Where are you from and where are you now based?
I very much love my home comforts and am definantly a home body. Spending my whole life living on the North Shore in Auckland, three years ago our little fam made the move to Helensville; a rural community on the outskirts of Auckland. We brought a renovated 100 year old villa on a quarter acre block.
This year I entered my thirties.
What don’t I do ;) When I am not working on Sunna, I relieve at the local primary school and mom.
My two pisces babes are 5 and 3. Chase the eldest; you would describe as a character, when younger he would talk to anyone and everyone, we would go on walks and he would insist on holding strangers hands, when upset he would literally ask be to be picked up and hugged by a random instead of coming to me. He is a lot more self aware now and very much a mamas boy, still very self confident, curious and strong willed. He has always been independent and needed freedom.
Cora; with her moon in libra is always happy, even if put to bed at 10pm, you won't see her misbehave or act out of character in the hours leading up to it. She is a busy body and does not stop, with her favourite things to do being baking sweet treats and painting. A born vegetarian it seems; she absolutely refuses to eat meat as she ‘likes the animals alive’. She earns money doing photoshoots with us and then she wants to spend it on her brother or wants to buy her own lunch. She has the sweetest nature and always wants to help.
How do you juggle kids, home, a part time job and Sunna?
It’s definantly not easy, there are times when I wonder why I am doing this. But my eyes are on the big goal and you just push through. It is a lot easier now the kids are older and are at their montessori preschool 4 days a week but prior to that, I had many late nights working. I am trying my best to schedule, organise and plan my weeks so that I have time to achieve everything and to ensure it all keeps moving.
I have always loved the arts; photography, painting, crafts, fashion etc and these have played a huge role in my life thus far. As our world and my personal awareness changes; a lot of my spare time is spent looking into sustainability, our climate, nutrition and diet etc. I am also passionate about astrology; it grounds me when I need clarity and it has helped me to become a more conscious mother aware of my children’s needs.
I believe that everyone has a path; born at a certain time to learn lessons that help to raise personal self awareness and conscience. In regards to parenting; we are just a vessel, developing a little mind and soul to become who they are meant to be. They are mine but they are not. They are themselves and I strive to give them the freedom they need to be the person they are to become, free of my beliefs, practices and expectations.
What do you try to instill in your children?
Kindness, manners, respect, curiosity, independence. The list goes on. The world needs people who care, who are kind, non judgmental and accepting. Who practise gratitude and are optimistic. Who have respect for others and for our environment and who understand that everything is connected. I want to set them up to become the best possible versions of themselves.
What are your views on their education?
Being a teacher and having always been interested in reading, listening and learning new things it comes naturally to me to share this with them. I want my children to be life long learners; to always question and to be curious. I want their minds developed to think outside the box, to think independently from the opinions of others and to look at learning with enthusiasm and not dread (as I often see in schools). This next generation are going to face issues we cant even comprehend, I want to try to equip them with the tools needed to help them change the world.
What’s your favourite things about your children?
How much they give to everyone around us and in their lives. They already have such a positive impact on the world, with so much love to share.
What’s the main thing you would like to give them?
Right now; a sustainable life and good education.
Auckland Climate Strike, Sept 2019; Brooke, Cora & Chase
