Cathy Braans
Being a mother is the most fulfilling and rewarding experience that could happen to any woman. Mother to three sons and they are – together with my husband – my life.
I was fortunate enough not to work when my boys were little. We had no money, but it is the single most memorable thing I appreciate about my husband – that he gave me those special years with my boys.
Financially it may have been a struggle, but so worth it in every other way.
As my sons started school, I returned to my career but only in a mornings-only capacity in order that I could watch them participate in sport, fetch them from school and spend quality time with them.
I have always realised I was so fortunate to be in this position, and treasured it.
Later on I started working on a full-day basis, and this often meant working in the evenings.
I soon found it very important to be organised so that one could maintain a healthy balance between work and home-life. When one encounters curved balls, one needs to manage them.
It is of course much easier now that my boys are grown up, but when they were younger, it was the norm to be doing homework, cooking supper and organising a function or writing a proposal all at the same time: then, of course, all mothers can multitask! I love Mother’s Day. My sons make a fuss of me, but the most important thing about Mother’s Day is that I have at least two of my boys with me. Their presence is much more important than any present they can buy.
Being a mother is the most important thing in my life, and I am fortunate to have two of my three sons in the same town, and see a lot of my third son. I count my bless- ings every day.
It’s important to have fun and laugh aplenty with my boys – and that we do.
I am also very fortunate to still have my mother in the same town as me and I spend lots of time with her. Mother’s day is always special for me – we spend it with my mother and my boys.