New grandchild forces change
Pauly, who is flat out running his own business. What a culture shock being thrown back into the life of a suburban woman. I have to admit, I loved it. Otorohanga is the town I grew up in and to be back home has been a very cool experience.
I had the privilege of doing the school and kindy run every day, got to hold little hands, give hugs goodbye in the morning and be greeted with the excitement of all the day’s events in the afternoon. The hours in between were spent doing washing, meal prep, dishes and getting in some exercise by walking the streets with my daughter’s friend Robyn.
Having time to stop and chat to my friend Sharon while doing the supermarket shop was another one of the many things I enjoyed having the time to do.
The other thing I did a couple of times while walking by myself, was make the trip a kilometre out of town past the big old house that my parents raised me in.
For those of you who have driven through Otorohanga, at the south end there is a bridge that takes you over the Waipa River. As a child I walked over that bridge with my mum or big sister to school, to town for an icecream or on Sunday morning to get dad the paper.
When I was older I got to ride my bike so I could change my nana’s library books for her and this is when my mother would continually repeat the warnings for my safety. Things like ‘‘watch out for the big trucks’’, ‘‘don’t talk to strangers’’, and ‘‘come home straight after school or being at the library’’.
Thirty-five years later as I walked over that same bridge, many memories came flooding back and one thing stood out for me as a mother and grandmother myself now.
All those years ago I thought my mother was over-bearing, naggy and just wanted to completely control my life.
What I now know for sure is she was trying to protect me, she loved me more than the air she breathed and was always just simply trying to keep me safe.
She loved me unconditionally and was one of two people, my father being the other, on the planet who would always be in my corner, not only to support but also caution me to do the right thing, and I could rely on them no matter what.
Being a mother has been the toughest and most mentally draining position I have ever had in my life.
However, it has always been the most rewarding role, and as I watched my daughter Brittney and son Daniel walk out of the pre-school at the same time one day, I knew why.
Each of them holding the wee hand of their respective child and a little backpack in the other, chatting together and having a laugh just like they used to when they were causing me sleepless nights getting cars impounded.
That’s when a mother can say ‘‘It was all worth it’’.
I have always said I would never move back to Otorohanga to live, for no particular reason except we have moved on.
But I will forever be grateful for the time our smallest grandchild provided me with, to step back, watch and smile at the next generation of our family being brought up exactly where it all started for me, nearly half a century ago.
I will forever be grateful for the time our smallest grandchild provided me with, to step back, watch and smile at the next generation of our family being brought up exactly where it all started for me, nearly half a century ago.