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Mums Net Blog Awards – FINALIST!!

ByLaura Dove

Some of you may remember a post I wrote a few weeks ago, where I shared the news that I had been short listed in the Mums Net Blog Awards for the category of Best Campaigner. I was genuinely shocked, and hugely flattered, that my name had been put forward for the award, let alone short listed, and had it ended there I would still have been over the moon with the honour.

I found it very difficult to campaign for votes, which is ironic given the nature of the award, and although I shared a post about it here, I felt very uncomfortable about it and would much rather someone voted for me because they felt I deserved it, as opposed to voting simply because I asked them to. And so for that reason I resigned myself to the fact that, although it was lovely to be short listed, this was as far as I was going to get.

So on Friday, when I opened up my emails to see “Congratulations – you’re a finalist in the #MNBlogAwards!”, I was in complete and utter shock! I sat there in my kitchen, crying at my laptop, the kids looking at me as though I had completely lost the plot, and I felt an over-whelming sense of achievement.  Not for me, nor for my blog, but for Joseph, a fitting tribute in what would have been his tenth year, and to a cause so dear to my heart, Baby Loss Awareness.

In that way, I have never been prouder.

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And I want to thank each and every one of you who voted for me, I can’t quite put into words how much it means to have your support. It has been an absolute honour to share the story of Joseph with you all, to write about the babies we never got the chance to meet, and to raise awareness of a subject that has affected not just our lives, but the lives of many.

I think, as with all parents who lose a baby, there will always be a small part of me that wonders could I have done more to save Joseph? Was there something I could have done differently? Could I have changed the outcome in some way? And there shall forever be the heavy weight of guilt that, for all I loved him, ultimately I let him down. And I know that should I allow myself to think too deeply about those questions, it would eat away at me inside, and for all of the “What ifs?” we live with daily, there is nothing I can do now to change the outcome. Through my blog, I have found a way to channel that grief, to rationalise with the guilt, and to tell myself that, although I cannot change our story, I can raise awareness of Baby Loss, in Josephs memory, in the hope that other families get the happy ending that eventually, we were lucky enough to find.

And so in honour of my beautiful boy, and all of the babies we met alone the way, this one is for you.

Thank you.

xxx

 

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96 Comments

  1. Im so sorry to hear of your loss Laura, what a lovely tribute to Joseph. Congratulations on being a finalist xx #KCACOLS

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  7. Absolutely brilliant news. Well done and
    Much deserved! Fingers crossed for you ❤️ #EatSleepBlogRT

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    1. Thank you so much Mac, I’m proud of me too…which is very rare indeed!! I genuinely don’t have a hope in Hell of winning, but the finals? Wow-ee!! xx

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    1. Thank you so much!! It’s such a positive thing to be sharing our story, it has really helped me to find a way to move forward. xxx

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  12. Laura I am so very happy for you! You absolutely deserve it and it’s a wonderful tribute to Joseph and your story. Congratulations!! #bigpinklink

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  13. Congratulations to you and to Joseph, you both deserve it. I’m looking forward to reading more of your posts, but especially to see how much fun you have at Blogfest #MMBC
    Lisa recently posted…My Doggy DoubtsMy Profile

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    1. Thank you Lisa. I’m so nervous about Blogfest, most of all the journey to London by myself, but I’m sure it will be fab! I’ll let you know! xx

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    1. Thank you so much. I hope that wherever he is, he knows that this was all for him. I’m such a proud mummy but right now I’m proud of me too! xx

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  16. Well I personally can’t think of anyone I’d be happier to see receive an award. You are absolutely wonderful and the way that you have kept your darling boy’s memory alive has touched me deeply in the time that I’ve known you. You’re a wonderful person, and a brilliant mother and utterly deserving of this. Thanks for joining us at the #bigpinklink
    Louise Pink Pear Bear recently posted…Big Pink Link 36My Profile

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    1. Ahh thank you so much Louise, that actually made me cry! God knows what’s wrong with me, I’m an emotional wreck! I’ve never really done anything I am proud of before, other than having the children, so it means a lot to me to have honoured Joseph like this, and to my family too. Thanks again, you’re so lovely. xxx

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    1. Thank you so much! I am super excited to meet you, although very nervous about the day itself! xx

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  19. That’s fabulous news and well deserved! There are so many bloggers and so many awards it’s hard to keep up and I’d feel awkward asking for people to vote for me too so the fact you’ve come so far shows how well thought of you are!! Thanks for joining us for #marvmondays
    Fran Back With a Bump recently posted…It’s Another Marvellous MondayMy Profile

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    1. Thank you so much. I just don’t have it in me to campaign for votes like that, although fair play to those who do, I find it so cringey and awkward so I genuinely thought I had got as far as I would get. I have no chance of winning it, I already know who my winner would be, but when I hear my name read out on stage that’s going to be a pretty huge moment for me, I’m so emotional for everything that it stands for. xxx

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    1. Thank you so much. I’m gutted you wont be there but I hope to meet you again soon at the next conference! xx

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  25. A huge congratulations to you Laura! So very well deserved.
    You have done your beautiful little boy proud. Everything crossed for you to win!
    Not long now! xx
    Jayne @ Sticky Mud and Belly Laughs recently posted…DIY Halloween Witch WreathMy Profile

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    1. Thank you Jayne. It means the world to me to have made him proud and I’m so looking forward to seeing you there! xx

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  39. I think those things all the time.
    Massive well done Laura, I am so pleased for you and it is such a wonderful thing in Josephs 10th yr…I bet he is looking down so proud of your strength and the love you give to others in their grief. We will never know why it was us but being acknowledged for keeping their memory alive is a truly wonderful gift x GOOD LUCK x

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    1. Thank you Mary. I think that’s why this meant so much to me, because it was all because of Joseph. I would love to think that had I not had him I would still have wanted to contribute to raising awareness of such a cause, and of some wonderful charities, but perhaps I would be blissfully unaware and happily going about my life with my two boys. Who knows, it’s just a lovely feeling to know that I have done him, and myself, proud. And for the record, you do your Poppy proud, always. xxx

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  41. Hi Laura, congratulations on becoming a finalist. Your blog and the way you write so openly about the loss of Joseph must be a comfort to other parents who have gone through the same. I see a woman who has suffered a painful loss but has not let it define her. You may hold your other children that much closer because of it, but that’s something we should probably all be doing regardless.

    Thank you for linking up with the #MMBC

    XX
    Debbie recently posted…Through My Lens #1 – ZakynthosMy Profile

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    1. Thank you Debs, that’s so lovely of you to say so. It’s such a positive for me to be able to help others in this way, I find it hugely therapeutic! xxx

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  42. Congratulations! Very well deserved and I know what you mean about asking for votes I would feel the same way too! Such a beautiful tribute to Joseph too
    Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday
    Tracey Bowden recently posted…My Iconic Film MomentsMy Profile

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    1. Thank you Tracey. I struggle to ask for a favour off anyone, even when I need the help, so asking for votes was impossible! xx

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