Mothers Day

Me - 8 months.

So last Sunday in Australia, and most other parts of the world, it was Mothers Day. The reason I note that in most parts of the world, is because Indonesia celebrates Mothers Day on the 22nd of December. Now seeing that my son is half Indonesian, I expect that we will celebrate it again! (I can only hope...)

Usually I catch up with my own Mum some how every year. Last year we flew to Adelaide and had lunch on Rundall Street. I remember I had a Spring Valley orange juice. Silly how you remember things like that. Of course I wouldn't have known at that moment that I would be celebrating Mothers Day for myself the next year. I thought I may be pregnant, but no way did I think I would have my own baby.

I had been waiting for the Mothers Day weekend for a while. I was counting down. I loved spoiling my Mum with special gifts for Mothers Day, and it was suddenly my turn. We went to Bendigo, where I used to live while I went to university. I really miss that town, where everything is close, including friends, with a much tighter community. We met my Mum here, as it was kind of half way for all of us. We stayed overnight in a nice apartment, and had Chinese take away for dinner.

Luke was incredibly excited about mothers day. He woke me up at 1:30 am. I reassured him we would celebrate in the morning. He didn't want to sleep. He was way too excited. Once he got to sleep he did wake me up again at 5:00am.

We hid Luke in Nanna's bed with a present. He gave her a painting he made her (with my help, of course). Hendrik and I gave Mum a groovy Post-Box style mug we found in Sassafras (go there, beautiful place!). Then Hendrik and Luke gave me a present. An Asus ee-Pad transformer. (I'm still trying to get it to work though!)

Hendrik fetched a McDonalds Breakfast. After that we went to the Market Place to check out the shops there (like we don't have shops in Melbourne). It was really good because it meant I could actually go shopping without a baby strapped to me! I rang around Bendigo trying to find somewhere for lunch, and as it being Mothers Day, I couldn't find anywhere. So we had Jamaica Blue - food court style. But really, it was okay. I enjoyed being together with my Mum and family.

So that was my first Mothers Day in a nut-shell. I really loved it and can't wait to do it again.

I don't believe I ever appreciated my Mum enough. Since becoming a mother I have realised this. As a mother it means sacrifice. Sacrifice of your career, social life, sleep, and who knows whatever else. I always knew in the back of my mind having a baby would be hard work, but I never think you can truly understand until you actually have the baby and experience it first hand. When you become a parent, suddenly you appreciate your own so much more.

Furthermore, becoming a Mother has been difficult in knowing what to do. There is no baby manual. There is no right and wrong. Every baby is different and no book is written for every baby (unless there is a book that just says love them!). Since Luke's birth, midwives, nurses, friends, enemies and experts have all given me 'advice'. Some useful, some complete rubbish. But the best advice and practical help? It came from my Mum. Thanks Mum.