Motherhood, with its ups and downs, also boasts many beautiful and life-changing benefits. We caught up with Sam Geel and Jane Linley-Thomas to chat about the joys and challenges they’ve experienced; the lessons they’ve learned from their moms, and the love they have for their kids.
Sam Geel
With a full-time corporate marketing career and co-owner of The Flower Farm in Monteseel, mother of three Sam Geel says she is grateful to have the most incredible partner who takes care of packing lunches and doing school runs.
“Having a supportive partner makes being a working mom so much less stressful, and Dale lovingly takes care of all the mom duties that I simply cannot get to. I often wonder how single working moms manage to do it all!”
As mom to a pigeon pair, 11-year old Nixon and Sailor who is 12, and stepmom to 13-year-old Taya, Sam reflects on motherhood at a young age in many different ways.
“I was 22 when I had Sailor and 24 when I had Nixon, so I didn’t really have too much time to think about motherhood. Having children so young changed my path, but it has been a real adventure raising them. This is my opportunity to raise children who will bring light and goodness into the world, and become adults who will make a positive impact on people and the planet. And the bonus is that I will only be 43 when they are both finished school!”
Speaking about the joys of being a mom, Sam says that she could write a book on this.
“It’s all of the drawings and letters, the hugs and kisses, singing in the car, the jokes, witnessing their kindness, hearing their laughter but most of all, looking into two little faces that look exactly like mine!”
What she loves most about all three children is that they love sharing and, as a team, they embody kindness and compassion.
“If anything, this has made our household a more remarkable space to share! I parent each child according to their individual needs and, my children are beautiful beings. I love Nixon’s empathy and incredibly dry sense of humour. I love Sailor’s genuine kindness, no-nonsense attitude and her perfect balance of brains and beauty. And I love and truly admire Taya’s tenacity and work ethic.”
Is it a walk in the park raising tweens and a teenager?
“Of course it is … it’s like Jurassic Park, except, the park is on fire and the dinosaurs are zombies that are all after snacks and asking where their shoes are,” says Sam laughing out loud. “Let me tell you, there is nothing about parenting an 11, 12 and 13-year-old simultaneously that is not challenging. If you like mess and noise and hate sleep, I would highly recommend this!”
Reflecting on her childhood, Sam says what she admired most about her own mom was her formidable patience.
“She honestly deserves a crown for the level of chaos she endured with my siblings and me. There was an eight-year age gap between each child. In 2012, my dear mother decided that she needed to illustrate a very important point to us all, which was that if you put your mind to something, you can achieve it. Having made her point, at the age of 50, she ran her first Comrades Marathon and finished it in medal time. Her sheer audaciousness and determination have always been inspirational to me”.
Even in her youth, Sam says that she always listened to her mom’s words, warnings and advice.
“I still do. And as I’ve moved through motherhood, I’ve always had my mom at the back of my mind. I’ve also learned my own lessons, as I’ve negotiated the joys and challenges of being a parent, and come up with my own pearls of wisdom that I would like to impart with them. I tell them often that if they want their pocket money, they must earn it. If they want the marks at school, they need to work for them. If they have a dream or goal, they need to reach for it. And in adulthood, if you’ve got the vision, you’ve got the job!”
And the things she’s looking forward to most about motherhood in the years to come?
“Everything! Although dealing with all their heartbreaks from future boyfriends and girlfriends is something I am dreading, and someone might need to restrain me! But in all honesty, from the day I became a mom, I learnt to celebrate everything … every small achievement, every birthday, anniversary or milestone, every Valentine’s Day, Easter, Spring Day, Halloween, Christmas. Any chance we get to celebrate, we do! And that includes Mother’s Day!
In Sam’s household, Mother’s Day generally involves a lot of handmade cards, hugs and something the kids have baked, followed by breakfast they would have prepared, under some level of supervision.
“I won’t lie, a spa day and a light shopping spree would be first prize, but failing that, breakfast in bed followed by a day off would be fantastic. To be brutally honest, all I am hoping to get is some rest.”
Sam says the finite time they have together on this earth should be spent filled with love and joy and just celebrating life. And if she can teach her children anything, it’s the value of kindness, compassion and caring, “not just for people, but for animals and the earth.”
“I don’t want to wish their young lives away, but seeing them grow into happy, successful adults and finding their place and purpose is what I most look forward to. And watching my children wholeheartedly love and take care of each other, means my work is (just about) done.”
Jane Linley-Thomas
“Every one of us has learned something from our mothers over the years and chances are it stems from one of their many pearls of wisdom. While we might not have understood them at the time, as we’ve got older they’ve all made sense,” says Jane, a self-dubbed storyteller, magic maker, playful disrupter and passionate East Coast Radio DJ, who is also the co-founder of The KindnessCan Movement and the creative heart behind The ReJoyce Collection.
As a hands-on mom with an energetic, creative and curious trio of kids – 12-year-old Cooper and twins Rocco and Lula, who are 10 – Jane’s days are full, fast and busy. The alarm clock stands to attention at 5.30am and it’s go, go, go until the early evening, but she loves life this way.
“I always wanted to be a mom. Even when I was a child I mothered other kids, and always put my hand up for the mom role in any games we played. Having a sister five years my junior it was like having a living doll to play with. My pretend games pivoted around dressing the baby, taking it shopping and feeding it … most of the fun stuff. I don’t think for due reason I knew how full on parenting could be. It’s like walking around with your heart outside of your body.”
Being a mom, she says, is both the most rewarding and terrifying job in the world.
“I take being a mom very seriously. I have phenomenal parents as role models, so I work hard at providing love, care, boundaries, play and fun, all while juggling the negotiations, discipline and routines. It’s a responsibility and gift worth working hard at.”
Some of Jane’s greatest motherhood joys are fostering open and honest coversations with her kids. This is something she really does value.
“Getting to know each of my kids on their own has been an incredible experience. It’s such a deep, deep love. I am also so proud that they consider others and treat those around them with respect. We are big on manners.”
Jane says she often thanks her eldest, for gifting her with the gift of motherhood.
“I love his insightful and wise conversation. Seeing Cooper flourish into a young man is a real delight. When I look at Rocco, I see his dad, Michael. His manners, kind nature, determination and thoughtfulness are all qualities that drew me to his dad and make me so proud to be his mom.
“As for Lula, who will always be my baby girl, I love her for her caring heart, maturity, sensibility, her soft skin and her friendship. There is something special about the relationship between moms and daughters, and Lula and I have a very tight bond. We love the same things so we vibe easily. We both get giddy over sushi, RuPaul’s Drag Race, a good piece of stationary and a sale. The boys and I have a different relationship, but just as deep and connected.”
As the kids have got older, Jane says she has really enjoyed the fun side of parenting.
“The silly, loud, crazy times where we exist in our own world … in our own sense of connected bliss. I cannot lie, there are certainly some tough times in the trenches. Two tweens and one almost teen already makes for some challenging times, but I remind myself that I was once a teen and, as parents, Mike and I do our best to navigate any rocky water. My kids know that our home has an open-door policy, and in the years to come I hope they find comfort coming home and enjoying many more memorable times … and also so that I can keep a learned eye on them.”
Looking back on the lessons her mom taught her, Jane laughs and says she wishes that she had listened more when her mom said ‘Mothers always know!’
“Of all the things she imparted to us, being there has been the most valuable. The greatest gift you can give your kids is you, and both my sister and I are fully committed to our kids and go to great lengths to make them feel loved, seen and cared for. The biggest lesson I’ve learnt by being a mother, and one I hope to share with my kids is to go easy on yourself as a parent. It’s a role that seeks a great deal of compassion and kindness. Look for progress, not perfection and when you drop a ball while juggling, it’s ok. At the end of the day, all we want is for our kids to find what makes them happy, live a life of purpose, find someone to love with a full heart and be loved back with tenderness, thoughtfulness and regard.”
How will Mother’s Day be spent in the Linley-Thomas household this year?
“Every year I phone my mom and sis on Mother’s Day, and we light a candle and set up a shrine for Mike’s late mom Jeanette. Mike is an incredible role model and always in on the action when it comes to doing or creating something small and meaningful … a beautiful breakfast at home, hand drawn cards and a vase of blooms. I am a sucker for anything sentimental. Last year he helped the kids build a Lego box. Inside were 100 hand rolled ways to say I love you. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
Details: Follow Jane on social media at @janelinley_thomas and @therejoycecollection or visit www.loveJLT.com
