Mother’s Day | Through the Eyes of Our Enriched Team Mums

Mother’s Day 2023 is fast approaching, which presents an opportunity for celebration, reflection, and open conversations as we honour mothers. Whether you are a mum, a grandma, a ‘mum-figure’ to someone, or are the child of a mum, we can each experience connections to mothers in unique ways. Mother’s Day is a day that can bring up mixed emotions, depending on what each of our personal journeys with motherhood have looked like.

For part two of our Mother’s Day blog series, we’ve interviewed two of our Enriched Care Team Mums. Shelleigh and Rachael share their experiences as mums and grandmothers in this special interview…

Enriched Care (EC): What’s your name, and who’s in your family?

Shelleigh: I’m Shelleigh, I’m mother to Olivia and Chelsea and Ma-Ma (grandma) to Charlie, Louise, Poppy, Theo and Stella.

Rachael: I’m Rachael, I have 4 sons aging from 30 to 16, and 3 gorgeous grandchildren Lilli, Daisy and Arloh (who call me Mimi).

EC: What’s the best thing about being a mum to your unique and wonderful children and/or grandchildren?

Shelleigh: The most wonderful thing for me is just to share their time and space in all facets of life - the highs, the lows, the fun, the tears – all of it. It is true that being a grandmother is one of the best things life has to offer – I am blessed that my daughters value me and the role I have to play – they have always allowed me to forge my own relationship with these perfect little people and support my need to be hands on.       

Rachael: Individually, unique, and wonderful yes, but there is no best thing. It changes from days to weeks and then years of living and learning, watching your children transform and the amazing memories along the way. A mix of nurturing and tough love especially raising my sons… “Boys, noise with dirt on it.”

EC: How has Enriched Care as an employer, supported you as a working mum?

Shelleigh: My children are grown up with children of their own, but Enriched Care enables me to have flexibility around my work arrangements to either provide care to my grandbabies or alternatively to have them come into the office and work with me for an hour or two if the need arises. They value me not only as an employee but value that I have responsibilities outside of work.

Rachael: One of the many reasons I love to work here is the support given and values around family importance.

EC: How has working with our team and/or participants inspired you as a mum in your own life? 

Shelleigh: I find inspiration daily from our Support Workers, they are amazing people with kind hearts and a wealth of knowledge. I love it when SWs and participants come into the office to visit, and we witness the relationship between them. I also love that my interactions with participants have opened up lots of opportunities for conversations with my grandchildren and especially the Enriched Care opportunities to take them along to events.

Rachael: Thinking on your feet and being prepared for anything at any time.

EC: Do you have any ‘mum-hacks’ when it comes to trying to balance work and life?

Shelleigh: I give 110% when I am at work but once the workday is over it’s over. I always plan my next day before leaving the office and then make a committed effort to be present with my family in my own time. One day a week I collect my grandchildren from school, and we do an activity and have dinner together. So, I guess it’s not really a hack but just a reminder to be present in the moment.

Rachael: At one point I would have spilled on about the importance of being organised and schedules, now coming through the other side, my mum hack is laugh more and stress less.

EC: How do you feel when Mother’s Day comes around every year?

Shelleigh: I feel blessed on Mother’s Day, especially now being witness to my two beautiful girls as they navigate their way through parenting. We always have a day together that usually includes a picnic or some yummy takeaway at one of the beautiful parks around the Launceston area – we keep it simple, it is an opportunity to add to our family memories.

Rachael: It’s just another day, I have never encouraged my sons to feel they need to dedicate a special day, especially with buying into the commercial side of it. I appreciate the moments when I am shown unexpected gratitude and a hug far more than one day a year when it feels expected. Oh, and no longer having to force myself to smile and eat burnt toast coated in thick layers of vegemite and dreadful milky cold cups of tea for breakfast. 

Thanks Shelleigh and Rachael for your reflections!