I am completely comfortable with the fact that I am a Mother of Many because I had seven children growing up in my house, and at any given time when they had their friends sleeping over there would be at least nine to ten kids crowded in our home. I’ve threatened many a child that I would staple his or her lips to the ceiling if they didn’t stop talking and go to sleep straight away! I’m accustomed to people with raised eyebrows asking me in astonishment, “Are they all yours?” or “Aren’t you a bit young to have sooo many children?”
The result of having so many kids is that you end up having a lot of grandchildren, and even today I come across raised eyebrows which I simply shrug off laughingly.
On Wednesday at my sister-in-law’s memorial service something happened which everyone in my family thinks is very amusing but I fail to find the humour in it!
After the service I stood next to my brother my arms linked with his for moral support as everyone came to offer him their condolences. An old auntie from my sister-in-law’s side of the family came up to my brother, looked at me and then looked at my brother and asked, “Is this your Mommy?”
I glared at her, “Do you want me to buy you spectacles and shove them where the sun don’t shine, Bum-face?” Instead I smiled politely and replied, “No, I am actually his younger sister.”
Terribly hurt and self conscious I asked my brother whether I really looked old and he giggled as he replied, “of course, look the people think you’re my mother!”
A sense of humour is one thing my mother’s children have in common, and even at a time like this when we are overwhelmed with a sense of sadness, we can still look at each other and laugh about silly things like that. Needless to say that after my older brother joked that he thought it was Winnie Mandela and not me who was the “Mother of the nation” everyone burst out laughing, including myself!
All I have to say is this: “Winnie Mandela stand back! I am now the Mother of the Nation!”
In South Africa today security plays a vital part in any business or private home. This book and the volumes to follow, will guide you step by step through the essential precautionary measures to be taken in protecting your family and valuables. From employing security guards, evacuation of your site and security measures to burglar bars and alarms in your private home.
a Book compiled by me from experience gained after 10 years in the security industry as Industrial relations officer with Nosa qualifications, 1st Aid, fire protection and also S.O.B. grade A.
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