Bree James, epitomises ‘entrepreneur’. From starting her first official business at the age of eighteen, to running one of Australia’s most successful regional publishing companies, Bree has entrepreneurial DNA in every fibre of her being. The eternal solution finder, Bree’s innate ability to seize opportunity and fill market gaps has attributed to her huge success in the business world. But she’s more than just the driving force behind her own enterprises. Working with organisations around the country, Bree is also an acclaimed presenter, author, podcaster, travel writer, YouTuber, performer, and an inspirational mentor to small business owners everywhere. Her philosophy in life is to be brave, be bold and be brilliant.
View all posts
This month it’s Mother’s Day, the one day of year when Mum is showered with extra love from her children and a day off doing mum duties. Treated like a queen, ready for a day of relaxation, peace and quiet reflection on how awesome she is.
The thing is, I actually think this is one of the funniest days of the year for most mothers.
Whether you are a single mum, or you have a partner, in my experience, this day turns into a “I either have to laugh or I will cry” day. The morning often starts lovely, with hugs and sloppy kisses, breakfast cooked in bed, delivered with a knee to the vagina by one of your overly zealous children.
You’re then watched like a hawk by your children as you eat yummy, cold breakfast whilst they wait for the “MMMMM this is DELICIOUS!” Then the kids start to get upset because they want to eat breakfast in bed too. Then someone touches someone’s foot and all hell breaks loose, your breakfast or tea gets spilt everywhere, so you then have to eat breakfast at the dinner table.
Then it’s present time! Your gifts are nearly dropped as they are brought to you. You watch in fear that it’s something glass, and that their little hearts are going to be broken into a million pieces, like the gift, if they drop it. Phew, it makes it to you and you open it, “Oh yay!” I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but sometimes you get a nice thoughtful gift, sometimes it is just dumb crap, like a generic beauty pack that your partner grabbed at 5pm the day before because they couldn’t think of anything else, so it sits in the bathroom cupboard with last years one. Never the less, YAY! Then one child will start crying because it’s not their birthday and they aren’t getting any presents today and all hell breaks loose again.
As the Queen you are, you then think, ok I am going to go and have a nice long hot shower whilst today’s plans are executed. You sneak off to have some “peace”, sit on the loo and at least one family member will “pop in” to ask a pointless question. You deflect to another adult in the house and head for the shower thinking how good it is to deflect, you hop in and just as the water hits your hair, they are back with the biggest crisis that only mummy can solve. You take a deep breath and give up that hair mask and shaving all your bits that needed to be done two weeks ago, and give yourself an uppercut for thinking you could have a peaceful shower whilst they are awake. You compromise with yourself and commit to do it once they go to bed. You have a quick shower, put on a robe and ask, “What are we doing today, so I can dress for it?” The reply? “Well…. What do you want to do today? We thought you could choose.”
You internally scream as you know all the fancy places are booked out in advance, then the kids start arguing putting forth what they want to do, so you end up with your hairy legs in long pants in the local food court so everyone can eat the lunch they want. Finally, there is five minutes of peace and you take a moment to look at your little humans and reflect on how being a mum is the best job in the world. And even though it is 24/7 365 days a year of non-stop doing, thinking and being, you wouldn’t change it for the world.
Happy Mothers Day ladies, whatever your day ends up like, just make sure you take five minutes to celebrate you.