By Staff Writer Sheree Hoddinett
Hi,
I’m Sheree, but you might actually know me as Izzie and Phoebe’s mum. I also go by Mum, Mummy, Mumma and Mim. They’re all me!
I should add, I’m also known as a taxi service, rubbish bin, vacuum cleaner, personal maid, endless money provider with snack retriever in there as well, because apparently that’s what I’m around for. Just ask my girls! Actually, maybe, don’t ask them, because they will likely agree with you.
All jokes aside, being a mum has been somewhat of a mixed bag over the years and I’m still relatively new to this journey.
And oh, what a journey it’s been! While I still feel like I’m winging it most of the time (okay, all the time), I have two beautiful girls who (mostly) look up to me like I’m the best thing in their world. I’m still trying to figure out why. Some people tell me it’s because I’m an awesome mum. Yep, I’m ‘that’ awesome mum who swears at her kids (don’t worry they know how to swear back too), likes to hide from them when they drive me up the wall and jump out and scare them out of their wits. After all, I can’t let them have all the fun!
Do I love being a mum? Sometimes yes and a big chunk of the time, no! It’s not always nice being the disciplinarian or hearing those lovely words “I hate you, you’re the worst mum ever” just because I wouldn’t share my chocolate. Hey, it’s mine for a reason kiddo!
But to be extremely truthful, my girls are my world. They keep me grounded, although not always sane and they do bring a lot of entertainment into my life, even if they make money disappear!
I never envisaged I’d be a mum of two very beautiful, energetic but sassy and confident girls. I’m not so sure I could have handled boys either, but there’s something about raising girls that makes me feel like I’ve been handed a big dose of karma for some reason, and we are nowhere near the teen years yet! I wasn’t a perfect child, especially in my teenage years, but I was far better than my older brother. Luckily we both turned out alright in the end and that’s all I can hope for my own girls, despite some of the examples I may set for them.
I often find myself looking up to the other mum role models around me. But it’s always my own mum that I turn to every time. She’s been my biggest protector and also my best source of advice, not that I always listen, in my entire life so far. I will continue to go to her as long as I’m able to. Good luck mum, haha!
As we head towards the day where we celebrate all those who take on a mothering role, I find myself reflecting on my achievements as a mum for the past 9 years. My biggest achievement being that I have kept them alive, and you could probably say they’re thriving. It hasn’t been an easy time for any of us as we have navigated a split family, moving house, starting school, developing attitudes, and trying to learn the art of respect. Above all else, we have somehow managed to continue being a dynamic trio and sharing laughs, plenty of yelling and tears but most importantly lots of love (I’m just saying that because I have to….I’m kidding of course!!).
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all the mums, stepmums, grandmothers, fur-mums and everyone else who fills a mothering role of some kind, a very Happy Mother’s Day. May you be spoilt with presents, love and the chance to rest, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
Comments