As Mother’s day beckons once again, perhaps because of the lockdown and an extraordinary amount of time to reflect on and assess what we really want from life, I am thinking less about how to be appreciated as a Mother-although this is important. Rather, my thoughts have been on the concept of the collective nurturing nature of women. Women have an extraordinary ability to nurture anything back to recovery, health or life. We have the extraordinary ability to not only take up space (thank you to the inspirational Zozibini Tunzi for these words that will forever be etched on my heart), but we also possess the unmatched ability to create space for one another.

Sisters, the relationships we have with one another is significant, but how about expanding that circle of significance? While you love on and invest in your tribe, allow a young girl in for a while to glean off your life experience. Find an older woman, the matriarchal sage if you must and sit at her feet, willing to be taught. Having observed and having been an eager participant in conversations with women of various ages, I find it fascinating to observe how our conversations evolve and inspire at different stages of our lives. Clearly, this is linked to how we grow through life.

How you feel about yourself at 25 is vastly different from how you feel about yourself at 35 or 55. These intergenerational conversations and relationships, I believe, will inspire us and potentially save us from making mistakes. Similarly, we lift the veil of doubt, insecurity or uncertainty for the women walking in the paths our feet have created. You see sisters, we are alike, more deeply connected than we realise. “Mothering” doesn’t have to be reserved for our children only. This empowering and deliberate fostering of relationships intergenerationally is where #eachforequal undergoes an entirely different notion.

Serve the women walking in the paths behind you. Take on the role of big sister with pride.

There are so many courses or workshops that ask us to “write a letter to our younger selves.” This to me symbolises that there are “younger selves” who still need us to impart the life lessons we have encountered. I latched onto “older” girlfriends as they created a “safe” space for me. Where I lacked confidence, they reassured. Where I lacked experience, they imparted wisdom. These were the big sisters I cherished and still do. Become that big sister. The mantle of responsibility is great, yes, but if Michelle Obama can take the time to mentor, then we too are more than capable? Mentoring these young women creates a significant “trickle” down effect because we have the innate capability of nurturing and caring for those around us. In the words of Joy Bryant; “When you empower women and help them thrive, you help their communities thrive.”

Invest in your sisterhood

Our LDH and EGH founder, LeAnne is a beautiful example of this. Creating and attracting a tribe that would create a safe space for one another: space where burdens are shared but in the most uplifting sense. In this space, despite the challenges, your sisterhood are the women who remind you of the good things about your children and your spouse, when you cannot see past the hurt. They are the sisters who choose not to allow toxicity to fester within the tribe. This Mother’s Day, spare a few real moments reflecting on the soul-sisters who have seen you at your most vulnerable, encouraging you to be the best mother you could be when you needed it most.

Rest at the feet of the sage in your life.

I think one of my favourite things is getting advice from older women in my life - even if the advice stings. These older sisters or motherly figures will never just tell us what we want to hear: they know that time is far too fleeting for that. They have an uncanny ability to bring correction to our lives but it is wrapped in love, often with a hint of comedy and they are the ones who remind us that despite our foolishness, we are still worthy, even when we don’t believe it ourselves. The matriarchal and sisterly figures in our lives are also completely over the drama triangle we tend to get ourselves into and they don’t sweat the small stuff. They are far less judgemental because they have the understanding and experience that only comes with age.

I love the simple words by Shelley Zalis for Forbes Woman: “a woman alone has power; collectively we have impact.” Let’s get out of our own way, especially as Mother’s Day draws nearer and let’s invest fully in the women in our lives, without inhibition or judgement and create the impact the world is ready for.

Investing in the Girl, the Woman and the Matriarch