Thank you, Mum

Becoming a Mum last year gave me a totally new appreciation for my own Mum. As soon as I had baby, I knew I would do anything for my child. I'd catch a grenade, or do any of the other rhyming horrors Bruno Mars casually belts out between the 'yeah,yeah,yeah''s.

Then there's the less dramatic but seriously demanding stuff. Those early weeks of getting up every 2 hours to feed, trying to stop the colic cries and generally getting through the day when I was hormone soup. Part of me felt like I was the only person going through this. This was partly because Covid stopped antenatal classes and prevented me from making new Mum friends. I do have friends who are Mum's, but had no one going through the same newborn stuff as me at the same time.

This is where my Mum was, as always, amazing support. She knew every struggle and every challenge. She gave me brilliant advice and encouragement. She had been through this. I'd never really appreciated that before being in the same boat myself.

And I'm talking about this as if the first few weeks define motherhood- they don't. I know that I have so much ahead of me. Challenges I've no idea of yet. But I know that my Mum has gone through so much for me and my brother. Stuff that I totally took for granted for a long time.

So thank you Mum. Thank you for having sleepless nights for us. Thank you for running round after us, especially as a toddler and a baby, I have no idea how you did it. Thank you for getting me through bad school times, a heartbreak and new Motherhood.

Thank you for being a counsellor, teacher, nurse, chef, cleaner, taxi driver, careers advisor, travel agent, life coach, estate agent, hairdresser (wonky fringe aside), 24/7 phone advice line and so, so much more.

If I turn out to be half the Mum you are, I will have done an amazing job. I am the luckiest person to have you as my Mum.

To quote the spice girls; Mama, I love you.

Happy Mother's Day.