Mum's The Word! The Parenting Podcast - BELLE LUCIA: How I Got Out Of A Domestic Abuse Relationship

Episode Date: February 24, 2025

In this powerful and personal episode of Mum’s The Word, Kelsey Parker welcomes model and mum Belle Lucia for a candid conversation you won’t want to miss.Belle opens up about her harrowing experience escaping a domestic violence relationship and the resilience it took to rebuild her life.She also shares what it was really like to move to the UK while pregnant—navigating a new country, new healthcare system, and new chapter of motherhood.Plus, Belle explains why she’s determined to break the taboo around extended breastfeeding and how she hopes to inspire other mums to embrace what feels right for them.A Create Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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And if you're not getting rewards like extra data and dollars off with your mobile plan, you're not with Fizz. Switch today. Conditions apply, details at fizz.ca. Plan. You're not with Fizz. Switch today. Conditions apply. Details at fizz.ca. Welcome back to Mum's The Word. I'm your host, Kelsey Parker. Today, I'm joined by Belle Lucia. She's a successful model, devoted mother of two, influential social media star, and a thriving business owner.

Known for her natural beauty and authentic presence, Belle has built a global following by sharing glimpses into her lifestyle, her motherhood journey, and her entrepreneurial ventures, that was easy for me to say. Balancing family life with her career and business pursuits, she continues to inspire her audience with her elegance, resilience and empowering content. We chat about raising children in a different country. So moving and renovations with your

children? Wouldn't recommend. Why breastfeeding over a certain age is seen as a taboo? If they can walk and talk, they don't need to be breastfed, I think. I think maybe that's where the judgment comes from, I'm not really sure. And what it's like going through a domestic violence case. You don't wanna share anything because if people find out, they're gonna get angry.

So go grab a cuppa, get comfy, and let's jump into a brand new episode of Mum's the Word. Cuppa cuppa, get comfy and let's jump into a brand new episode of Mum's the Word. Right guys, Belle is so nervous to be here, aren't you? I am, yeah. I am! She's like, I am! Don't be! I'm shaking. Oh, don't shake! This is a chat. Mum on Mum. That's true.

Chatting, that is it. So, tell me about you. I was going to say introduce yourself for everyone, all the listeners out there, but just do it for me. Okay, well, I'm a mum. Yes. Probably the biggest thing about me. Yeah, but I think when you become a mum, then you sort of feel like that is your identity of I'm a mum. It is my identity. I feel like it is your identity of that is I'm a mum. It is my identity I feel like it is me. It's me I am a mum. Yeah. And you're an influencer. Yes I am. With a very big following. Yeah I guess so. I guess so. No yeah. You have got a massive following and you've got two little babies. Yeah. One not so little baby anymore. Yeah not so little, yeah, five. And you've got two children.

Yeah, five and one. And do you just love being a mum? I do, I really do. And so you're originally from? Australia. So what made you move over here? The baby, my son. Yeah, just falling pregnant with him.

And then it was just the best option because my partner's British. That's what I was gonna ask. Your partner's British. Yeah, so for him to work and continue. So he lived in Australia then? No, we were doing long distance. Oh, how did you meet?

Am I allowed to ask that? Yeah, you know, I think he'd kill me if I told you because he's just as nervous as me. Really? Yeah. So you met? You met? We met in the UK, like when I was working in the UK.

Okay. And then we did long distance when I moved to LA. How was that? Yeah, it was really good. It was fine. It was, it sort of like speeds up your relationship a bit. Yeah, because you sort of like know everything about each other because you literally can

only speak. Yeah, you can only talk on the phone. Did you just FaceTime each other or was it phone calls? What was it? Tell me. More phone calls, FaceTime. He did come and visit me in LA when I was living there and then... So what was you...

Was you modeling out in LA? Yeah, yeah. I was modeling and then I moved back to Australia modeling as well. And then he came and visited me a few times and our relationship just grew. And then you fell pregnant and you were like, right, let's move to the UK. But how did that feel for you? It was a pretty, I mean, falling pregnant for the first time is, it's a bit of a shock. And then moving literally. Yeah, and then moving across the other side of the world. Yeah I didn't really think much about it I think yeah yeah I just did it I

didn't think I really didn't put much thought into it really I packed like one suitcase and I was like see you mum yeah bye everyone. But yeah, it was quite a hard time because my nan was dying of cancer at the time and I was very, very close with her. She pretty much raised me. So yeah, it was a really hard time, like emotionally for me. And then being pregnant on top, I don't know about you, but my hormones are like crazy when I'm pregnant. Yeah. I just think that's every woman out there. Maybe not even pregnant. Hopefully. It's like my hormones!

That's true, just blame it on the hormones. Oh but it is though isn't it? I just don't think men will ever understand. They won't. No, no. Of how you feel even at the time of the mum, flight. Yeah, yeah. Well, I'm quite lucky I haven't had my period back yet so I don't know, lucky or unlucky, but it's been quite a while.

Well, we're gonna talk about this later, but are you still breastfeeding? I am, but I did get my period back before, like at this stage with my son, and now I haven't got it back yet. And I'm like, oh, something wrong. But I went to the doctors and she's like, you're just exhausted.

It's like nervous. And I'm like, yeah, I know. You don't need to tell me I already know that. I know that I just exhausted. It's like nervous. And I'm like, yeah, I know. You don't need to tell me. I already know that. I know that I'm exhausted. Yeah. She's like, yeah, you're exhausted and you're feeding her way too much. I'm like, yeah, I know.

I just don't know how to say no. And she asked for milk now, so I'm bad at saying no in general, so I can't say no to her. Well, I feel like we're on the topic of breastfeeding. So let's talk about breastfeeding and your breastfeeding journey. So you've spent five years breastfeeding two children. Yeah, I haven't breastfed him for five years, but accumulatively, it's been about five years.

So when did you stop feeding him? Close to three. So just under five years, yeah. So did you stop breastfeeding him and then had... And then I was pregnant, then I felt pregnant so I wasn't feeding whilst pregnant. Because my friend Rosie... Yeah people do. She won't mind me talking about this, she'll actually love life. Tommy, her boy, is actually worse for the boob than the baby.

Oh no. And it's a little girl. Oh no. Delilah is like, she's not really bothered. She loves her food now. Like she sits there, she eats her food. And he's still going. So she obviously still wants to breastfeed her

and puts her on the boob. And then he's like that. And then he gets on the boob. But. Do they have a much closer gap? What's she? She's two What's she, two years maybe? Yeah, because maybe because he's at that toddler stage. But also I think it's a boy.

I think it's a boy thing that's like, I still want the milk. I don't know, I think my girl is a bit more booby mad than, I can't remember. Yeah, you do forget. I can't remember what he was like at this age, but she's... But if you met my friend Rosie, she's like mother earth. No. So like I have a performing arts school, she'll be there on a Saturday and like I think she forgets

the other like there's a whole taboo about breastfeeding. Yeah. She literally just whacks it out. Whacks at the top. Oh I love that. I'm like there's other parents here that might be a bit... But we shouldn't be like that should we? No. I think breastfeeding your child... It's normal it's just the same as bottle feeding it's no difference it's you're just feeding. I do think it's the best thing that you can give your child and I understand that some people can't breastfeed but for me I breastfed both of mine and I am not an organized person. Oh I'm not either. So breastfeeding was best for me because I didn't have to plan, get a bottle sterilized. Yeah.

Then you have to think about what have I got a pack in the bag? Yeah, like sterilizing bottles. That's really hard. And then just getting up in the night, like making the bottles. Yeah. Oh my goodness. How do people do it? That was just like why I...

Because that would make me even more tired. Whereas I just And then you'd fall asleep. Yeah, I got like two hours later. They're still on the boat. Yeah I know they're like that next to sleep. No, I'm like you too cuz I I'm so unorganized I think I look organized, but I'm really not yeah No, I actually think you look a really unorganized person. Okay, that's good Colors yeah, I like a really unorganized person. Okay, that's good. No, I'm joking, I'm joking. I know what you think though. I'm showing my true colors, yeah. Oh, I am so unorganized. Yeah.

My friends were even asking me last night, they were like, so do people tell you what you're doing every day? Or do you have a calendar? How do you do it? I'm like, it's all up here. Yeah. I actually have got a really good memory.

Yeah. But mine's just actually the organization of 15. That's good you feel like you've got a good memory though. I feel like I don't. Baby brain is a thing isn't it? Yeah, baby brain. I'm like, sometimes I'm like, oh my goodness, am I... Who am I? Am I developing dementia early? What is going on with my brain? Yeah.

But I think it's the lack of sleep. It is actually a thing. It's the lack of sleep. Yeah. And it's hormones again. Hormones. That makes like when you were younger and your mum got all like the names wrong you're like how can she not get my name right? Especially for me I was like I'm the only girl like how did she not get my name right? I can completely get it now.

Yeah. It's just being a mum. When you see them. I hope other mums can relate. Other mums definitely can relate. They'd rather be meshing in like, yeah, I feel you, girl. Why do you think people feel the need to judge or comment on parents' choice of breastfeeding?

Oh, um... Like, actually, beyond a certain age. I guess you've not really gone, how old was you when you actually stopped breastfeeding your son? Me or my son? Yeah. I know, how about... My son. My son was about... How old was she when you stopped breastfeeding?

I don't remember my age. Where's your mum? Where did my mum... Oh, okay. Um, no, um, he was close to three. Yeah, I think the longer you can do it, like... Yeah, and there is definitely a lot of judgement. There's so much judgement. Yeah, definitely. I think people think, oh, they're old enough. They just think if they can walk and talk, they don't need to be breastfed, I think. I think maybe that's where the judgment comes from. I'm not really sure.

We are, we're judged though, whatever we do. That is true. If you don't breastfeed, feed your judge. If you breastfeed your judge, if you do it past the age of a year. If you don't do it. If you don't breastfeed, you're judged. If you breastfeed, you're judged. If you do it past the age of a year. If you don't do it. If you don't do it. Like literally there's judgment on whatever,

especially for us because we are there and we're putting ourselves out there for people to judge us. But the science actually behind the breastfeeding, which I think is pure magic, is that your body, so say if the baby's ill, your body will then produce what you... Yeah, the antibodies to the illness.

To protect your child. Yeah. Like, it's very interesting. It's incredible. And it hasn't been studied that much. No. Like, I feel like a lot of women's health isn't studied in general, but breastfeeding as well hasn't been studied, as well as just the women's body hasn't been studied like menopause like many doctors don't know

that much about menopause which is a bit of a shame. People don't get me started on that path and that road. Okay sorry. I will be down there. It's a whole other ball game. I will be down there like I am just I just saw so much about breastfeeding as well. So I think we have been all led down a garden path. But for me, the breastfeeding was just so easy.

Not to start with, and that's why I always say to people that it will be the hardest thing you do, but once you establish the breastfeeding. It was harder than labor for me. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it was so painful. With my second, the uterus contracting. Oh yeah, me too.

I've never felt pain like it. That was intense. That was actually worse than the labor. That was intense, wasn't it? I was like, why do you just keep going? Sorry. He's just like, this is the one, the uterus contracting. It was the worst pain I've ever felt.

He'll have an appreciation for like women in his life after this. Yeah, they go through so much. We really do. We do. We really do. Like, even if you've not had a baby, just periods are just hard to deal with.

Some people really suffer, everything. Yeah. Yeah, we need to give each other grace. Women, I feel like, I feel like women need to realize we're like, we're all on each other's team. Like whether you do things differently, everyone does. But like we're all women, we all need to, you know, hold hands. We're all on each other's team. We're all in it together. Well, what did I say to you at the beginning of this podcast before we went live? A little less judgment, a little more kindness. And that's even true yourself.

Yeah. I think especially we are putting ourselves out there for people to make judgment and then we then end up judging ourselves. Why do we judge ourselves though? I think you just have to be happy with everything you're doing. Yeah, and to realize life is so short to not not get into the nitty-gritty of tiny details

of things like why are people arguing about people who breastfeed and people who don't. At the end of the day, life is so short and so precious. And however you want to feed your kid. Yeah, it's not like on your deathbed you're going to be thinking, oh, I didn't do this or I did this. Yeah. No one thinks about that really. It's just about the connections you have

with people in life. But people do make judgment, don't they? Yeah, they do. Like even saying with my friend, like knowing her, like in people that were in, say the shopping center, looking at her, they're like, oh my goodness, she's got two children on her boobs, on her breasts.

I kind of love that. I love that. But that's her and that's what she wants to do. So there is no judgment, is there? Yeah. Like that's what she feels best and she wants to do that for her children. Yeah, and she's not hurting anyone. She's not hurting anyone.

No, it's not affecting anyone. I mean, good luck to her. I don't know how she's gonna win Tommy off the boob. Tommy the Tick. I know. Tommy the bobe. Tommy the tick. Do you have an insatiable fascination with the paranormal? Brace yourself for the supernatural world is about to reveal all of its secrets on the Paranormal Activity podcast. And who better to guide you through this hair-raising

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Details at fizz.ca. So moving and renovations with your children. Wouldn't recommend. Oh! Wouldn't recommend. Not fun. So you've had four homes in five years? Yeah. How?

What? Tell me. And all renovations. Well, so you've moved in and been like... Renovated. So you've just picked some... Sold, renovated, sold, renovated, sold. Okay.

Yeah. You've picked a shithole and then moved into it. Yeah. Literally, like, the... It's really hard to describe the state of these houses when we buy them that like horrific Horrific like some of them. I Don't even are they livable?

Some of the toy, yes Which is really sad because I don't know how people were living in them Because the state of them was just so bad like I don't know how people live there Yeah, yeah bad. Like I don't know how people live there. Yeah. Yeah. Like one was like, we called it, like my partner and I would joke saying the bird house because they had just like pigeons all throughout the house and like bird poo everywhere and someone was living there. I don't know how. But whose heart is it to be like, I want to do this and put our children through.

I know. Is it you, is it your husband? It's a collaboration. It's us together. Yeah, we're like a team. And I mean, I'm getting to the point where I'm like, I don't think I can do this anymore. But we are a team with it. And you know, it's been really hard, but it's been like, I'm glad we've done that.

I'm glad we've gotten here. Yeah, it's like the before and afters. Yeah, yeah. And it has been fun. It has been fun picking like when you get to that stage like picking the tiles colors That is a really fun stage and it's really fun to do Yeah, yeah, it's it's the living in the renovation site the the death trap because not that safe renovation site, the death trap, because not that safe. You've literally done four homes? Yeah, yeah. So we're living in, the one we're in now

was pretty much almost finished, so it's had a really nice day. And then what, you're gonna move again? Well, Alex and I have discussed that we're gonna stay in this one a little bit longer. We're gonna enjoy it, which is nice. So we actually get to enjoy this one for a year. For a year?

However long. Is that what you're allowing yourself? I think so, I think so, year. For a year? However long. Is that what you're allowing yourself? I think so. I think so. Yeah. About a year and a bit. And then what's the dream to have like, by the end of it, a big house and build your own house? What's the goal? What's the dream? What's the vision? I think long term we want, I think we're going to get out the UK long term. Where are you gonna go? Cause my family's all in Australia. I think somewhere closer to Australia, maybe the Middle East, maybe Dubai

is a really nice option for us. Oh, I do love Dubai. Alex works in China a lot as well. So it's just a little bit closer. Like he was there last week and it's just like 17 hour flight to China is not doable from the UK. Yeah, it's quite far. But yeah, so we haven't thought that somewhere closer to Australia. So Alex just has a normal job. Alex has, I couldn't say it's normal. I wouldn't say it's normal. He has a business in China and we have the developing in the UK.

Yeah. So, yeah, he does a bit of everything. But how does he feel about you doing Instagram? Because I guess when he met you, he did it already. Yeah, I was modeling full time and he's always been supportive, always. And he doesn't mind appearing on your Instagram? Oh no, he's really shy. Really?

Yeah, he's really shy. He would be so nervous to speak here. My partner is the same. Really? Yeah. How funny. He doesn't have, when I met him he's got no social media, he has nothing. Yeah, no that's like Alex.

He doesn't want to be in mine, I'm like can we do some pictures together? Yeah, and what does he say? Even when we're on holiday I'm like, you know you've not taken one picture with me this whole holiday. He hates pictures. Yeah, no that's exactly like Alex. He like, we'll take pictures of the kids and like it really thinks happening. He's there. Yeah pictures Yeah, he just doesn't want to take a picture of me. Yeah, you did think about it and then started taking pictures of me Oh, do you not actually want to have a picture of me this holiday?

Like do you like me and also annoy him like let's take a picture Yeah, he's like no well, I think literally when he met me it was his worst nightmare He was like, what do you do? I'm like, yeah, I'm an influencer. I do this, I do that. He's like, oh, no. At least he's stepping out of his comfort zone. He's having to step out of his comfort zone.

He's really having to put his big boy pants on and step up. Because obviously, it's two worlds that are meeting. And I guess that's the same for Alex Alex that he has to appear on the Gram. He doesn't really have to though. Make him. I do make him sometimes, occasionally. I'm like, oh please, it's nice. So like he will sometimes agree to appear, to make an appearance. And to grace us.

But he doesn't like it. Does he not? No, no, he's really shy. Yeah, it's just his personality. Yeah. So you don't show the kids faces on Instagram? No, I don't. I don't.

What made you decide that? Well, a few reasons. One being I was in a pretty bad relationship, a bad relationship previously, like one of my first relationships. And it just scared me like what someone can do to someone. And having children, like they're like your heart outside your body, you know. It's like, yeah, your world.

So it's like, I don't want that person to have any access to these people that I care about, like more than me. Like I don't care what people say about me, but not to them. And then also being on social media, having a following, I've seen how cruel people can be. And you know what, it just gives me so much peace not having them on there because I know people say things and I don't care what, yeah, well, I don't care what they say about me, but not about them. Yeah, not about them. And it just gives

me so much peace knowing, thinking about them growing up and yeah, that they, they don't know who these people look like. They don't know their names. They don't even know their birthdays. So it's sort of like something just for me in a world of social media where I feel like so much of yourself is online. Yeah, I just like to protect them. I'm very protective of them. Each to their own.

And with me, like my little girl absolutely loves it.'s been on my videos. Yeah, she is born to perform People say to me. Oh like and why isn't Bodhi in that video? Why isn't Bodhi there? It's like Bodhi hates it and doesn't want to do it. Yeah, I'm not gonna make Yeah, he doesn't want to do yeah If he wants to do it, you'll see him in a picture and you'll see him in a video Yeah, yeah doesn't he's to do it, you'll see him in a picture and you'll see him in a video. Yeah. But if he doesn't, he's not doing it. Do you ever have people saying negative things about your kids? Do you know what?

I am so lucky that my Instagram is actually pretty full of love. Oh, that's good. That's good. Everyone sort of is behind me. I think more my judgment is relationships and how I'm dealing with grief. Never my children. I think people are very, like they're always happy to see the kids. But what I get a lot of is everyone always says how much my kids look like Tom. And I'm like, they are my children as well. Like I get it. But I'm a bit like, can someone

just say one of them looks a little bit like me? Or is like me? Because it's like, whatever they do, it's like, they're like Tom, they're like Tom, and I'm like, I get it. Yeah. But I am still here. Yeah. People always say that, like, when my son was born, they're like, did you have anything to do with this in the making? I'm like, oh. Yes, I did. I literally just birthed you. Yeah. Just had him. Just had like a three day labor and then like for you to say that, yeah. So I feel like people say that they just, I think they think it's what we want to hear. I don't know. I think people, I think people had such connection with Tom that they feel that they want to talk about Tom.

So you touched on the domestic violence that you suffered. Yeah, yeah. So for those that don't know, your previous relationship, it was a domestic violence relationship. Do you want to say anything more about that? Yeah, it was quite a long time ago now. This is previous, before kids. Yeah, before kids, before I was a mum, so different but I was like a little baby really when it happened. Like I think back now and I'm like I can't believe that

happened to me really. I was so vulnerable, like so young and yeah really taken advantage of by this person. It was a three-year relationship, I'm one of my first relationships as well Yeah, I didn't have much experience in a relationship previously. I'm guessing you're thinking is this normal. Yeah. Yeah thinking is this normal Yeah, cuz you don't know you don't have anything You sharing what was happening with anyone else? I wasn't no I wasn't how people discovered I was at uni at the time and I would come in with bruises and then they actually sent me to hospital one time and that sort of got the ball rolling on getting him prosecuted. So he did get prosecuted for it? He did, yes. He was found, well he pleaded guilty.

That's why it's so weird, I feel like I'm speaking about it and it didn't happen to me because it was I feel so different from this person. I think there's also a lot of guilt that I let that happen to me as well. But I think when you're younger, I think some men, I mean, and women, they are so good at manipulating. Oh, very, yeah.

And you think you're of right mind and you think this stuff's not gonna happen to you and you'll never be in that circumstance. But even with friends, I've been there and been like, Yeah. Like, why? Yeah. Why? Yeah, that is true, you know,

cause I had a friend who went through a domestic violence relationship and she was like this strongest girl, like the last girl I would think that would go, that would. It would happen to her. Yeah, that would happen to her. And it did happen to her. And it's crazy how it happened.

It is crazy how it happens. But I guess when you're in it. Oh, when you're in it, it's just. You can't get away from it. It's very, very difficult to leave a domestic violent relationship like I did try to leave we had Many I don't know what you call them in the in the UK like Orders from the court that you can't that person can't see you what?

Like an injunction yeah Person so he wasn't allowed me. Yeah, we had like there were three of those in my case, but I still kept seeing him because that's how like manipulative that person is. You just keep going back and you think it's the right thing to do because they think or they tell you like, oh, you won't be able to live without me. And you believe it. They were in your head. Yeah.

Yeah. And they control so much of your life. It's scary. And you never, like what you're saying, it's like a different person. Yeah. And you're like how? Yeah, yes, you're so controlled and your self-esteem is wilted. You have no self-esteem because they just break you apart and they make you feel like you can't move on without me. Like you'll never get a job without me. Like you'll never, you won't be able to do this without me, that without me, like nothing,

like one you won't even be able to live without me because I will take that from you. It's scary. It's scary. And what did your mom say? It was complicated because my mom and dad were going through a divorce at the time. So they were

their mind was dealing with. Yeah, they were they were yeah doing what they had to do and I didn't share too much. I didn't share too much with anyone because I was scared and I think that's quite common. You don't want to share anything because if people find out they're going to get angry the person doing that to you is gonna get angry and yeah It's quite scary the way you think like when you're in a relationship like that you thinking of like survival You're not thinking I need to get this person in jail. You don't think that you're just thinking I need to survive because like they're hurting you and The way they're hurting you can and does kill a lot of people, women especially.

Yeah. It's just so heartbreaking and that you were so young as well. Yeah. I mean, at the time I didn't think I was young. I know, you're talking about... I know, at the time. But now looking back, I was so young, so young to be going through that. I'm really lucky I had some friends in university and the police, obviously, in Australia.

This happened in Australia, the police in Australia, the prosecutors, the police prosecutors as well that were amazing. But it's not like that for a lot of people. A lot of people, it's quite hard for for them to actually go to jail and get prosecuted or yeah they're quite light with them. But also that was your stand-up strong moment. Yeah. Like I'm not having it. A little bit, I was still a little bit like scared and I'm looking back yeah it was but at the time I didn't feel strong no at all but now you've got Yeah, I know it feels it feels like a different world really that that happened

But I it's good to shed light on because it does happen to so many people like I don't like to Stereotype, but it does happen to a lot of women but men as well, but a lot of women are in domestic Oh, I saw a program on Netflix a little bit, a lot of women are in domestic relationships. Oh, I saw a horrendous program on Netflix, I can't remember what it's called now, a guy that was suffering. Oh, by his wife. His wife.

Yeah, someone told me about that one. Yeah. Do you know what, I found it so hard to watch. Yeah. So hard. He got out, did he? Yeah, he did. Yeah.

But she just broke him down, and that's what they do, don't they, they just break you down, break you down, break down until you're nothing, can you feel? Did he have children as well? Yeah. So you wanted to stay for the kids. Yeah that's what they do. Don't they just break you down, break you down, break down until you're nothing. Can you feel- Did he have children as well? Yeah. So you wanted to stay for the kids. Yeah. I'm so thankful. Like I never had children. He had it all on camera. Oh wow. How did he have the camera? Because they had cameras obviously for the kids. Oh, interesting. Interesting. So he had the camera set up in the kids' playroom and then he called it all. Oh yeah. Like the nanny cams for the kids playroom and then he called it. Oh yeah, like the nanny cams for the kids.

Oh wow. Wow. Honestly, it was traumatic to even watch that, let alone what you've gone through. Wow. Is there anything else you wanna talk about? I'm like, what? I know, we're going in deep.

Yeah, deep, deep, deep. Well, I feel like we have covered everything. What else would you like to talk about? Just if you're in a, if you are in like a domestic violent relationship, like just to tell someone who's come out the other side that you can get out and you can have a normal life and meet a nice person that doesn't physically or if you're going through emotionally abuse you because that's not okay. It really isn't okay. And there is a light at the end of the tunnel and to tell someone.

Yeah, to tell someone in a safe way like just be careful because obviously when you are going through that it's so scary you feel like every move you make you might get like assaulted it's it's scary like everything you do is wrong really you can they can find fault in everything yeah it's really scary but yeah there is a way out there's a lot of hotlines as well where you can remain anonymous as well if you are scared to go to the police, you can go to the hospital and they will like record all your injuries. Um, and you don't have to take that further, but just so they have like in

case something else happens, it's good to. Yeah. And it's up to you if you want to take that further or not, like, but yeah, just knowing there are options and there are so many people that care for you and look after you and want you in a healthy relationship not to be in that abusive relationship. Well, you have been amazing for someone that was at the beginning of this conversation

so scared to talk and had all the anxieties. I still feel nervous. You were absolutely amazing and what you've been through and to have your platform and to have your social media following and to be breastfeeding children and sharing your story. Thank you so much for coming on to Mums The Word. Thank you for having me.

Thank you so much. That's a wrap on another episode of Mums the Word. Thank you so much for joining us today as we were joined by the amazing Belle Lucia. It was great hearing about her motherhood journey, raising children in a different country, moving house as a family and her breastfeeding journey. Don't forget to leave us a review. Follow us on socials at at mums the word underscore pod and subscribe to our YouTube channel just search mums the word. Remember to keep sending in your own parenting stories we can't wait to hear them until next time I'm Kelty Parker and this is mums the word and

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