Mother of three Tina on motherhood, environmental awareness & living in nature

On her blog Titantinas Ideen and the Instagram account of the same name, Tina takes us into the beautiful Austrian nature and constantly inspires us with DIY and green living.

Tina is a mother of three children, an Instagrammer, an author, and has been blogging since 2009. Today she talks to us about her connection to children's books, her special love of nature, and, of course, her life as a mother.

You are a mother of three, what does being a mother mean to you?

To be there for my children in all situations of life, with all their ups and downs, and to accompany them.

Your children are 6 months, 2, and 9 years old. What challenges arise when children are different ages?

To give each child the undivided attention (I like to call this "quality time") they deserve. Jealousy is always a big issue, and of course, so are conflicts between parents.

What do you do after a busy day of being a mom?

I look forward to a quiet evening where I can do what brings me balance. This varies depending on my preferences and how I'm feeling that day: I love writing articles for my blog, being creative with a crochet hook or sewing machine, or simply doing nothing.

What do you like to do most with your children and why?

At the moment, we're doing relatively little in the way of long distances, as our youngest hates driving. We love being outdoors, either in our hillside garden or out on our balance bikes/bicycles. We also really enjoy going to the forest and vineyards; our activities vary depending on the season. In the summer, we cool off in the stream and always like to combine our outings with a drive in our old VW camper van, followed by a picnic in the countryside. Since my husband is an avid mushroom hunter, we spend a lot of time in the forest in the autumn, where we also like to make various nature-based DIY projects with the children. In the winter, we go tobogganing there, weather permitting.

You love nature. What does nature mean to you? And what role does it play in your life?

We are very fortunate to have nature right under our noses. As soon as you leave our front door, we find ourselves surrounded by greenery. Living in a big city with children has become unimaginable for me. They enjoy the peace and quiet here, experiencing the seasons and all the changes within them first hand. They are growing up very independently, playing in the garden and in the adjacent vineyards. They climb trees, know how to assess dangers, and know what they can handle. For me, nature is both a place of refuge and a habitat. The tranquility gives strength, and the constant change brings dynamism, which in turn inspires creativity.

What are your top 3 favorite places in nature and what do you like most about them?

1. Quite banal: my hanging chair under the large linden tree in the garden.

2. Nearby there is a lookout tower on the vineyards with great views and the best spots for a picnic.

3. Of course, a place by a lake is a must: the Ottenstein Reservoir definitely has a fjord character and has captivated me since childhood.

Is it important to you that your children spend a lot of time in nature?

Definitely. They grow up with it in a very relaxed way, because they are involved in gardening, if they want to, of course. They also often have days when they just want to play within their own four walls. By lending a hand together, they become more aware of nature and this teaches them to treat it with care. And it is fun and enjoyable to harvest the first fruits from the tree and the home-grown vegetables from the raised bed. They know that not all weeds are created equal. Those are the magpies that are currently making a mess of a blackbird's nest, and a buzzard is circling above us, having made its nest in the old pear tree over there.

Sustainability and environmental awareness are important to you – to what extent do you live this in your everyday life?

These topics accompany us through our daily lives. From my idea to reduce plastic to spontaneously picking up a new collaboration idea for the blog. We talk a lot about environmental issues and what's currently on our minds. I explain a lot and pique the children's curiosity to address certain topics and perhaps rethink them. And that happens almost naturally, because children are curious and constantly ask questions.

And how do you teach your children to live consciously?

I model it for them, integrating them into my activities individually, depending on their age. Everything is done in a playful way—that's my form of sustainability.

Dear Tina, thank you for this great interview and we look forward to more beautiful photos and inspiring DIYs from you!

Here you can find Tina’s blog and her Instagram account !