I Am My Mother's Touch

I Am My Mother’s Touch

Our relationship with our mother is our first social relationship. As kids, we learn everything we know about how to treat others by watching and interacting with them.

I was born in the 70s and my mum was typical of the women in that era who stayed at home to manage the household and raise my younger sister and I. She always encouraged me to excel in school, sport and was my number one champion over the years. She was selfless and spent countless hours chauffeuring me to netball carnivals, school events and to friends’ houses. I wish I appreciated and understood how much she actually did for me. I cringe when I think of how I treated my mum in my teens.

I was a bitch.

I can’t imagine how much I hurt her over those ‘growing up’ years.

As much as I love my mum, I didn’t want to replicate her life. I wanted the things she didn’t have – a career, the opportunity to travel the world and enjoy the finer things in life. I didn’t want children. When it came to career and lifestyle, I wanted the exact opposite of her life. Ironically, it’s because I learned from her that I could have more.

In my late twenties I moved away from my home town. To experience more out of life. I always felt I didn’t fit into that life back home. But my stable, loving upbringing gave me confidence and self belief to face the future. I wouldn’t be where I am now.

She taught me to be kind to people, to share, have an opinion, to be positive, to look after myself, appreciate what I have in life, to be honest, value people’s time and be responsible.

Even though we live 800km apart I know she is only a phone call away, my mum would be the first person at my side when I need her. That is precious and I probably should be better at telling her that too.