“Like flowers ache for spring
My heart craves my mother
More than anything”
- Rupi Kaur
a little Q&A with beautiful Amy
What is your favourite memory with your mother?
“I can’t remember how old I was, but we were dropping my brother in town; she
stopped the car outside what is now the Southern Sun Hotel and we went in; she told
me to get in the lift and we went to the top floor. It was night time and the entire city
was lit up. We sat together in silence.”
How does this affect the way you parent your own child? Did you ever see
motherhood on the cards?
“A bond between a daughter and a mother, it is indescribable; it is sacred. When I
told my mother I was pregnant she stayed on with us for two years. Her strength,
knowing she was going to meet her first grandchild shone in all of us. I’m grateful to
her for her resilience, for her wisdom.
Motherhood was always on the cards, but I guess I thought I would’ve become a
mother later on in life. Not at 22. But such is life.”
Do you count yourself lucky to have a positive male influence in your child’s
life?
“I do; the thought of it brings me to tears often. As I write this he is sweeping the floor
next to me. He isn’t afraid to throw those gender norms out of the window. He does
laundry, he does the dishes. And I put up the shelves. I count my blessings, often.”
Can you share why it was not the first priority (if at all) for you and your
partner to get married?
“Dean and I had not been together long when we found out we had conceived. We
really wanted to be as gentle on ourselves as we could during the process of
growing a new tiny human and deciding on our partnership. We went to therapy
before the baby and spoke about our partnership and what we would like to do going
forward; we also had to discuss Surname things. We liked the idea of marriage but
we really wanted to focus on our baby. Now we find ourselves in the space ready to
celebrate that love I guess? I definitely think it’s better not to rush marriage though.”
What are your favourite flowers called and why are they special to you?
“Stargazers; they were my mother’s favourite. When they open they make the whole
room smell incredible - those and Saint Joseph Lilies - but I wouldn’t be able to
decide.”
You are a businesswoman, a musician, an artist and now a mother! Where
you do you draw inspiration from?
“I draw inspiration from the quiet moments; from the physical landscapes and skin
connections we have with our loved ones. I am busy on an exhibition titled "“Return to
Land; Return to Skin”; which is exploring the relationship I have to the land and space
I find myself in. Past and presently. It is a notion I find myself in often so I’ve decided
to explore it more.”
Many women in the artistic field struggle to stay motivated and to deal with
the ups and downs of creative flow. What would you say to them?
“The downs are all part of the beautiful messy process! Play and take that apart.
Create more than you consume - do not compare your process to someone else’s.”
While Mother’s Day is most certainly about the joys of motherhood, there
are also many times that are challenging. How do you manage your well-being
when things get tough?
“DEEP breathes. Janet Lansbury is my Guru and I listen to her podcasts. I have read
both of her books on new babies and toddlers, [explaining] discipline without shame.
I am learning too, and sometimes I fail, scream and slam the door. I breathe and
apologize to Frances and explain I am learning too. We just have to keep going.”
What do you hope that women who may still be on their way to
motherhood will take into the parenting journey with them?
“Do not read too many parenting books! Your gut and intuition is usually correct.”
