Champagne, breakfast in bed, walks on the beach, lots of cuddles and NO housework.
These are the common themes we encountered when we spoke with six high-profile Sunshine Coast mums to see what their ideal Mother’s Day looks like.
None said their ideal Mother’s Day involved escaping with the girls on a child-free weekend away and binging on Sex and the City.
US woman Anna Jarvis is credited as having founded Mother’s Day in the early 20th century.
She chose white carnations as the official flower, because they were her mother’s favourite.
Mother’s Day began to be celebrated in Australia widely during the 1920s, however, as carnations are a spring flower, we have instead adopted white chrysanthemums as the traditional Mother’s Day flower.
As mothers everywhere are celebrated on the second Sunday of May, we would also like to acknowledge all those mothers who have lost children and for whom it is a difficult day.
KIM McCOSKER
4 Ingredients author
Names and ages of your children?
Morgan, 18, Hamilton, 15, and Flynn, 12 (going on 16!).
What is your ideal way to spend Mother’s Day?
I love a slow morning, a cup of coffee, a paper, a leisurely breakfast at home with the boys, then a day on the boat at Bribie Island – bliss.
What’s something special your child or children have said to you that you’ll never forget?
I have to be very careful as my boys are at an age where revealing home truths needs to be sanctioned first (hehe!). Not saying who, but this is one I’ll always remember: “If we kiss on the lips do we have to get married?”
SAMI MUIRHEAD
Radio announcer and commentator
Names and ages of your children?
Avalon, 10, Nixon, eight, and Augie, six.
What is your ideal way to spend Mother’s Day?
I will be served breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day, which is my favourite meal of the entire year as my little people will be banging and bashing saucepans and trying to be quiet downstairs, while I listen to the commotion caused by the cute cooks and my wonderful husband. Usually I feast upon chocolate (yes, for brekkie), burnt toast, raw eggs, carrot sticks and whatever else they know Mummy likes to eat. For the record I do not like raw eggs, but my kids do know I like scrambled eggs. They will serve ladybug juice (rose wine) and I will tell them not to tell their teachers! Then my tribe will all climb into bed and push the dogs and pillows and toys out of the way trying to secure some valuable bed space. It is sought-after real estate. I realise these are the golden years when my children have no choice but to celebrate with me. I will be sad when they leave my nest one day because being a mum is the role in life I am most proud of and most cherish. My husband and I underwent IVF for many years so to have three children is a bit of a modern miracle and I know I am besotted with them.
What’s something special your child or children have said to you that you’ll never forget?
As for their classic sayings well spaghetti is basghetti, butterflies are flutterbyes and Your China is where babies come from when they are born. My youngest one told our friend he may have to be a polar bear at my father’s funeral. When I quizzed him about what he meant I realised he was confused with pall bearer. Happy Mother’s Day to the wise and wonderful women who do so much for our families.
Louise Thompson
Venue 114 & Community Spaces manager
Names and ages of your children?
My two cherished children include my eight-year-old daughter Jazzy and five-year-old son Jesse.
What is your ideal way to spend Mother’s Day?
Spending the day with my beautiful family – hitting the beach in the morning, delicious outdoor picnic for lunch and a few champagnes watching the sunset to celebrate all the amazing mums.
What’s something special your child or children have said to you that you’ll never forget?
Being a working mum is a juggling act and I seem to be always racing against the clock – especially when you get a lot of red traffic lights! Mum was caring for Jazzy and Jesse when stopped by a red traffic light. Mum, being her gorgeous, optimistic self, told the kiddies that it was important for everyone to get an equal turn. Jesse (four years old at the time) replied with: “My Mummy says red traffic lights are a pain in the ar**!” Every time Mum and I are now stopped by a red traffic light we just laugh and laugh.
MARIA SUAREZ
Councillor
Names and ages of your children?
I’m blessed to be able to love, get cranky at and laugh with my 14-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter.
What is your ideal way to spend Mother’s Day?
Typically, I’ll get cuddles in bed, a cup of tea and cards or gifts in the morning, which is a lovely start to the day. The aim is to avoid any cooking or cleaning throughout the day, but it’s not always achieved as I shift roles and move from being the pampered mum, to the daughter who pampers her own mother. I like spending the day with the kids doing simple low-key things like playing games, having a picnic in the park, or if it’s raining, snuggling on the couch watching movies, and it’s always great to have a sunset walk along the beach. My sister and I will also tease each other throughout the day arguing over who is Mum’s favourite daughter.
What’s something special your child or children have said to you that you’ll never forget?
I still have the notes that each of my children wrote to the tooth fairy, asking for payment for teeth they lost and couldn’t place under their pillows. One child swallowed their tooth and the other lost it in their pocket!
BARBARA PEASE
Author
Names and ages of your children?
Melissa, 47, Cameron, 45, Jasmine, 39, Adam, 37, Brandon, 16, and Bella, 13.
What is your ideal way to spend Mother’s Day?
The perfect day for me is to be with my family. Having my mum with me would be awesome but she lives five hours away from me, so we find other days to be together. I love it when my kids spoil me and take care of me, as Mother’s Day is a special day for me. I love going through photo albums together and re-living all our adventures as a family, going to the beach and enjoying the sun and the sea air. Just having time with my husband, children and grandchildren makes my day!
What’s something special your child or children have said to you that you’ll never forget?
Our family has many funny moments! When I was pregnant with Brandon, 16, both my step-daughters, Melissa and Jasmine, were pregnant at the same time. I delivered Brandon in March and in July I was the birthing partner for Jasmine. While helping her through her contractions I was still breastfeeding – multitasking starts early in motherhood! I’d explain, “I’m carrying Melissa’s brother and she is carrying my grandbaby.” We have a crazy, loving, amazing family that is filled with so much love and fun. I am so proud of them. Being a wife, mum and a granny is the highlight of my life. Once I was asked how many children I had while I was pregnant with Brandon and I would reply “I have four children already here, one in the oven and one in the freezer waiting for me. Bella still to this day says to me, “Mummy it was very cold in the freezer waiting for you to come and get me and bring me into the world. How I love my family.”
ROSANNA NATOLI
News presenter
Names and ages of your children?
Ruby, 19, Mia, 16, and Roman, 14.
What is your ideal way to spend Mother’s Day?
My ideal Mother’s Day begins with a trek up Mount Coolum or a walk around Point Cartwright to Buddina or a walk from Mooloolaba to Cotton Tree, followed by a coffee. Some years the kids even join us! Then, lunch at a cafe – I’m really easy with this. My only proviso is that there is no fighting. Some years it even happens! Usually, there is also some baking on offer – friands are a favourite. My mum has passed so there’s a tinge of sadness at times, but we always toast her memory. The perfect Mother’s Day would finish with star gazing around a fire in the back yard. Bliss!
What’s something special your child or children have said to you that you’ll never forget?
My children have all said things to me that are absolutely shocking, but sadly, are not suitable for print! They have each stabbed me in the heart, turned me into a screaming, ranting shrew, and led me to question all of my parenting values. Yet, they have given me such love and moments of pure joy that I feel my heart will burst – sometimes in the same day. I know for certain that they have given me a gift. When they are kind to each other, it makes my eyes prick with the start of tears. When they are kind to others, it’s even better. I swell with pride and share their wins. I turn into a fierce lion when they need one on hand. I guess you’d say, I’m a regular mum.
