My name is Julie Kitchen, and some people know me as The Queen of Muay Thai. I’m from Penzance, Cornwall, UK, and I’m a proud mother to twin girls, Amber and Allaya. They’ll be 26 this month, and it’s incredible how the years have flown by. Sometimes I look at them and it feels like just yesterday I was holding them as newborns, wondering what the future would hold for us.
When I found out I was pregnant at 21, I just knew in my heart I was ready. I had this strong maternal instinct guiding me. Being pregnant with twins was such a beautiful experience and I was truly blessed with an easy pregnancy. Though the girls were breech and I needed an emergency caesarean, I carried them full term. The day they were born changed my entire world.
No one can truly prepare you for motherhood. You might think you know what’s coming, but nothing really prepares you for the challenges and joy that come with raising a child, especially twins! One of my biggest challenges was the overwhelming tiredness. I was fortunate enough to breastfeed the girls for 3.5 months, but those sleepless nights were something else. I’ll forever be grateful for my parents’ support during that time. They were incredibly hands-on and always there when I needed them, helping me push through those early days.
After my maternity leave, I returned to work at a large hotel, working reception shifts that sometimes meant early starts or late finishes. Balancing work and motherhood wasn’t easy, but things improved when the company moved me to the wages office. This allowed me to reduce my hours and work more during the day, which made managing everything so much easier.
The joys of motherhood come in countless forms. Those little moments make your heart smile—the first giggle, the first smile, watching them crawl for the first time. The love you feel for your newborns is simply indescribable. It feels like it has always been there, just waiting to bloom. Life completely transforms when you become a mother, and I found such deep joy in caring for them, meeting their needs, and watching them grow into their own people.
Of course, it wasn’t always smooth sailing! As much as I loved being a mum, those quiet moments when they finally fell asleep at night were precious! That’s when I could rest and recharge. One of my favorite memories is how they always wanted to be next to each other as babies, constantly reaching out to touch one another. As they grew and started walking, their mischievous side emerged. I still smile thinking about them standing on each other’s backs, trying to reach the kitchen counter. Those moments are treasured memories in my heart, even though I didn’t have an iPhone to capture them back then.
To any new mums reading this, my advice comes from the heart: find your balance. Don’t let things pile up, but don’t beat yourself up if the dishes sit in the sink or the vacuum stays in the closet. Rest when your baby sleeps. Remember, asking for help isn’t a weakness—it’s a strength. Every mother needs support sometimes, and there’s no shame in that. Trust me, accepting help will only make you stronger.
Motherhood is an ever-changing journey. As your children grow, you adapt to each new stage. My protective instincts have never faded, and I’ll always want what’s best for my girls. While it’s not easy watching them make their own choices, I understand it’s crucial for developing their own character. Most importantly, they know they can always turn to me when they need help.
Looking back, being a young mum has worked out beautifully for me. It didn’t stop me from building a successful career, and I’ve always believed there’s never really a “perfect” time to have children—whether financially or otherwise. If you wait for everything to be perfectly aligned, you might never take that leap. For me, becoming a mother at a young age was just the beginning of an amazing journey, and every step has been worth it.
Motherhood is a constant learning experience, and it’s shaped me into who I am today. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
With love and strength,Julie Kitchen AKA: The Queen of Muay Thai @juliekitchenuk
@Julie, thank you for sharing your story that shows us real strength was never just built in the ring — it was built in the everyday, beautiful, exhausting act of raising two daughters with love.
