mother's day 2020

Mother's Day has been celebrated on the second Sunday of May since 1908, with the tradition started by Anna Jarvis, in West Virginia, USA, to honour the sacrifices that women make for their children.

If you normally see your mum on Mother's Day, the current social restrictions that have helped to contain the global pandemic in Australia might mean that you will not be able to be with mum today. 

But thanks to technology, you can still see her only a video call away, or send her gifts to show her your appreciation. Whether you're lucky enough to be with mum or have to send your love from afar, we hope that every mum feels special and loved today, as she should every single day.

To mark the time, simétrie founder Simone, interviewed three amazing women on being a new mum, and the challenges they are facing right now during the covid-19 restrictions.

 

Anna Kirwan

 Anna with Neave 

 

What's the best thing about being a mum?

The cuddles! Actually, there are so many things but getting to help, watch and be part of someone growing and learning is a pretty amazing thing. Children look at the world in such a simple way, it’s a good reminder how we complicate things as we get older and how fun the world is if you don’t take everything too seriously.

 

What's something different you've learned about yourself since becoming a mum?

It’s taught me to be really present in the moment and appreciate the simple things (family, health & happiness). Quality time together is so precious! Before Neave, I always focused on the next thing, but now I try to be more relaxed and am focused on family moments. I try as much as I can not to sweat the small stuff.

 

What's a creative activity you've explored since being a mum?

Knitting is on my iso to do list. I haven’t been game enough yet!

 

How has your life changed since the restrictions came into place?

We had already started our own journey before having our daughter and moved to the Macedon Ranges almost 3 years ago. We had lived inner city for over 10 years and decided on a tree change to try to build a future for Neave where she could learn about nature, animals and have space to play outdoors.  We live in a small community and close to local producers and since the restrictions have been in place, we have been lucky to not be impacted in that sense. Our main challenge is that both our grandparents & siblings live overseas so the restrictions will mean it will be some time before we can visit our families. Also working from home with a toddler is crazy at times!

 

Are these changes temporary or will they continue? What will your life look like in the next 6 months?

I think the current situation has really solidified for us what’s important and we will continue to simplify things. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing friends again in person and Neave having more interaction with children her age.

 

What's something you're grateful for right now?

 A healthy, happy family 😀

 

Elizabeth Batten

 Elizabeth with Archie

 

What's the best thing about being a mum?

Watching your child grow and learn new things. I love watching Archie play and see his little brain working while he tries to figure out the world.

 

What's something different you've learned about yourself since becoming a mum?

I’ve learnt how amazing my body is. I am in awe of how the female body can bounce back after childbirth, the wonders of breastmilk and the all biological changes that happen when you have a baby.

 

What's a creative activity you've explored since being a mum?

Keeping Archie amused by making toys out of things like I can reuse like formula tins, plastic lids etc.

 

How has your life changed since the restrictions came into place?

It hasn’t changed a whole lot to be honest. I was a stay at home Mum before restrictions. I had also just moved interstate, so I didn’t really have a routine.

 

Are these changes temporary or will they continue? What will your life look like in the next 6 months?

I’m hoping my life will look a little busier! I would like to go back to work at least and see family and friends.

 

What's something you're grateful for right now?

That I can spend this time at home with Archie. It can be hard surviving on one income but I’m grateful that I’ve been able to spend almost a year at home with him.

 

 

Cassandra Wheat

 Cassandra with Arlo

 

What's the best thing about being a mum?

Being forced to live in the moment and rediscovering a sense of play - singing daily actions, everything becoming a game, the smallest new thing for him is a wonder and its lovely to be part of that. It's so nice to have constant permission to be silly, I already had a silly streak, it’s just been amplified. The cuddles are also pretty great.

 

What's something different you've learned about yourself since becoming a mum?

I am less patient than I thought I was, it's really easy to get bored and lose your cool, the repetition is next level. Sounds negative but I think it’s important to talk about all aspects of motherhood, boredom is part of it, and for me one of the hardest parts.

 

What's a creative activity you've explored since being a mum?

Now that Arlo has hit toddlerhood we do more creative tasks together - play dough, drawing etc but he does not have the love I have for them, and setting up painting for a 5 minute session that results in more furniture being painted than paper is a bit of a drag! The thing he will sit still for the longest is cooking, so we do that a lot together, he loves shaking a spice into something the best, so I am cooking even more than I did before being a mum. From a personal creative perspective, I went back to work part time when Arlo was 6 months old and being a designer that’s where I put a lot of my creativity and engage the more strategic part of my brain.

 

How has your life changed since the restrictions came into place?

More than I could have possibly imagined. I was about to move jobs - from one product design job to another, but both in the travel industry (eeeeeek), so I've gone from being at the top of my career game to unemployed in such a short space of time. It has created a sense of indecision I never imagined. I am now full time with Arlo, which is so much harder than working - shout out to all the full time at home parents, what amazing brave people!  We packed up and moved to my mums on the Bass Coast as soon as stage 2 restrictions were announced and have been here ever since. She has a beautiful property on the top of the hill that gives Arlo lots of space to run and us all beautiful beaches to walk on, I feel like it’s a totally unsung piece of coast and I am sure when local travel is allowed again it will be discovered more.

In his nap times and at night I am working on a little side hustle creating a small artisanal home wear brand, all produced from Mum's place, my partner Ben makes knives, my step dad is an amazing wood worker making some wooden items and I am working on aprons and smocks for all the at home bakers and little helpers out there. My best friend has just opened a beautiful home ware shop in the Macedon Ranges so the first run will go there. If they take off you never know it could be something I focus on more, or could just stay on the side, at least its keeping me busy until the travel industry is back up and running. I'm also considering studying psychology, which has always been a plan of mine...see the indecision!

 

Are these changes temporary or will they continue? What will your life look like in the next 6 months?

That’s the million-dollar question right, who knows? I don't. I hope the job I was supposed to move to comes through, but I am ready for that to be a long while off yet, so I think I will continue as above. I will have to keep you posted!

 

What's something you're grateful for right now?

Totally on theme here - my Mum! And all of my family really. My mum and her partner have welcomed us into their home and provided constant support and space. My supportive partner Ben is making sure I keep sane while spending so much more time with Arlo. I am also grateful for the time, it took a while to get a rhythm happening, but the fact I can fit daily yoga in my life for the first time in years has to be viewed as a gift hey! Oh, and our government for supporting me financially, jokes about wanting to move to NZ aside, I feel like they have handled this situation well.