Mum, you're an angel
We talk to Julieta Casariego and Amelia García about how growing up and having children changes your perspective.
Julieta Casariego , graphic designer, andAmelia García, artist, have recently become mothers and both agree on one thing: now they appreciate their own mothers much more. Tantrums, sleepless nights, deep breaths and lots and lots of patience. We'd all love to know a mother’s trick for making it all look so easy, but until we find that trick out, we'll have to keep asking them for help..
For Mother's Day we chatted with Julieta and Amelia about what they would say to their mothers and how their own experience as mothers are playing out..
Now you know what having kids is like, what would you say to your mother?
julieta
Being a mother means to be brave, and she's very brave. Being a mother means hugging the other person, above all. Now I understand her strength and love.
amelia
I’d tell her many things, things like now I understand everything, I would thank her and say that I’m sorry. But I think above all I'd tell her that, although I've always loved her, I love her even more now.
Why would you thank your mother?
julieta
Because on the toughest nights of those first few months, the sound of her key opening the door at dawn, to take over from me, gave me a new lease of life. Because she made me feel safe and supported me when I gave birth. Not forgetting for her strength when she ended up alone and her overwhelming example of always being there for others. Because of her open-mindedness, intelligent look on life, never fearing change. Because she's always got soup in the fridge. And most of all for her unwavering support, even when her favourite shirts suspiciously disappear from her wardrobe.
amelia
A big thank you for all the sacrifices, strength and unconditional love. My mother, like many mothers, worked outside and inside the house, and the little time she had for herself was for us too. I remember that when we went to sleep, she would stay up doing things for us like fixing our clothes or sewing fancy dress costumes for school. I think that's incredible.
amelia
"Elio brings out the best and worst in me, he's my mirror. He teaches me to go with the flow, to be patient, to solve problems with a smile, in short, to be a better person. Babies are truly wise people"
Is being a mother how you expected it to be?
julieta
No. It's impossible to imagine it, and you keep forgetting that, for better and for worse. The baby years are very hard and very beautiful. It is important to weave a good network, not to compare yourself with others, and to take things in one's stride. We fled to the countryside and from here, little by little, we found our way. It's important to take care of yourself, to have support from others and time. And to always have a sense of humour. And lots of nappies and concealers! I wouldn't give it up for anything. I’m very happy with my children.
amelia
Yes and no. From the outside I saw motherhood as something tremendously exhausting and beautiful, and so it is. But it’s that and many layers more that you cannot even think of until you experience it. It’s very complicated, Elio brings out the best and worst in me, he's my mirror. He teaches me to go with the flow, to be patient, to solve problems with a smile, in short, to be a better person. Babies are truly wise people.
