MOTHER’S DAY

Hannah Bradley: A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE

28-year-old Hannah Bradley, a former makeup artist is mum to nine-month-old Nami Aerwyna Elizabeth Takano. While the young eco mum initially thought she wasn’t cut out for motherhood, she soon discovered it is one the most fulfilling experiences of her life.

“I must confess that I have always been a career person, and didn’t really think about having a baby. However, after meeting my partner Ryotaro Takano, I understood the emotional connection of wanting a child with the person you love,” says Hannah about the momentous decision she made.

The new mum admits that she wasn’t really prepared to be a mum as she thought it would change her life completely. “I wasn’t overly excited about getting pregnant,” she says.

But after getting past that rollercoaster of emotions, she started to get excited about the new journey she had taken on.

“I was very lucky and had the most amazing midwife and birth experience which makes looking back at the early days, one of happiness. Now I can safely say that seeing my baby happy and enjoying her blossom every day, makes being a mum, one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done.”

Hannah says she wanted to be an attachment parent (a parenting philosophy that promotes attachment of parent and infant not only by maximum parental empathy and responsiveness but also physical closeness) and breastfeed, but also does things as natural and eco-friendly as possible.

“When it comes to sustainability, we use reusable diapers, wet cloths and buy second-hand, which makes things so much cheaper in the long run! There is nothing that Nami has new, except for the presents she received,” says the ecoconscious mum.

“After being a make-up artist for nine years I am now enjoying being a stay-at-home-mum (SAHM) whilst doing furniture refurbishing as a side business.”

Talking about how they chose a baby name, Hannah says, “My daughter’s name is Nami, which in Japanese translates as ‘Wave’ but her Kanji (Japanese symbol writing) means ‘Summer Seed’. We chose her name for many reasons, one of them being that the balance of earth and water will help make her a very fluid and yet a grounded person.

“Being from both, the UK and Japan we speak to her in both languages so that she can become bi-lingual.

“Now I can happily say that having a child is the most beautiful experience, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in this world.”

Rachel Clarke: “THINGS MY BABY TAUGHT ME”

From as early as Rachel Clarke can remember, she’s wanted kids.

“As much as I would imagine what it would be like, there was no way I would truly know how incredible, tiring, and life-changing it would turn out to be,” says the doting mum to nine-month-old Emma.

Rachel who works part-time for Chevron Traffic Services, a business owned by her husband’s family says, “Emma joined us 12 days late at the end of July last year and over these past several months we’ve had some of the most amazing moments.

A friend of mine described it so well by stating that we were prepared, mostly, for the lows— the sleepless nights, the inability to decide whether to shower, eat, clean or sleep, but what we weren’t prepared for was how high the highs would be. That moment your child burps (hooray!), gives their first smile, rolls over for the first time. It is such an overwhelming feeling of pride, joy and wonder!” Though Rachel had heard about the rush of love that new mums experience when they hold their baby for the first time she doesn’t recall feeling it, at the time. “Maybe due to the 26 hour labour and the two nights of no sleep leading up to that,” she reflects, on the exhaustion during the birthing process.

“The love that grew was magical as I got to know Emma, and she casually slid into our lives like she was always there to begin with,” she says.

“Now I find I’ve experienced a level of patience, I’ve never needed before, which can be hard when you have a screaming child at 2 am!”

About the things her baby taught her, Rachel says, “Through watching Emma I’ve learned to appreciate the smaller things in life. The feel of grass on our feet, the airplane gliding through the clouds, the joy of seeing one of our cats come through the cat door. Life is a little slower and a little more hectic all at once and I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings with our little wonder.”

Great grandma, Josephine Pike, mum Rachel Clarke, grandma Jacqui Hopkins with baby Emma Clarke.

Sharleen Singh: FROM HEART-STOPPING TO HEART-WARMING MOMENTS

Reflecting on her journey to motherhood, new mum Sharlene Singh says she looks back in disbelief. “The notion that I’m now responsible for a little human has not been lost on me!”

Diagnosed with hyperemesis (severe type of nausea and vomiting) early on in her pregnancy, it was endless rounds to the hospital that took its on toll on her. “It was the toughest thing physically or mentally that I’ve ever done – with the constant thought of ‘there is no way I can do this’. But here we are nine months postpartum – with our son now earth-side longer than he was in the womb.”

Sharlene’s son who is named Kiran, a Sanskrit word for ‘rays of the sun’, entered the world in a breathtaking fashion – quite literally. “After an emergency caesarean he was promptly whisked away to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) due to trouble with his lungs,” says Sharlene recounting the day her little sunshine was born.

“Our little fighter showed the world who was boss, with us finally being able to hold him on day four, and the oxygen machines unhooked the day after. It was an unexpected start to motherhood, and proof that you should throw that birth plan out the window!” laughs the young mum.

“The moment Kiran looks straight into my eyes, I forget all about the ups and downs we’ve been through and the sleep deprivation. I can’t help but feel wonder and pride towards this little human I’ve grown, watching him explore and discover this world around us. Don’t get me wrong, it hasn’t all been sunshine and rainbows, and I absolutely couldn’t have done it without the support of my loved ones. They weren’t kidding when they say it takes a village! “I thought that I would miss the routine and person that I was, with a job in Marketing that I love, devoting all my spare time to our dog Louie. As an introvert I thrived on solitude and independence. But now I am so much more, and will continue to adapt as Kiran evolves.

“So how has motherhood changed me? I’m now a nurturer, a speedy nappy-changer, a kisser of booboo’s, middleof-the-night-cuddler and so much more. I’m Kiran’s mum, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Nana Di and Poppa Col (Diane and Colin Andrew) with grandchildren (l-r) Sydney, Skyla, Chloe, Kayla and dog Hope completes the family picture.

Diane Andrew: BEING NANA IS A REWARDING EXPERIENCE

Being nana to four adorable grandchildren is an amazing experience says Diane Andrew who has been with Times Media for 35 years.

One of the things that Diane Andrew, proud nana to four grandchildren, enjoys most about being a grandparent is the quality time she spends with them.

Being a grandparent is unconditional love without responsibilities. “It’s absolutely nothing like being a parent,” says Diane, nana to four-year-old Sydney, three-year-old Chloe, eight-month-old Skyla and seven-month-old Kayla.

“Being a parent can be hard work – trying to divide your time between work commitments, preparing meals, getting them to complete their schoolwork, rushing them off to sports training as well as trying to look after yourself and other family members and friends. It’s not the parent’s fault that they often don’t have enough time – unfortunately that’s life these days,” she says.

“The love you feel for your grandchildren is just like when you first laid eyes on your own children. It’s an incredible feeling that only people who have had children will understand.” Diane believes that grandchildren are “the reward” for all the hard work and hard times one deals when it comes to bringing up your own children.

Being a grandparent is mostly fun and games. And one gets a chance to cuddle and get the best hugs. But, with parenting it is different.

“It can be quite stressful at times as you’re always trying to be the best parent you possibly can. Whereas with grandchildren you don’t have to stress about it at all–you just simply adore them and have fun with them because you do actually have more time,” she laughs.

With time also comes patience on being a grandparent. At nana’s home, there is only one rule and that is to have fun and the best time of your life.

“I’m a much more relaxed grandparent than I ever was a mother. I suppose my whole attitude is different,” she says, and then adds as an afterthought, “And one more thing is when you have had enough you can hand them back.”