Mamma mia! There’s just no end to what mothers will do. They love us and look after us. It’s a bond that doesn’t seem to know any end. We talk to some Melkbos moms about motherhood (and try to talk to others but can’t as they’re too busy).
Mary Poppe is celebrating Mother’s Day with her two daughters.
A very special gift
Mary Poppe quotes something her late mother said. “The only bad thing a mom can do, is to die.” Before dying Mary’s mom did something very special that would span the coming divide. She drew a picture of flowers for Mary but did not finish it – so this turned out to be a collaborative project with Mary colouring in the flowers and framing the picture. Mary recalls this gift in her busy haberdashery shop in the Palms Centre. Mother’s Day will be a continuation of this nurturing legacy which her mom left her. She will be spending it with her daughters.
Hendrieka Fisher is treating her mom today.
‘Mom comes first’
Hendrieka Fisher travels from Atlantis to work in the biltong shop in the Birkenhead Center. She’s a busy working woman and mother of three. She has no plans for getting spoilt on Mother’s Day. Instead she plans to treat her 55-year-old mom.
A bond that never ends
Head librarian Roelda Brown talks about the fact that motherhood is a
Roelda Brown’s sons were planning to treat her in stages.
mixed bag, and one that does not ever let up. “Motherhood brings joy and pleasure, but you open yourself up to worry and pain. Even when a child becomes an adult you are unable to sever the ties.” Her oldest son took her to Bread & Butter in Sunningdale yesterday and she is spending today with her youngest son at home, as Mother’s Day events have become so commercialised.
Marcelle Nicholas is making breakfast for her mom.
Fought for his life
Salon Privé owner Marcelle Nicholas had to fight like a lioness for her son’s survival. At birth Peter weighed a mere 560 grams. He fit inside the palm of her hand. At that weight a newborn is classified as a foetus and not a baby, and Peter was simply left on his own for 16 hours. Marcelle, (who did not have medical aid), left the hospital immediately after giving birth to raise the R60 000 required by a private hospital so that Peter could be ventilated. She and her then husband sold “everything,” their cars and their furniture, leaving them to sleep on the floor.
“He was blind as a consequence of not being ventilated,” Marcelle says. The first six months of Peter’s life was a harrowing series of medical battles.
But this story had a happy ending. Peter is 18 and thriving. “He is my gift from God. Even if he had lived only a day I would do it all again,” Marcelle says simply.
Busy, busy, busy
Michelle Worsfold is known all over town for her work for Peanut Animal Welfare. On Saturday morning she was
Michelle Worsfold (left) manning Peanut’s stall.
busy selling pancakes at Melkbosstrand High School; the wind was shaking Peanut’s gazebo and a line of customers was waiting. It was clearly not the time to be talking to her about motherhood. Petra van Asch, who was busy making pancakes asked, “I’m a furry mother. Does that count?”
Cathrine Allen will be visiting a sick lady.
Cathrine Allen, one of the Storar’s stalwarts, will be treated to a home-cooked meal by her daughter Christine. The family will visit granddaughter Jesica’s au pair who is in Somerset Hospital. For Cathrine, taking care of others rather than of herself, comes naturally.
Melkbos.net wishes all the moms out there a happy Mother’s Day!
