In celebration of Mothers Day 2020, a time that is unusual and rather challenging , we invited our Eastern Suburbs Mums community to nominate some mums
who should be celebrated in their own right.
We chatted to three local mums about what Mother’s Day means to them, motherhood during COVID19 and their favourite things about living in the East.
Happy Mothers Day to all our local mums – for the selfless acts and the never ending “job” that is motherhood.
CASEY CASTRO
Where and how long have you lived in the Eastern Suburbs? What do you like about the area you live in?
Woolloomooloo, 5 years. Love the colourful characters that reside here.
Number of Children? How would you describe them?
4 children; 3 boys and a girl. They are well rounded and thoughtful children who are a pleasure to spend extended time with. Of course they have their moments, as everyone does, and they are enjoyable, curious and full of love and respect.
Work/SAHM?
Work full time for myself as the head yogi at Sydney Yoga Collective, and also as a Pre/postnatal specialist and kids yoga teacher
What does Mothers’ Day mean to you especially during a COVID world?
Mother’s Day means spending a meaningful day with my immediate family and spending longer than usual time on facetime with my mother and mother in law.
Name 3 things you would like on Mothers Day?
To sleep past 7am, cuddles with everyone in bed, a day spent surrounded by laughter and joy, where ever we are.
MELISSA MURTON
Where and how long have you lived in the Eastern Suburbs? What do you like about the area you live in?
We live in South Coogee. I was born in Coogee, and moved away to the north coast when I was 10. I came back as soon as I finished high school.
I love where we live, we are surrounded by beautiful, fun and caring neighbours, lovely parks and it’s just a short walk to the beach.
We don’t venture too far from home, and spend the weekends close by, pottering around in the house and backyard. Having attended South Coogee Public School
myself, it’s quite a kick for me that my eldest daughter started school there this year.
Number of Children? How would you describe them?
We have three kids, all close in age. There’s Lara (5), Rylee (4) and Buddy (3). Our household is a beautiful chaos, and we are all a little bit wild.
Our girls have always been fairly rough and ready, so when we had Buddy, we thought we were pretty prepared for life with a little boy amongst us, but he’s shown us the true meaning of wild, and gets amongst everything.
Our kids are all a little shy to begin with, and take their time showing themselves, but once they have that comfort and confidence, there’s no stopping them, and they’re all as loud as can be. I’m sure my neighbours think I’m running a circus here!
Work/SAHM?
I’m the coordinator, along with my neighbour and best mate Rachel Brito, of Randwick Family Centre. We are a centre that supports Defence Force families within the eastern suburbs and surrounds.
We have a wonderful community that we provide services for, and it truly is a pleasure to be able to do what we do. My husband is in the Navy, and has spent some big chunks of time away from our family, so I know what challenges our families face, and it’s nice to be amongst a group of people who get what’s going on.
When time permits, I do a little bit of catering for friends and family, and I also breed racehorses. I like to keep myself busy!
What does Mothers’ Day mean to you especially during a COVID world?
I’m really looking forward Mother’s Day! If things were a little different, we most likely would have gone and spent it with my Mum, up in Scott’s Head, but we will FaceTime, and make the most with what we have.
I’m looking forward to a bit of a sleep in, a home cooked breaky, and Benn (my husband) is cooking us a roast.
As much as I’ve been busy with work, and juggled that with home schooling and keeping all the kids entertained, the silver lining to these challenging times has been that we’ve slowed things right down, and simplified ourselves. I’ve honestly enjoyed having the time to just hang with the kids, and stay at home.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s been days that have felt like weeks, where we’ve done multiple craft activities, baking sessions and meltdowns all before 9am,
but on the whole, this period of time hasn’t been bad.
Name 3 things you would like on Mothers Day?
More sleep
A home made card from the kids – these are my favourite part of special days. I just recently celebrated my 40th during isolation, and the kid’s made some lovely cards.
Hanging out in our front yard and having a (socially distanced) drink with my neighbours and super star mums
MANDI O’SULLIVAN-JONES
Where and how long have you lived in the Eastern Suburbs? What do you like about the area you live in?
I live in Waverley & live on Bronte Beach any chance I get. I’ve lived here 23years & my family many more than that.
The thing I love about the Eastern suburbs are all the little communities & as much as the past 6-10months have been very trying for all of us I have been inspired seeing our local communities coming together to help each other.
Number of Children? How would you describe them?
I am a single mum with 2 gorgeous boys,
Lorcan 13.5yo & Carrig, 12yo.
Work/SAHM?
I am an exercise physiologist & work with both adults & children.
In my spare time I have also set up & run @kids_in_q a charity that creates care packages from donations for the children in hotel quarantine.
Both of my boys have been amazing helping me with this.
Follow us on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/kids_in_q/ Donations are welcomed!!
What does Mothers’ Day mean to you especially during a COVID world?
Spending time with my boys
Name 3 things you would like on Mothers Day?
I don’t need much But3 things would help brighten my day
1.A sleep- in
2. Coffee & breaky in bed
3.Not have to cook or cleanup for the day (hard as a single parent)
