I didn’t know how to answer. Yes, every inch of me was yearning to care for, protect and nurture this new little being and that is, of course, love. But it was only as the days turned into weeks, which turned into months, that I began to recognise in myself something I would more effusively describe as love. The innate urge to nurture was added to by a growing understanding and respect for Gus’s evolving personhood.
Getting to know someone as they grow into themselves has to be one of the most incredible experiences you’ll ever have. Those first few moments when you feel like you’ve really connected with another person, almost always bound up in humour or adversity. I welled up with tears and respect when Gus first received a scratch from our tetchy cat and stoically, silently endured it before looking at me and grinning. Seeing him learn to interact with the world around him will forever be etched on my heart.
Although I have recently become a mum, I am still someone’s baby in just the same way Gus is mine. I’m lucky enough to have a relationship that encompasses friendship, advice and nurture with my own mother despite having lived, at times, on different continents. It’s so easy to blame distance for so many things but it’s never got in the way of my bond with my own mum. She’s the one I always turn to in moments of happiness and despair, knowing she’ll only make things better. Being inspired by her innate style, appreciation of beautiful things, exquisite homemaking and ever evolving interest in books and film is just an added bonus. The apple never falls too far from the tree, does it?
Today I popped over to Westfield in Shepherd’s Bush to photograph artist Lizzie M Cullen illustrating Oxfam’s giant Mothers Day card. All connected up online you can dedicate a square to your mum as well as make a donation to Oxfam’s Mothers Appeal. The donation is done by text and super easy to do – just visit happiestmothersdaycard.org.
The target is £5m, each pound matched by the UK government, so a grand total of £10m. The money will go towards Oxfam’s projects devoted to empowering poor women and mothers, helping them increase their social and economic standing within their communities and gaining independence – see an example in the video below.
Artist Lizzie M Cullen creating Oxfam’s Happiest Mothers Day card
Oxfam says: “Join together with Oxfam and create the World’s Happiest Mother’s Day Card – a celebration of the amazing role mothers play in our lives, in their families and in their communities.”
Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Oxfam via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Oxfam.