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<\/p>\nMeet Cherise van der Vyver, who\u2019s all about hard work, entrepreneurship and lifting others up. But more than anything, she\u2019s a mom on a mission \u2026 raising her little Miss Mae to take on the world.<\/p>\n
Anyone who\u2019s met Cherise van der Vyver will tell you she just beams with love, life and laughter. And exactly that is what she hopes to pass on to her daughter, Jenna-Mae. But, she and her husband, Johan are taking a slightly different (if you want to call it that) approach to parenthood.<\/p>\n
Around two years ago, they started teaching Jenna-Mae some financial and entrepreneurial skills. She was three. So now, if she wants something, she\u2019ll be savvy enough to know how to get it all by herself. Like, for instance, her horse-riding lessons. With mommy\u2019s help, she opened up her own business called Jenna-Mae\u2019s Workshop and started out by making and selling her own slime to pay for her horse-riding.<\/p>\n
\u2018Recently she had her eye on a beautiful hair clip, and I told her that if she wants it badly enough – because she already has a zillion others,\u2019 Cherise chuckles, \u2018she needs to find a way to make money to buy it. And so, we started making and selling the prettiest earrings together \u2026 and she was over the moon when she was finally able to buy her treasured hair clip as a result of new skills and hard work.\u2019<\/p>\n
Cherise believes that when you have a skill and some confidence, you can make money. That\u2019s why she and her family are giving little Jenna-Mae a head start on life \u2026 teaching her all the grown-up stuff she won\u2019t necessarily be learning in the classroom. Oh, and little Miss Mae already has a retirement annuity for when she is older too, so \u2013 in her own words \u2013 she doesn\u2019t have to work one day, just like Ouma.<\/p>\n
In their free time, you\u2019ll find this mommy and daughter duo crafting, dancing, baking, and enjoying the outdoors. They also love music and dancing. But shopping \u2026 well, that\u2019s all Jenna-Mae. Cherise is less enthusiastic about that one.<\/p>\n
But, here\u2019s the twist. Jenna-Mae also has Type 1 diabetes. It\u2019s not reversible and it doesn\u2019t get better. For those who are not doctors or sufferers, Type 1 diabetes is not purely genetics and you cannot bring it about with sweeties. And so, Cherise urges parents to take their child or loved one for a simple HbA1c test at any lab, GP or clinic if they have any concerns.<\/p>\n
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Jenna-Mae also has a Diabetic Alert Dog (DAD) named Isla. A qualified, registered and very well-trained medical assistant to sense when Jenna-Mae\u2019s blood sugar drops. When a type 1 diabetic goes low, it is very dangerous as they can have seizures or fall into a coma. Isla is a superhero in the van der Vyver household, often detecting lows long before any device can.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s so sad because she is often not allowed in places or treated very poorly even though legislation permits these life-changing service dogs,\u2019 Cherise added.<\/p>\n
Luckily, the Krugersdorp community is getting to know Isla, and people are becoming more aware of the incredible role service dogs play \u2026 not just for the blind, but for those with diabetes or epilepsy, to name just a few.<\/p>\n
Even though it\u2019s not always easy keeping an eye on a four-year-old diabetic \u2026 it has brought their family a lot of gratitude over the past few years. And, it\u2019s never stopped them from living their best lives, either. In fact, Cherise is big on not passing down fears or doubts to her daughter. She wants Jenna-Mae to face the world confidently. And, she leads by example!<\/p>\n
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She spent years in tourism, then became a photographer, and now she\u2019s a financial adviser. She loves helping people understand their finances because, let\u2019s face it, many of us feel overwhelmed by it all. Cherise can relate. She\u2019s been there, and now she enjoys giving back and guiding others through the financial maze.<\/p>\n
\u2018I finally feel like I am where I should be. So, to everyone out there, it is never too late to change careers or study again. Yes, it is harder as you get older, but don\u2019t give up on finding your place in this world.\u2019<\/p>\n
Her photography business, which she started a decade ago, has become more of a hobby these days, but it still brings her immense joy. She still loves capturing moments and editing photos. And if she\u2019s being honest, she doesn\u2019t think she\u2019ll ever stop taking photos.
\nWhen she\u2019s not spending time with her family, working or taking pics, she runs. And she\u2019s taken up some serious marathons too. Including the Kaapshehoop Marathon, her most challenging yet most beloved race. She recalls one year when she wasn\u2019t fully prepared, but with the help of her friend Lelani, she managed to finish, just two minutes too late to qualify for the Comrades Marathon. Tough, but totally worth it.<\/p>\n
How does she do it all? Like many mommies \u2026 Cherise often wonders the same thing.
\n\u2018I do believe that God gives me the time and energy I need to complete what\u2019s important, and when life gets overwhelming, I know it\u2019s time to refill my own cup before carrying on.\u2019
\nThis is exactly why she founded Ladies in Business just over two years ago \u2026 a community to empower other women juggling careers, motherhood, and everything else. She wanted to create a safe space to learn, share, and support each other, and of course, to pray together, whether it\u2019s in their business or personal capacity.<\/p>\n
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So, what\u2019s next for Cherise? Well, for now, she\u2019s got her hands full juggling family life, running marathons, empowering women, and helping people make sense of their finances \u2026 but she wouldn\u2019t want it any other way.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s on a mission to live fully and authentically, and her journey is a reminder that with a bit of hard work, a lot of love, and a dash of faith, we can truly shape the life, and children we want \u2026 one step and one day at a time.<\/p>\n
Details: Follow @Cherise Brady Photography<\/a> and @Freckles & Co.<\/a> on Facebook<\/p>\n 6 Things she wants Mae to know<\/strong> 3 Ingredient cloud dough recipe<\/strong> Quick and easy, sugar-free low-carb brownies<\/strong> Text: ALANICKA LOTRIET. Photographer: ROELIEN MALAN<\/a>. Venue: STUDIO WORTHIT<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Meet Cherise van der Vyver, who\u2019s all about hard work, entrepreneurship and lifting others up. But more than anything, she\u2019s a mom on a mission \u2026 raising her little Miss Mae to take on the world. Anyone who\u2019s met Cherise van der Vyver will tell you she just beams with love, life and laughter. And […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":21424,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,20],"tags":[5770,5677,7962,3339,7967,7965,7966,694,534,7969,7970,54,7971,7963,995,5769,1056,7972,7968,7964],"class_list":{"0":"post-21423","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-people","8":"category-personalities","9":"tag-alanicka-lotriet","10":"tag-care","11":"tag-cherise-van-der-vyver","12":"tag-community","13":"tag-daughter","14":"tag-diabetes","15":"tag-diabetics","16":"tag-dog","17":"tag-entrepreneur","18":"tag-fight","19":"tag-fighter","20":"tag-get-it-joburg-west","21":"tag-isla","22":"tag-jenna-mae-van-der-vyver","23":"tag-life","24":"tag-magazine","25":"tag-parenting","26":"tag-raise","27":"tag-sick","28":"tag-you-go-mama"},"yoast_head":"\n
\n1. You are good enough.
\n2. Life isn\u2019t perfect. Nothing is. It\u2019s not supposed to be.
\n3. Save. Save for now, save for emergencies and save for old age.
\n4. Take care of your body. You only have one.
\n5. Trust that little voice in your head.
\n6. Nothing you do, can change God\u2019s love for you.<\/p>\n
\nIf you like making homemade playdough with your little one, Cherise highly recommends this recipe. It\u2019s super silky, fluffy and scented \u2026 and has a nice stretch, too. Perfect for school holidays.
\nYou\u2019ll need:<\/em> \u00bd cup conditioner of your choice, 1 cup cornstarch and a drop of colourant.
\nTo make<\/em>: Mix it together well and you will have fluffy nice smelling playdough in no time. Enjoy!<\/p>\n
\nPerfect for T1 and T2 diabetics!
\nYou\u2019ll need:<\/em> 1 cup melted butter; \u00bd cup cocoa powder; 1.5 cups Xylitol (2 if you like it sweet); 4 large eggs; 1 cup of flour; whipped cream.
\nTo make:<\/em> Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
\nMix butter with cocoa powder. Add Xylitol and eggs and mix well.
\nGently fold in flour or flour alternative. Bake into a lined or greased 20cm dish for 20-25 minutes.
\nAnd, voila! Serve with whipped cream.<\/p>\n