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I am unwaveringly proud of my boys and how resilient they have been through some massive changes to our life. How my boys have grown as little humans over the last few years blows me away with pride. Every day they blow me away with the questions they ask.
What is your favourite way to spend time together as a family?
I love quiet time together! I love how sitting on the couch watching Bluey or Shaun the Sheep and they cuddle up to me and ask me a million questions about what is happening. It’s a really good opportunity to be a present parent, give myself a break and spend some much needed family time together. It really is a winwin for all of us as spending quality family time together reduces depression and anxiety for parents and kids who have that quality family time tend to do better in school.
What has surprised you about motherhood?
Not so much surprised me, but motherhood has definitely opened up my eyes to how important self-care is! When you’re a mum, constantly juggling multiple responsibilities leaves little room (or energy) to focus on your own needs. Consequently, self-care quickly falls by the wayside as you continue with the daily grind and then parts of your life start to spiral. I found that in looking after myself better it is actually so much easier to look after everything else and get so much more done.
What have your children taught you?
My children have taught me how important it is to ask questions, to get clear on what you want to know so that you than have that knowledge moving forward in life. A massive curveball was understanding how patience really is a virtue and how smoother life runs when you, as a mum, have it. My boys have shown me that worrying about tomorrow will get me nowhere and how being present in the moment is so powerful!
What is the best piece of advice you could give to someone who is about to have their first child?
If your parenting style is anything other than authoritative do everything in your power, ask for support, do everything you must to transform the way you parent. It will be the most amazing thing you will do as a parent. It will no doubt change the way you think, feel and respond to life in an extremely positive light. If you don’t know how or aren’t sure how to make it happen, start googling anything you think of and life will eventually balance out!
Best Mother’s Day present ever?
Going on adventures and discovering new things along the way. I am extremely blessed at how well my children travel.
I feel that doing things we enjoy as a family is so much better than any material object that money can buy. Spending a day where I don’t have to do any housework is a bonus on any day, just quietly.
Caro Tahana
Is mother to Halia and Hendrix and wife to Kingi. Caro and Kingi are one of the nation’s most recognised reality renovators after their time on television’s The Block. Caro recently celebrated her 20th year working at Pickerings Auto Group in Townsville. She is an avid runner, and competes in local adventures runs, the latest being the Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival.
What is the best thing about being a mum?
The best thing about being a mum is how much they make me laugh every day. I love how quick-witted my kids are, their comebacks are hilarious and for such a young age they have us in stitches. They really teach you to slow down and enjoy life. I love watching them grow every day into these little humans that we created. They really are my little best friends.
Describe your parenting style?
My parenting style is fun but we have rules and routine. I am a very organised person so my daughter mirrors this, thankfully she takes after me with this and not her father! When you work full-time you have to have routine or the ship sinks. I like to show them how to be a good person by the conversations we have and the actions I take every day. Kids are sponges so we can’t tell our kids to do things we need to show them, be the example I always say. We don’t hide much from our kids and there is no topic we don’t speak about. My daughter also told me I am known as a “cool mum” at school so I will take that title now while she’s young and not a teenager yet! I won’t be cool in a few years! I also dish out some tough love from time to time, kids need to be told when they aren’t the best at something and not everyone should get a ribbon.
What are you most proud of as a parent? When I see my children being kind when no one is watching, for having a voice and standing up for themselves in tough situations and doing the right thing makes me so proud.
The best thing about being a mum is how much they make me laugh every day
What is your favourite way to spend time together as a family?
We are busy with working life and our days are jam-packed, but after daily rushing around we all love to climb into our bed and watch movies together.
What has surprised you about motherhood? What surprises me about motherhood? Where do I start? All of it! There is no book you can read that prepares you for this one-of-akind job. It’s the best job in the world but also can be the hardest. As a mother we are constantly trying to do things for them but also have to let them grow up and do things on their own, we have to let them fail to learn.
What have your children taught you?
They have taught me to not be a hypocrite so much! My daughter is very big on this and it makes me laugh so much. She calls me out on it all the time. They remind me every day, what I say is what I am teaching them. I am very conscious of this.
What is the best piece of advice you could give to someone who is about to have their first child?
The best piece of advice is – we all don’t know what we are doing, we are all winging it. Really enjoy those first five years, it goes so quickly. Don’t rush the milestones, take them as they come.
Best Mother’s Day present ever?
For someone to unstack the dishwasher! Joking … not really. Honestly, it would just be a day at home with them, and not having to cook dinner. I am easy to please!