that kitchen towels can always be replaced, but this memory can’t. So now, my hack is simple: actively choose whether a moment is worth the battle and more often than not, it’s not.

7. What do you hope your kids say about you when they’re older?

I hope my kids say that our mum never gave up. That no matter what season she was in or what the circumstances were, she always showed up. She did it tired, she did it burnt out, and even when she had every reason not to, she kept going. We were her reason to push through, and we inspired her to be better every single day. And when we face our own challenges, we’ll remember how she inspired us the way we inspired her, to keep going, to believe in ourselves, and to build the life we want. I hope they say, “If mum did it, then I can too.

8. 3 words that describe #MumLife to you

CHAOS, CUDDLES, MAGICAL