I have often been heard to describe my journey through motherhood with my son and two daughters as being like riding a rollercoaster with no seatbelts – exhilarating, terrifying and full of unexpected twists and turns.
We often, as parents, focus on the things we teach our children, but if we choose to sit back and view the years with a more discerning eye, it is often more about what they teach us.
My son Adam was a ball of energy with a very mischievous grin, who kept me on my toes with his endless adventures and wild imagination. During his teenage and young adult years, most of our conversations started with: “Yeah, but you see Mum, it was like this….”, followed by some great involved story about why it made perfect sense to jump on a skateboard after having a couple of drinks after work, and then proceed to break his ankle and hop home on the other one and wait until lunchtime the next day to tell anyone.
Being his mother taught me to embrace the spontaneity of life and find joy in the simple moments, because children grow up way too quickly. Oh yes, and to always avoid skateboards after wine.
My middle child Alanna was less adventurous and gave me an easy time through her teenage years. Or, so I thought. It is only now that she is a mother herself that the stories of her teenage escapades are coming out in our conversations. Let’s just say that I am glad I was blissfully unaware of some of the things she got up to. During a conversation in the past couple of years, she said: “Mum, remember when you told me you hoped my girls would be just like me? Please take the curse off!”
Being her mother taught me that grandchildren are the gift we receive for surviving our children and karma, just ...karma.
My baby Annalise is 16 years younger than her sister and was raised in a single-parent home, after their father and I divorced. Any of you that have ever watched ‘Gilmore Girls’ on television will get an immediate insight into our life together.
Being her mother taught me about teamwork, resilience and tackling every problem with humour. Oh, and to never shut the laundry door from the inside in a new house, without checking there is a handle, because then one of you has to climb out the window, much to the amusement of your new neighbours.
As a mum, I may not have had, and still don’t have all the answers, but I am always willing to lend an ear, a shoulder to cry on, or a helping hand whenever they need it. I am so proud of the intelligent, thoughtful, caring, and compassionate adults they have all become. At the end of the day, being a mum isn’t about being perfect - it's about being there, through thick and thin, and loving them unconditionally, flaws and all.
So here’s to all the chaos, the laughter and the endless love that has filled my home every day – I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Jody Webster
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