I’m a Swazi-born South African living in Wellington New Zealand. I write about my life, being a mom, an expat and a woman in the world today.
I’m passionate about living authentically, being resilient in the face of adversity and fighting against the expectation to be a certain way just to fit in.
About Tyranny of Pink
This blog is about my journey into motherhood, surviving a traumatic near death birthing experience and our decision to move as a family of three to New Zealand and start a new life.
We packed our bags and moved to a brand new city that we had never visited and didn’t know anyone in. Right now, we are still figuring it all out. Within three months of arriving in Wellington, I’d found my dream job and we knew that there was no going back.
Proud and passionate about our South African heritage, this adventure was never about escaping the current political climate. After waking up from a coma, surviving two stints in ICU and six life saving surgeries in the space of a year, the time just felt right to pack up and chase the dream; a new adventure for our family.
Follow along on our journey and our experiences as a family in this new country and my personal navigation through being a woman and mother in the world today!
New here and not sure where to start? Try these articles:
6 Things I wish I’d known before moving to New Zealand!
5 Questions to ask yourself before giving up everything and moving to a new city
Coping with Grief and the sh*t people say
To the women who don’t want children
Destigmatising the Colostomy bag – It’s not just for old people
Some facts about me 🙂
- I live in Wellington, New Zealand and I am a Community Safety Coordinator!
- I love road trips – I will literally get in a car and drive to anywhere with or without a plan for once we get there! Once I went on a road trip that somehow ended up with me going to South America! True story!
- I am absolutely obsessed with home decor. Like weirdly so… I LOVE Industrial style houses and would live in a loft in a heart beat!
- I grew up riding horses and I’m really good at riding like a cowboy (farm style).
- I’ve always had a million dogs. We had eight at one point while growing up (I lived on a farm and wish I could have that many here but city life says NO). We are serious animal people though – I have four pets now. Two dogs – Jessie (Bubby) and Jax (Jaxson) and two cats – Miley (schminkles) and Mr Charles (Charlie)
- I struggle with anxiety and depression – I get awful panic attacks but I know how to push through them so I don’t let them stop me from achieving things I want to achieve. Yay life experience!
- I have quite a lot of tattoos – people are always surprised about how much of my body is covered! I guess I don’t look like someone who gets tattoos?
- I have degrees in Politics, Anthropology, Diversity Studies and Social Development.
- I’ve always worked in the Non Profit sector. – My childhood dream was to work for the UN.
- Having another child is too risky so we are a one child family and we are okay with that! So please don’t ask me when I’m having my next child!
- My grandparents raised me for a decade of my life. I was so spoiled – I literally had TWO bedrooms!
- I love being by the ocean but I don’t like the beach.
- I love wine – so much! You already knew this though didn’t you?!
- I took a gap year after my dad died – it was something we’d talked about me doing and as soon as I finished my first honours degree I went off on my own across the world. – I loved it! I travelled four continents!
- I’m afraid of spiders but my mom found me eating one as a baby (thanks mom!)
- I don’t believe in having regrets but all the regrets I have about my life are about not spending more time with the people I’ve lost.
- I don’t feel pressurised to be like everyone else. This is pretty cool – but when I was younger I always felt like an outcast. Now I embrace being unconventional.
- My favourite bands are still the same bands from when I was 13 (Guns & Roses and Bon Jovi Forever!!)
- I’ve sky dived and been paragliding but I would NEVER bungee jump. It’s so not for me. I’m terrified of heights!
- My sons second name is Christopher. He’s named after my grandfather and my father <3
You can email me at jonelle [at] tyrannyofpink.com
