From Antipoda Co

May 07, 2021

Stories from Motherhood

For Mothers' Day, we asked our colleagues and the women behind our brands to share with us their short stories about motherhood.

Fran Jorgensen is our multi-talented Operations Manager. She manages every aspect of the logistics at the Antipoda Co warehouse, while raising two strong and happy girls and is an incredible family photographer to boot.

Instinct

“Let’s get ready and line up” – The group of officials calls up for a last-minute meeting to assess the conditions and the height of the waves. It was a cold and windy day, with menacing dark clouds: “Nothing like summer in Melbourne hey!” shouted sarcastically one of the dads.

My daughter was lined up ready for the whistle that would tell them it was time to go into the dreading ocean and swim all the way out, further than the break, around the buoys and back. My heart leapt, I knew that there was no way I would be able to do such a thing if I had to jump in the water that day, and yet there was only determination in her face.

One part of me felt like it was crazy to let them go, I was scared of the conditions, it was a hard swim, and yet another part of me kept telling me that it was time to let go. The whistle went and the time stopped. They started coming one by one and she had enough energy to run to the finish line. I couldn't believe it, she had completed the race in terrible conditions and she had finished strong. In that moment I couldn't help but be filled with admiration for her determination and strength, she was only 10 years old. That day she taught me the strength of her will, and since that day whenever I say goodbye I always ask her: "What are you going to be today?" and she answers: "Happy, Strong and Healthy".

Fran Jorgensen, Antipoda Co

Pictured above, Fran's daughter; happy, strong and healthy.

Designer, Sarah King helps us keep everything looking lovely at Antipoda Co. Here she writes about a memory of her mother from adulthood.

Presence

I'd said "maybe we should just call it", I was angry and it was meant as a threat, but he said "yes we should", and that was it. The relationship that took me from my teens through my twenties was suddenly over. The weeks that followed were full of unease; exhausted, unable to sleep, nauseous, nervous. I stayed at my mum's; I remember one evening sitting on the sofa her arms around me while I sobbed uncontrollably. (I often think of this moment when I wrap my arms around my own children when they are upset, that overwhelming feeling of protection, reassurance and relief - how amazing that it continued into adulthood).

That evening my mum got out some knitting needles and started teaching me how to knit. In the evenings that followed I knitted, I pearled, I dropped countless stitches, I cried some more, all the time my mum was there listening, picking up the dropped stitches.

I still pick up my knitting needles now and again, I find it therapeutic. I've improved a lot, thankfully not through multiple break-ups. But I'm sure my mum worries that there is something awry when I have a knitting project on the go. We're not in hugs-reach at the moment. I think I must knit her something and tell her how much I love that she taught me how to do it.

Sarah King, Antipoda Co

Pictured above, Sarah's daughter sleeping soundly while she knits

New mum, Milda Gauld joined Antipoda Co as our Accounts Manager this year. She wrote this piece with her sister-in-law in mind who is pregnant with her long-awaited first child.

Acceptance

It is like diving – you can still breathe, but it is way different from breathing above the water. You can still move around – but it can’t even be compared to walking on the land. You can still see, but now everything is with ripples and sparkles of light around them. The world around you seems to be just moving along on its own rhythm, however you feel so confused, lost, but at the same time amazed and surprised. And you have a choice – to kick and push and panic and hyperventilate and get frustrated that you can’t walk as fast, that you can’t see as far, that your body does not feel the same, or you can embrace that underwater world and learn to dive, to ride waves or leap out of the water just to wow the land humans.

Milda Gauld, Antipoda Co

Pictured above, Milda and her son.

Antipoda Co

When we asked Milda about mum/work life she told us, "Usually on my days off I’m trying to move the mountains – sort out meals, laundry, mess, renovations, gardening, catchups, exercise, read books, catch up on podcasts. All while my little 7 month old is sitting on the rug analysing tissues, wooden puzzle pieces, socks, a sticker, those extraordinary things called toes and anything else that I would not consider being interesting. One day I just sat down next to her and observed the world through her eyes. Time became light, the room expanded, the joy filled my mind, pushing away all the plans and worries. And there I was, journeying along with my baby, on her breathtaking life adventure. Must do that more often!"

Cover image credit Fran Jorgensen

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