A Mother’s Day Interview with Birgit Skarstein
Walking into Birgit Skarstein’s home feels like stepping into a warm, lively, gently organized chaos — the kind she herself describes as hectic and “a little magical.” Life has turned upside down in a matter of weeks: a new baby, a book launch, moving houses, traveling, and a whole new rhythm of everyday life. Still, she greets us with a serene energy and a bright smile.
“I’m doing really well. I’ve kind of made peace with the chaos. This is just what life looks like right now — and somehow, I feel this inner calm in the middle of all the newness,” she says.
That calm didn’t come automatically.
A New Chapter - And a New Identity
Birgit describes the time after giving birth as stepping into a completely new world.
“I didn’t really know what I was stepping into. He’s my first child, and when we left the hospital I thought: Will life ever be the same? And the answer is no. But it doesn’t feel sad — it feels right.”
She laughs as she admits she can barely remember life before Christer.
“It’s so strange. It truly feels like a new era. Everything revolves around diapers, baby spit up, sleep — or the lack of it. And at the same time, I’m just so happy.”
Three Things She Couldn’t Have Managed Without
With a life that never sits still, Birgit and her family have found a few baby products that have been absolutely essential in these first weeks.
1. Voksi Carry Me
“We had no idea how much we would end up traveling. That bag has saved us. We’ve brought it everywhere — as a bed, as a travel solution, as a safe base for the most precious thing we have: Christer.”
She explains that Carry Me hasn’t just been practical, but comforting:
“No matter where we’ve been, he recognizes the smell, the space, the feeling. That makes a huge difference when everything else around him is new.”
2. The Voksi sleeping bags
“The different thicknesses have been gold. Summer, autumn, winter — we just switch depending on the weather.”
Knowing he always had the right temperature gave her peace of mind:
“We’re outdoors a lot, and not having to wonder whether he’s too warm or too cold… it took so much weight off our shoulders.”
3. The Wool Sleeping Bag — AKA Voksi Babyfleece
“The fact that it’s long means he can grow into it. And he loves it.”
It’s been a lifesaver on cold mornings and slow stroller walks:
“There’s something about the quality — it breathes, it warms, it feels soft. He falls asleep the second he’s in it. That means more than you’d think.”
What Drives Her - Then and Now
As a former elite athlete, Birgit knows all about discipline and determination. Now, that same drive has found a new direction.
“I want to do the best for my child. The drive I used to have — to find solutions, to plan, to make things work — that’s shifted toward him.”
Still, she’s conscious of finding balance:
“It’s easy to want to fix everything immediately, but I try to wait until I actually know what the need is. And I listen to people with experience. It gives our little family a gentler start.”
Living With a Spinal Injury — And Choosing Safety
Sixteen years ago, a failed epidural left Birgit with a spinal cord injury — an experience that has shaped her approach to risk and safety.
“I know things can happen. That’s why I plan well — without walking around worrying. I choose a car seat with intention, I choose equipment that makes us feel safe. It’s not about fear. It’s about realism. And that’s why we chose BeSafe.”
For her, safety also includes everyday readiness:
“I need to know we can handle whatever situation arises. When you’re a parent, you want to do everything in your power — and then a little more.”
On Letting Go of Bitterness
In her book, Birgit writes about refusing to hold on to resentment after the mistake that caused her injury. When asked how she managed that, she pauses.
“Being bitter doesn’t help. It doesn’t move me forward.”
She explains that it was a conscious decision:
“I’ve had to use my energy to learn a completely new life. To try, fail, and figure out what works. Bitterness steals focus — and I don’t have space for that. I have to invest in what brings me forward.”
When the Airport Said No
Recently, Birgit faced a particularly difficult situation at an airport — six weeks after giving birth, with a fresh C section wound and a newborn in her arms. She was denied boarding.
“We had booked assistance ages ago. But when we arrived, they said they couldn’t help after all. We had to make it to my book launch! But I wasn’t allowed to board, and they said they couldn’t take the wheelchair.”
What followed was an impossible scenario: Christian needed to catch the original flight to make it to the event where Birgit was the main speaker. But she herself couldn’t lift, carry, or navigate everything alone due to her surgery.
So he had to go — leaving her alone at the airport, without assistance, with a newborn.
“It was awful. I tried to protect my baby, but I couldn’t make it work. He cried, I cried. It was so vulnerable.”
Birgit calls it one of the most unsafe moments she has experienced as a mother.
“When something affects me as an adult, that’s one thing. But when it affects my child… that hurts in a completely different way.”
The experience made her even more aware of how dependent babies are on us — and how exposed parents can be when systems that are supposed to support you fail.
A Slightly Lighter Question…
If she were on Paradise Hotel — would she drop the ball?
Birgit laughs.
“No, I don’t think so! I get too attached to people. And I keep my promises. It would have been really hard.”
Thank You, Birgit
As our interview wraps up, Birgit thanks us warmly for the visit.
“Thank you so much for coming. It means a lot.”
Because in the middle of the chaos, the changes, the newborn blur and the book releases — Birgit radiates a calm that spreads, a strength that inspires, and a mother’s love that hits straight in the heart.
Happy Mother’s Day, Birgit. ☀️💛