Celestine Ndinda’s latest podcast episode has Kenyans talking after the content creator and her guest got candid about the sacrifices that come with marrying young and stepping into motherhood before fully exploring life on your own terms.
The episode featured a media personality widely known as Fashionable Mum, who is a stepmother of seven children.
The conversation shifted between health struggles, family, and the emotional weight of raising kids who were not biologically hers.
Fashionable Mum’s health battle
Fashionable Mum shared that her life changed dramatically around five years ago when she began experiencing a puzzling range of symptoms including persistent fatigue, joint pains, loss of appetite, and convulsions that would leave her with no memory of what had just happened.
In search of answers, she and her husband sought medical help across Dubai, South Africa, India, Thailand and London.
It was during a visit to London the previous year that doctors were finally able to identify what was wrong.
She described walking into her marriage in front of 380 guests, with only 21 people on her side of the aisle, and still choosing to embrace the full responsibility of raising a blended family of children aged between six and nine years old.
“For me, I had to do double of what other people are doing, even the real parents,” she said, acknowledging that the pressure of raising other people’s children while dealing with an undiagnosed illness took an enormous toll.
Celestine Ndinda on missing out after marrying young
Towards the end of the episode, Celestine reflected on her own experience, noting that marrying Njugush at a relatively young age meant she bypassed stages that many of her peers went through freely.
She was candid about the fact that she had not spent much time dating around or partying before settling down, and she acknowledged that this had consequences she still thinks about.
“I got married very young, well not very young, but I also wasn’t you,” she told her guest. “I have a stage. I have a stage and I can’t skip,” she said.
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The episode struck a chord with viewers who praised both women for their honesty.
@essiewamais wrote:
“Strength of a woman! Love her positivity towards life… You got this gal! 💪🏿 💪🏿”
@elizabethmuhuga added:
“The fashionable step mum. I love this lady 🤩. How she carries herself with grace even in difficult times. Felt sad when she came out with her diagnosis but in the same breath.”
