This is a sponsored post for BIG W
Congrats to Clareeliza!
As a rookie mum, I still haven’t got the hang of what’s supposed to happen around here for Mother’s Day. And as a result, I like to think that we can do whatever we like to celebrate the day, regardless of tradition.
Although, you get in between me and that Mother’s Day sleep-in – you’re toast.
Whether it starts with breakfast in bed, a restaurant brunch, or me eating toast while refereeing two toddlers who both want that particular toy car (most likely), the point of the day is that those of us who are fortunate enough to live our days with mashed banana on our shirt get to feel a little bit special.
So the mums, step mums, foster mums, grandmas, single dads and everyone in between get a pat on the back for doing a bloody good job raising other humans to be citizens of the world.
It’s nice to send a little word of encouragement to the others sacrificing sleep, wiping butts, and pushing little guys ever-higher on the swing (it’s never high enough, is it? I CAN’T GET IT ANY HIGHER!), and the times I’ve been on the receiving end of a kind word or virtual fist-bump, I’ve always felt so grateful. I might be getting soft in my old age, but it really is lovely to be recognised and told you’re doing a great job. We can be so hard on ourselves when tasked with such sacred and important work – we so very much want to get this mothering thing right.
You can brighten your mama friends’ days with a fun little e-card generator BIG W have on their Facebook page. If you send one to me, feel free to be hilarious 😉
We’d also like to hear from you – do you know a mum who deserves a little extra recognition right about now? BIG W is giving away a $200 gift card to a reader who shares the story of a special someone and maybe even would like to share with their friends a sweet little e-card.
I think it would be nice to send one to my long-suffering mum (with something that will make her laugh), my sister (with something that will make her groan), my mother-in-law (with something that will reference being the mother of boys because that seems like it’s extra exhausting) and my mama friends who are with me in these crazy days of being a steward of small people without losing our minds. Ok, losing them a little bit.
For your chance to win, please leave a comment below sharing the story of a mother who is going above and beyond at the moment, and could do with a high five. One winner will be chosen on the basis of that comment and will receive a $200 BIG W gift card and my respect for being a kind and thoughtful person.
Competition will end next Thursday, May 15.
Good luck and happy Mother’s Day to you.
My mum cos she’s just the best. Doesn’t try to split herself three ways for three children and four grandchildren. She’s there without a sigh.. Love her to bits..
I have a friend who is mother to 4 young girls. Her marriage is very difficult and her husband barely home so she deserves something nice without a doubt!
I’d nominate a lady called Dimity, she has 5 or 6 kids (I can’t keep count), she’s totally lovely, organised, always dressed liked summer (even when it’s cold!) AND she runs the local playgroup – totally fab! My lil boy loves her so much that he picks her a flower each morning on the walk to playgroup!
I would love for my mother in law to win this. She would probably be horrified that I’m talking about her online, but she’s unfailingly generous even though she doesn’t have much, makes an amazing spit roast, cares for her disabled sister and elderly parents, holds a full time job, supports her daughter while she’s at uni…she’s a superwoman and has done it all her life, raising two kids entirely on her own.
And I turned her into a Pinterest addict too, so you just know she’s the right kind of person to win a competition on the internet 😉
I think that throughout my life so far I’ve taken my mum for granted, this post made me reflect and think about what she has done for my family.
She gave birth to my sister aged 40 (just when she thought the rest of the babies were going to leave the nest in the next 6 years) raised my brother and I into decent humans, continues to raise my 10 year old sister into one.
Has been a primary school teacher for at least the last 24 years, is now an assistant principal. She has provided a lot of students at her school with so much support, always giving them the time of day . Always looking to better their education.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in her mid 40’s and never showed weakness even at her sickest. She kicked it’s arse after having chemo and a double mastectomy.
She is honestly one of the strongest women I’ve ever known, doesn’t take anyone’s shit, never acknowledges her own achievements and never asks for anything. I could write a novel about how great she is and how much she’s been through to get to where she is but I think the main reason that I would love her to win this is the absolute selflessness she possess. Everyone always comes before her, just like many hardworking, loving, doting mothers she hardly ever gets rewarded.
(P.s she would kill me if she knew I was writing this.)
I have a lot of friends that would be perfect to tell a story about, entering this competition including a dear friend who has 3 children however one passed away at 3 months old. But I really truly can’t go past my own mum. She has been amazing support with my non-sleeping 19 month old and I would honestly give her this gift card (if I won it!). We went through a lot when I was a teenager, she is an inspiration. I don’t have a fancy story to tell, just a story of love and appreciation for her <3
I vote for Katie180.
I don’t know her (outside of her blog and Instagram).
And I don’t know if I will ever have another chance at being a mother to a very young one. But if I do…I hope that I mother like she mothers.
She is so incredibly strong. Yet patient and giving.
She is does so much and is so inspiring. Yet so humble.
She is raising two girls who are going to kick ass at life.
I know this isn’t how it works, but I would like her to win the gift card…go on and nominate yourself Katie!
My dear friends are mums together. Being in a same sex relationship means they have to tag team Mother’s Day!! They have had a really challenging couple of years-their building extension turned to porridge, and after realising what a mess he had made the builder walked off the job (they found that out during the marathon burth of their 3rd child) and they have been living in a construction site for the best part of three years. They have had to make many sacrifices because of this, and had to let go of something that was super important to them. And if that weren’t enough they’ve had to endure a flood and have supported another family member through poor health. . After working all day, putting the kids to bed and studying (one doing her PHd.) they work hammer and tongs on their home til all hours of the night-building, plumbing, landscaping – you name it, these gals can do it. One has just been selected to represent Australia in her chosen sport to boot. In if that weren’t enough, if one of their friends calls in the middle of the night because a child is en route to hospital they crawl out of bed and come straight away. I’ve called them many times. Their family all live interstate, but they just keep slogging on. These two woman are two of the most amazing, capable, warm, loving, loyal, intelligent women I could possibly be lucky enough to call friends. And if they won, 2 mums would win the prize!! Xx
Right now I have a friend in Ireland who just had her fourth children, a wee boy, it’s her fourth in almost as many years. However, she’s been told it’s likely that she will outlive him, he has a serious heart defect (oh dear I’m tearing up again, I just wrote post about how she inspires me and I think I must have PMS cos I’m blubbing all over the shop ATM) But anyway, she is going above and beyond by getting up each morning to call to see how her son’s night was, because she can’t stay at his side, so sad. She also has 3 pre-school children she has to be there for. Maybe this isn’t the example you’re looking for but I wanted to get this off my ample chest! Totally going to make funny ecard for my mumma, she rocks.
Oh and a sleep in, no dishes, no nappy changes, no putting shoes and socks, or clothes on three kids, or having to buckle them in to the car. Best mother’s day present ever for me! x
My mum could do with a massive high five for looking after my screaming 8 week old since she was born.
My mum could use a high five for sure after raising 6 kids and countless grandkids/step grandkids/ tag alongs that call her nanny. She never says no to helping any of us even if she is overtired she will still put us all first.
I would love to nominate a lovely friend of mine with two special needs kiddies, Julia. She teaches part time, runs a playgroup for children with disabilities and is just a truly amazing person. Her strength, patience and generosity to others is just phenomenal . She has just lost her mother and I would love to surprise her with a pick-me-up and the biggest high five!
My mum is absolutely going above and beyond! She’s been absolutely invaluable throughout my first weeks as a mum. She comes around before work if I need her, walks around here after dark, has been making us baby pants in her spare time. She’s amazingly patient, caring and inspiring! I wouldn’t be able to do this without her!
I’d like to give thanks to two beautiful mums in my life. Firstly, my mum who frequently drives 5 and a half hours each way to visit her kids and grandkids. She ALWAYS has a listening ear when I’m bitching about the world.
I also want to thank my mother in law who goes out of her way to bake cakes and cookies for her daughter to sell in her new café. She also comes to babysit my daughter so I can paint the house. Not to mention the times she’s dropped everything to come over and save the day when the “black dog” has decided to visit my husband.
My very dear friend Annette from work is going through a rough patch at the moment and is very unwell. Sh’es not been able to come to work for the past 4 weeks and is trying her best to care for her 2 year old son on her own with no family around to support her and no income from work. After numerous trips to doctors and specialists no one can pin point what is wrong with her and when she’ll be back to her usual happy, smiley self. My heart is going out to her. I’d love to win her this voucher and surprise her with it when I take around some meals for her and her little man, his birthday is coming up next month and I’m sure it would help her to buy him a great present.
Thanks for the fantastic giveaway!
I want to nominate Jess from Essentially Jess. She took the time to send me a letter and a book about finding the joy in being a stay at home mum while she and her family have been settling into SA after moving from Darwin and she is a mum to four kids. I reckon the Big W voucher would come in handy for her to buy herself ( and the kidlets) warm clothes this Winter. Jess is so deserving to me because she is generous with her time on the blogosphere and is a mother of sorts to other bloggers and I’ve been on the receiving end of such kindness.
I’d love to give it to Emma from http://fivedegreesofchaos.com/. I don’t know her personally but she is such an amazing mum to her daughters and she writes so beautifully.
My other mother Lyne deserves some treating, one of the most wondeful Mum’s I have had the pleasure of meeting, recently a Grandma for the second time that joy will take some beating.
I’d like to nominate my older sister, Sarah. A mother of Charlie (10) & Elizabeth (8) she runs her household like a star, her partner runs his own business and is out the door before 5am and works a 12 hour day. Not a day goes by without an essay or an exam along side all the motherly duties. Did I mention she is in her last year of studying Psychology too? Currently they’re all in limbo between houses too as their previous landlord has sold his property. It all happens at once right? I’d love for her to be able to treat herself with some new pjs and slippers for winter. Heck maybe a foot spa too? Sarah is our family strength. A loving aunty to my son Henry, a best friend to her siblings and a second mother to me. She deserves a treat.
I’d like to nominate my friend who has 6 – yes, 6! – kids. I can’t fathom how she copes with it all as she has to drop them off at high school, primary school and kinder every day and I know she never really gets any downtime from motherhood and all the chores that entails. I know she LOVES being a mum and LOVES her kids but there’s never enough money to go and splurge on herself. She never buys herself new books or new clothes or new anything, really, yet not once have I heard her complain about that. She’s a great role model for me as a mother of only two.
I’m nominating my own mum because she is the most selfless person I know and is always there to help out anyone in need, whether she knows them or not. Even when she was undergoing the 6 rounds of chemo she needed to have, she was trying to help me out (I wouldn’t let her though!) with babysitting and housework etc. And she never once complained, even when she lost all her hair and relied on a beanie to keep her head warm over winter.
Her name is Catherine Pitt
She loves her nephew and nieces no end!
She can’t be a mother herself,
But she’s a mother of a friend!
<3 thanks Troy
My mum will go out her way for anyone and do anything for them, especially for her 3 girls. She a great wife, mum, nanny and the best mother-law u could ask for we are so lucky to have a mum like this and we all know it as in 2009 she had a heart attack and was dead for 12 minutes lucky for us 3 people kept her alive till the ambulance arrived. so we cherish every day we have with her. My mum is giving, amazing, strong, inspirational and most of all my best friend. If I can turn out to be half the woman she is I think I’ll be doing alright. As I would say when I was a wee little girl I love u a million windmill
My best friend has a rough 6 weeks ahead. She has three kiddies under the age of 5 and has carpal tunnel in both hands. While she painfully waits for surgery, she’s also at it alone – her Husband’s been sent to China for a 6 week work posting. I wish I lived in the same state and could help her!
A beautiful friend of mine is sincerely deserving…she is mum with a special needs son, is alone, no family to help…24/7 never a break and helps anyone who needs it, goes that extra mile, is always smiling, spreads kindness to all she meets and never complains…this would bring a little happiness to her heart like she gives to others…
That would be my Mum. Recently separated and struggling to make ends meet being a full time single Mum. I never thought my Step Dad could be so cruel, but how wrong was I! He pays $14 a fortnight for 2 children and complains about it! Seriously $3.50 a week for one of his children is ridiculous and I don’t know how he gets away with it. I would love to put a smile on her face.
My sister ,who works 3 jobs to pay the mortgage and has 2 children never gets anytime to herself or a Mother’s Day present,she is my best friend my psychologist and such a lovely person.
My mother in law is amazing. I had to go into hospital a week prior to my little boy being born. I had nothing done at home. She dropped everything and drove 3 hours to clean our house, wash all the baby stuff and clothes and sit by my hospital bed.
My girlfriend is a sensational mother. She is selfless and works hard. Last year, she had a cancer scare and got through it without affecting her children. She is always giving and never asks for anything in return.
I dont know this lady, but have heard stories, lots of them, good, stories, great stories! She is a local lady with 4 children of her own and 3 foster children. And 3 of there 7 have a disability. Her and her hubby volunteer for the local SES, and when our town went under last year in the floods , she was helping everyone else as well as looking after her own huge family! This woman deserves a medal! 😉
For giving me the courage to believe,
There’s little in life I cannot achieve
For taking the time to understand,
Sometimes I need a helping hand;
For trusting me to make the right choice,
Knowing that you’re my inner voice;
For being there through good and bad,
Cheering me up when I’m feeling sad;
For guiding me through the journey of life,
Steering me away from troublesome strife;
For all this and so very much more,
I thank you Mum, – that’s for sure! – See more at: http://childhood101.com/2014/05/celebrating-motherhood/#sthash.3eWE1qK3.dpuf