This week for Mother’s Day we asked 5 incredible women 5 questions all about motherhood, what it means to be a mother, a daughter and how a journey to motherhood isn’t always linear.
This is something close to our hearts, watching women embark on the journey to motherhood and how it’s so special and unique for every individual. The relationship we have with a mother figure, be it a birth mother or not, can sometimes set the tone for our relationship with our children.
Relationships are sacred and there is something so special between the bond of a mother and their child. We understand that this isn’t always the case for everyone and want to pay respect to those who have lost their mother, who aren’t a mother, who have lost a child, who are wanting and hoping to become a mother and those who are mothers and mother figures to children who aren’t of biological descent.
See our discussions below.
Our first Woman We Love is Rachael, who is an entrepreneur and single mother of 22 month old Lennox Wolfe.
1. What does being a mother mean to you?
Motherhood for me is a constant dance between devoting myself, my body, mind and heart to my son while equally investing and pouring that love and time back into myself- so that I can show up as the best version of myself.
2. How has your relationship to your mother affected your life and your connection to your children?
I have been able to recognise only now through becoming a mother myself, just how much my mum did for me and the mental load she would have carried for so many years. I think until you become a mother yourself it’s very difficult to comprehend what that takes.
3. If you could thank your Mother for something, what would it be?
I would thank her for always pushing me to have a go at things and trying new things. I think she also modelled a strong will and I know this is something I have from her.
4. If you could go back in time and leave a message for your younger self, what would it be?
That you are enough exactly as you are.
5. What is one message or belief that holds importance in your life that you hope to pass on to your child?
If there is anything I would love to pass onto my son it would be to always lead and live with curiosity- to follow what excites him and never lose the eagerness to learn and grow.
I don’t ever want to only show a perfectly put together person.
I want him to see my humanness and flaws so he learns to accept and embrace his own too.
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Our second Woman We Love is navigating the IVF journey.
1. What does motherhood mean to you?
An experience of nurturing, teaching and empowering another person to grow to be the best version of themselves as they can be.
2. What is one message or belief that holds importance in your life that your Mother (directly or indirectly) taught you?
This is a tough one because nothing is coming to me.
3. If you could thank your Mother for something, what would it be? For investing so much time and energy into raising me.
For enabling me to use this body for my souls work.
4. For women who are on the IVF journey, can you please share your advice for other women going through a similar experience?
This is a difficult one as I have not had success through ivf. I suppose that IVF isn’t guaranteed. My only learning is that comparing myself to others and listening to statistics never really helped me.
Accepting the disappointment was a difficult and painful journey and being able to move on to another option became more important that trying to perfect every aspect of the journey.
5. If you could go back in time and leave a message for your younger self, what would it be?
Freeze my eggs whilst I am young so my journey to motherhood at a later stage will be stress free.
The third Woman We Love, is Tania Squires. Mother to 6 children, entrepreneur and long-time chanter.
1. What does being a mother mean to you?
It’s truly living my dream. Living the role of “mother” is living the closest to my most authentic version of who I am. I love to care, nurture and lead. Being the matriarch of such a loving and big family is my wildest dream come true. Being a mother means being in constant state of surrender, learning and expanding. I live in such gratitude getting to claim the title of “mum”.
2. How has your relationship to your mother affected your life and your connection to your children?
My mother is very caring. She had me when she was 17 so her entire life has been dedicated to the role of mother. She taught me to honour that role and make it a priority in my life. She gifted me with such a beautiful childhood, I always wanted to offer the same to my children. Her life was devoted to motherhood, which I deeply respect yet it also taught me that I needed more outside of the home as well to nurture who I am and my children too. I am so grateful for those lessons.
3. If you could thank your Mother for something, what would it be?
Her kindness and care, and of course the love and support she has shown my own children, her grandchildren. She created such a wonderful home to grow up in and I only have wonderful memories of my early life. I can’t even imagine what it would have been like birthing a child at 17, I am so blessed she did it with such courage.
4. If you could go back in time and leave a message for your younger self, what would it be?
Follow your dream, be the Mum of 6. You can truly have it all, and you will be a wonderful Mum. It will seem hard at times, however it is all worth it. There is so much joy in every single moment if you look closely enough.
5. What is one message or belief that holds importance in your life that you hope to pass on to your child?
Be honest, be authentic, never stop learning and believe in yourself. You are so so loved my darling.
The fourth Woman We Love, is Sarah-Maree Cameron, Endometriosis Australia Ambassador, comedian and on a journey through IVF.
1. What does motherhood mean to you?
You know when you hear people say, “that person is my second Mum” or “they have a mothering vibe”? I do think Motherhood is something that is felt, be it from your Mum or someone who looks over you like one. And I believe there are many people out there who are mother figures to people without having biological children of their own.
2. What is one message or belief that holds importance in your life that you hope to pass on to your child?
Stoicism. My Mum Zara is an incredibly stoic woman. There is so much more to her but that trait has gotten her through a lot. Life can be tough and how you handle those challenges is important.
3. If you could thank your Mother for something, what would it be?
For protecting the family and often putting herself last so that her children came first.
4. For women who are on the IVF journey, can you please share your advice for other women going through a similar experience?
Know that you are enough – always. You’re enough before you start and when you finish, no matter what the finish line looks like for you. And before you start work out what your cut off is. A friend said to me it’s like gambling and you can keep wanting to throw money at it however you need to know where your emotional, financial and more importantly your physical limit is.
5. If you could go back in time and leave a message for your younger self, what would it be?
Just because your body is different it doesn’t mean it is lesser than. We all drive different cars but we’re still driving. Our bodies are the same. My 20s would have been a lot easier if I knew this then but I’m always thankful to have learned a lesson even if a bit later than I’d have liked.
The fifth and final Woman We Love, is my very own birth mother whom I cherish dearly and have a very special bond with
1. What does being a mother mean to you?
My heart was cracked open 28 years ago, when my whole existence as a young, independent and often reckless woman changed. Suddenly there was something way more important in the world than ever before. Motherhood made me look more inward than at any other period in my life. To examine the unconditional love that my mother also gave me. To accept that love fully and be the conduit of that love through to my own children. Motherhood for me is nurturing love in all its forms, towards all beings, regardless of whether or not they are birthed by me.
2. How has your relationship to your mother affected your life and your connection to your children?
The relationship I have with my Mother has always been warm, loving and deep. I think that I noticed myself move away from that love in my teens as I felt my independence grow. I always try to remember to give my own children the space they have needed to become independent, happy and grounded adults. I recognise that as a mother it’s a fine line between incredible, overwhelming love and letting go.
3. If you could thank your Mother for something, what would it be?
I thank my mother almost daily for giving me the ability to see goodness in everyone and that with eyes of judgement we are blind. For a love that is boundless and unconditional always. She also passed on her wicked sense of humour that can often lead to a pee in the pants moment 🤣 She has taught me what family love is.
4. If you could go back in time and leave a message for your younger self, what would it be?
If I could give my younger self a message it would be, you will always be enough, stop questioning your ability. Block out the noise and listen only to your heart’. Emotional Courage wasn’t something that came easily to me in my younger years and I allowed fear of vulnerability to take up too much space in my life. Becoming a mother definitely allowed me to put that aside as I took on the greatest and most challenging role of my life. Love changes everything.
5. What is one message or belief that holds importance in your life that you hope to pass on to your child?
I believe that we are all intrinsically joined together and that when we all put aside our differences, we can really see each other. I hope my children always know that love and kindness is their birth right and to honour all the mothers in their lives in whatever form they come in. The Divine mother will always show up for them, even if it’s not physically me.