The influence Mum has had on who I am today
As mother’s Day is here and it’s slightly different than usual. I am unable to visit my mum due to the social distancing and what the world is experiencing, so I thought I would write a few words on how mum has influenced me and my life which enabled me to be the person I am today.
I am not going to lie sometimes Mum and I have not seen eye-to-eye, clashed quite a lot and she didn’t always approve of the paths I sometimes chose, but the way she made me do and experience everything like my sister and pushed me to achieve things people thought were impossible, has had a profound effect on who I am today and how I live life today.
There is a saying “sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind” and in my case, this is very true. When I was younger and I used to trip over, scream and shout that I couldn’t do something, she was always there to make me carry on and find a way to do it, people may have thought she was being mean and unkind but actually she was giving me the tools and confidence to carry on no matter how hard life got. Both my parents fought to keep me in mainstream education but it ended up with me and my sister going through the private education system. They gave me the best chance to learn and have the best start in life that I could have had. In hindsight maybe I should have listened more in school and worked harder but as a child, you never realise that until you are an adult and sensible!
During the time I did athletics mum supported me 100%, not just emotionally but financially, they followed me around the world watching me compete and in the early days her and dad gave up their Friday nights driving me to training in Liverpool, supporting me in any way they could to follow the dream I had as an 8-year-old girl watching the Seoul Olympics saying I wanted to represent GB at a Paralympic Games. During the ups and downs of athletics, she was always there supporting me giving me advice, pushing me beyond my boundaries, making sure that I made the right decision for me at that given time. During my childhood and as an athlete mum continued to encourage me to be independent learn new skills and become the strong woman I am today.
When I made the decision to retire from athletics and move away from home she was fully behind me even though those that were close to me in athletics thought I was making the wrong decision and I wouldn’t be able to manage so far away from home. Having that confidence and knowledge she instilled in me that I would achieve anything that I set my mind to and I am proud to say – 15 years since moving out of the family home, I am still managing and running my own house, life and now my own business. It isn’t often I say it, but thank you, Mum, for having the strength to go against the norm and let me live life the way you did, experience so many amazing opportunities and let me learn by good and bad experiences.
Since starting Ability Consultancy, her support has never wandered, when things have not gone to plan she is one of the first ones to pick me up and remind me I can do this. At this very challenging time, she is giving me all the help and support I need, I will not only be truly grateful for this but even more grateful for guiding me to be to the independent, strong, slightly stubborn lady I am today.
