Editor’s letter
Reading my friend Sarah-Kate Lynch’s Mother’s Day column (page 74) about having a great mum (despite its challenges) rang a few bells close to home. Sheesh, I gave my poor mother a run for her money as a teenager.
Thankfully, after an office poll, I know I wasn’t the only teen terror. Bizarrely, I was a good student and loved high school, but I was also fiercely independent, often obnoxious and keen to run with a fast crowd. I fought my mum’s strict boundaries tooth and nail, but after many a screaming match, would reluctantly obey – certain I was the most hard done by person on the planet.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing because today I’m so grateful for the times she put her foot down and said “not on your Nellie”. Finally, I understand she was being what you call “a parent” and only wanted the best for me. And she didn’t stop me when I left Nelson for the capital at 16, determined to make it on my own. I’m sure as she counted her grey hairs, Mum knew my time would come.
Well, this week, I watched my darling Cleo celebrate her 14th birthday. Geez Louise. Nothing like your kid turning 14 for a big reality check. I congratulated my husband on a job well done – parenting a real, live creature for this long seems an amazing achievement, particularly when you’re wondering if and when you’ll feel like a grown up yourself.
Cleo had a group of girls over to celebrate and they were the nicest bunch of young people you could meet. As they chatted, laughed and preened in the mirror, I looked on in wonder. The world is their oyster. Right now, I count my blessings for the kind-hearted girl I’m lucky enough to call my daughter – but there is trepidation because I know what I was like at 14!
I always longed to be a mum, and I love having Cleo and my boy Darcy, seven, more than anything in the world. But parenting is hard. I don’t have all the answers and every day is a steep learning curve. I’m often left wondering if I’m good enough. But all I can do is my best and love them to bits – just like my mum, Lesley, did.
This Mother’s Day, I’ll be grateful if I get a card from the kids. But my biggest thank you will be to my brilliant mum, who gave me an incredible childhood and was kind and caring – even when I was a total little brat. Happy Mother’s Day, Mum. SIDO KITCHIN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, WOMAN’S DAY