Nas Campanella is a journalist and vision impaired mum. Strangers said she shouldn't have kids.

Nas Campanella is the disability affairs reporter for Australian Broadcasting Corporation and mum to 17-month-old "ball of energy" toddler Lachlan.

After losing her sight as a baby, Nas who also has Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disorder which causes a lack of sensitivity in the fingertips, says that Lachlan already communicates differently with her.

"He's just started grabbing my hand and putting it on whatever he wants because he's starting to work out that I respond to him differently," she tells Mamamia.

"And then if he wants my attention, he knows he has to touch me or tap me so I feel like he's really picking up on that which is great!"

Coming from a big and loving Italian extended family, Nas says that it was meeting and falling in love with fellow journalist Thomas Oriti, that sparked the idea of wanting children of her own.

Listen to Nas Campanella on this week's This Glorious Mess. Post continues below. 

"When Tom and I met, we knew we would probably like to have kids," she tells Leigh and Tegan on this week's episode of This Glorius Mess.

"But before meeting him, I didn't think I would ever meet someone who would want to have kids with me. Tom changed all that."

Nas shares that Tom has been a fantastic partner and father from the start and that she has surprised herself as a confident mother.

"We shared the load in those early days, the night feeds and things, and it was good. 

"I initially thought I'd really struggle. Being unable to see and then needing to learn so many new things, but I actually surprised myself. I wouldn't say it has been easy, but I quickly took to motherhood and suddenly I was not as stressed by so many things. 

"Motherhood has definitely mellowed me - nothing matters as much anymore. It is me, Lachie and Tom in our own little world and if we're late somewhere, we're late. It doesn't get done today, it will get done the next day."

Now that Nas is a mum, she says she loves nothing more than simply watching Lachie grow and change each day. 

"He is the love of my life! I just love sitting and cuddling and having conversations about nothing. It is wonderful to be there as he learns new things. Yesterday, he put his shoes on himself and brushed his hair with my hairbrush, so it's made me realise he is watching me do things and then learning, which makes me smile. I love knowing he is becoming his own little person with a cheeky personality and that I get to witness that unfold."

With a busy and demanding job in journalism, Nas has help at home in the form of a doula and a teenage neighbour.

"We need to be out of the house by 7.30am most mornings, so we have a doula who has been with us since Lachie was three months old who comes to the house to support us and assist with swimming lessons. We also have help from a teenage boy who lives in our building and he walks with Lachlan and me to daycare. He pushes the pram and I grab his elbow and we go together.

"I think it is really important for Lachie to see both male and female support workers; to understand that men can be in care roles too. He's got a very hands-on dad in Tom who cooks and cleans and does lots of things, but it was also really important to me that he knows a mix of people that we pay to do the supporting caring roles. And it's nice for him to have a teenage role model!"

Aside from the assistance of support workers and helpful friends and neighbours, Nas says there are some other handy aids or 'hacks' she uses to help her with the day-to-day aspects of motherhood at home.

"Everything in our house makes a noise, so the books, toys, etc, and sometimes it's really annoying when they randomly start talking at 2am but mostly it's helpful. We've got floorboards in our apartment, which I didn't realise would become really useful once Lachie started moving because I can hear exactly where he is!

"All his shoes have velcro because they're a little easier for me to navigate with my dexterity issues and neurological conditions. We've got bibs that you pull over his head or that have velcro rather than little buttons. When he was really little, I was using magnetic onesies because I found it really hard to navigate press studs. Zippers on any piece of clothing are fantastic and I've also got talking thermometers and squeaky shoes. 

"When Lachie was really little and would sit or lay in one spot, I had textured play mats and change mats so I could hear where he was. I initially put bells on his onesies but that lasted for about five minutes as he figured out pretty quickly how to take them off! To be honest, he's so noisy that I kind of always know where he is, unless, of course, he's being cheeky and Tom will tell me he's standing in the corner smiling and playing a joke on me!"

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While Nas has navigated all the joys and challenges of motherhood with relative ease, she says that prior to becoming a mum, other people's reactions have occasionally been rude or ignorant.

"Years ago, I experienced people telling me I probably shouldn't have kids. And most of those people were strangers, usually at the bus stop or out and about, and it would unfold as we talked about their kids or grandkids. The fact they were strangers made it even worse because they didn't even know anything about me or my capabilities. 

"More recently it's been interesting as I'll be sitting at a cafe with Lachie and Tom having a coffee and then as we go to leave I'll stand up and unfold my cane in one hand, grab Lachie under my other arm, and my husband will tell me that people are just staring and a little gobsmacked. 

"I guess they are thinking, 'Wow we didn't realise that mother was blind!' Sometimes we hop off the bus and Tom is pushing the pram with me on his arm and people look at us like, 'My god, you guys are nuts!' 

"I think in some ways it's quite good that I can't see because I just can ignore all of that. But sometimes I can still feel it."

While strangers stare or make ignorant judgement calls, Nas says that most people are simply curious, generous or helpful.

"I don't know whether it's because I am in the spotlight now with my job, but I find people are just interested in knowing how I do things and are really welcoming and lovely.

"At our daycare centre for example. I've not had one bad experience, and I was a bit nervous at the start. All the parents are clearly talking to their children about the fact that I am blind because the children now come up to me and innocently ask, 'Are you blind?' while squeezing my hands. It's really quite beautiful. 

"I think just being out and about with Lachie and Tom and people seeing us doing our thing and interacting with us - that is great for everyone."

Listen to more of Nas Campanella on this week's episode of This Glorious Mess here and follow her on Instagram here.

Laura Jackel is Mamamia's Senior Lifestyle Family Writer. For links to her articles and to see photos of her outfits and kids, follow her on Instagram and TikTok.

Feature Image: Instagram @nascampanella