There is no doubt that we are all spending a lot more time on social media these days. In light of this, and the fact that it is Mother’s Day this month, we decided to find out what some of our favourite North Coast social media influencers got up to during social distancing.
KATE LOVEMORE
@katelovemore
1. Tell us about your family and your pre-lockdown life? My little pod consists of myself, my hubby Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker (current three times big wave surfer world champion) and my little girl Billi Bo who is 4 years old. We are an ocean-loving family and enjoy lots of time swimming, surfing and travelling. I am an electrologist and own Lovemore Aesthetics. Pre-lockdown life was pretty ‘normal’, school run, gym and seeing clients. Then after school activities or a beach visit.
2. What has been the biggest change in your daily life? Learning to take each day as it comes. My emotions have been different every day. Some days I have all the patience in the world and other days I feel like a ticking time bomb. When you are busy it’s just ‘get up and go’, not much time to think. A lot of feelings have come up during lockdown. I’ve also really battled with not being able to go to the beach for a swim.
3. What role do you think you play as an influencer for other moms? First off, I never really considered myself as an influencer, so thank you! I hope to drop a little humour into someone’s day. It’s okay to laugh at yourself or lift someone’s day by letting them have a laugh at you. I also like to keep it real!
KAJAL MAHARAJ
@ka_jillofalltrades
1. Tell us about your family and your pre-lockdown life? I’m an optometrist turned stay-at-home-mom. Days usually consist of taxiing kids to and from their respective schools and extra murals. A large part of my day is also allocated to cooking. Of course I try to keep fit and then squeeze in shopping and homework!
2. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt through this process? That we have much more than we really need, and that we have so much to be grateful for. But mostly that I can overcome anything I put my mind to and that I’m more resilient and resourceful than I thought.
3. What role do you think you play as an influencer for other moms trying to survive this challenging time? My husband is a doctor and has been isolating from us because of his high exposure risk at work. Sharing this, I see myself as an ‘interactor’, rather than an influencer. I thrive on the connections and I hope I’ve helped moms stay grounded by delivering facts and dispelling anxiety-causing myths and untruths. I also pride myself on being able to laugh at myself!
DIANA THOMPSON
@the_housewife_diaries
1. Tell us about your family and your pre-lockdown life? We are a family of three: my husband Graham, our 3- year-old son Benjamin and myself. I am a housewife and stay-at-home mum. My days revolve around my husband and our son. After the morning school run I usually hit the gym, then household errands and school run again. I make and take my husband a fresh lunch every day and we eat together at his office. Afternoons are for extra murals or play dates and we end most days with a drive on the golf cart around our estate.
2. What has been the biggest change in your daily life? The first change I made not to wear a watch and be too aware of the time. That has really helped. We have coffee and rusks in bed in the morning, which I love. Our days are still productive, with a workout and run up and down our driveway with our dog Ollie and then breakfast and learning and craft activities with Benjamin whilst my husband works from home. Between cooking three meals a day (and making umpteen snacks), washing dishes and cleaning up, I am yet to clean out the cupboards and spring clean the house like I had visions of doing!
3. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt through this process? Not to take anything for granted . . . a simple smile from a stranger, hugging a friend hello and even a quick trip to the grocery shop. I always knew that quality time was my love language, but this time together at home has reinforced that.
MONIQUE DE VILLIERS-DELPORT
@being_maddies_mom
1. Tell us about your family and your pre-lockdown life. I am a digital marketing specialist and my husband Brett is a software developer. We have a four-year-old daughter, Maddison. I am also a professional blogger and social influencer, with over 18 500 followers across my social media platforms. Our pre-lockdown life was all about routine. We work full time and Maddie spends half the day at school and the rest with our full time domestic. Brett and I and take turns taking her to extra-murals. We love family date nights at restaurants and braais with friends.
2. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt through this process? Grace! To accept it, extend it and relish in it. The massive shock that has been our new reality has been frightening for us all. Life as we knew it changed in an instant and the fear, anxiety and panic settled in. Amidst it all though, I keep reminding myself to extend grace towards my husband, my daughter and most importantly, myself.
3. What role do you think you play as an influencer for other moms? Moms are spending more time on social media than ever before, seeking comfort and looking to relate to other moms. I believe it is hugely important not to portray an unrealistic state of being. It is okay to admit we are failing, we are scared, we aren’t coping…because chances are we are all feeling the same way and can find comfort in knowing we can relate to each other.
DOMINIQUE ROUX
@domi.roux.yoga / @ourafricanfootprints
1. Tell us about your family and your pre-lockdown life. We are a family of five: my husband Brett, our almost 3-year-old son, Roan and our two French bulldog children, d’Artagnan and Bijou. Brett and I run a travel business called Our African Footprints, curating travel into Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands. My days are a balancing act between my two roles! Late afternoons are sacred family time for us, with long sunset walks with our frenchies. After Roan is asleep Brett and I end our day with a meditation.
2. What has been the biggest change in your daily life? We design travel for a living and with both the travel ban and lockdown our business (like many others) has been put on hold. Instead of curating travel, we are making arrangements for our current travellers during this unforeseen time, as well as being playschool teacher and home-maker. I try to remember that it is not about the need to always ‘do’, but rather that it is important to just ‘be’.
3. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt through this process? I read a quote recently which really sums up one important lesson: ‘Sometimes the fastest way to get there is to go slow’. This resonated with me. Sometimes life slows us down because it is exactly what we need in order to re-focus, decompress and to prioritise what is truly important for us as well as the collective.
MARGARET WESTERHOF
@magssouthafrica
1. Tell us about your family and your pre-lockdown life. Our daily life was all about routine and deadlines. Rush from 5.30am with school run and gym and then off to interior design meetings, site meetings and supplier meetings. Voicenotes while driving, answering school WhatsApp’s and then changing caps and my role at East Coast radio. Home to my son for bed and story time and then finally settling with a glass of wine and a big fat sigh!
2. What has been the biggest change in your daily life? So much! And I know it’s the same for other parents . . . simple things like not being able to jump in your car and having to navigate your way around getting food and essentials. Homeschooling and working at the same time (HOLY MOLY!) and figuring out video meetings and being patient with those who are not tech-savvy. Easter weekend hurt for us. We are a huge family who love to hug and fight all the time, and we are always around each other. Not being with my family has been hard.
3. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt through this process? That we become extremely self-centred in our lives (I’m talking about myself too). Often I have had to sit myself down and look outwards, realising its not a ‘me, me, me’ situation. Everyone is in this and there are families without food and even kids in my son’s class who cannot do work due to lack of resources. I have been forced to stop being so damn self-centred and put my eyes on those who support. Ultimately, lockdown has taught me to be a lot less selfish and a lot more patient!
Text: Leah Shone
