Mother’s Day – Mums of Merlo

Anna Kerwick, Head of Marketing

 

Why do you love being a mum?

I love everything about being a mum – my kids are almost like my best friends now they’ve become teenagers and we have a very strong bond. To watch them grow and mature into mini-adults who have their own opinions and beliefs and ways of doing things is pretty amazing.

What’s the hardest part about being a mum?

It’s certainly a juggling act! For me, as a single mum, there is the constant struggle of making sure all their needs are met, that I can provide for them on my own both emotionally and financially and also still have the strength to know when to say no to them when need be, rather than just let them do things because it’s easier than being the bad cop! Working full time and not always being available for them – especially when they’re on school holidays is always a struggle – but I do believe I’m raising independent and resilient kids who appreciate what they have and know the value of things because they see how hard I work to provide for them.

What is one of your fondest memories of motherhood?

The days that both my kids were born will always be a special memory that I’ll never forget. I was lucky to be able to work from home for the first few years of both of their lives which meant that I got to watch them reach those milestones of crawling, eating certain foods for the first time, learning to walk and riding a bike- so those early years of development were very special. Mind you – there are some great memories when they were older – the simple things like talking to them about their day over dinner, taking them on holidays, walking on the beach with them – they’re all special.

What’s the craziest/funniest thing your child has done?

I was half asleep lying on the couch one night watching TV when one of them came out from their bed not feeling well and by the time I registered what they were doing, they’d projectile vomited all over my face, hair and chest and I couldn’t move!

How has coffee helped you during motherhood?

Couldn’t survive without it! A morning coffee after a long night was a must – and in the early years I was working as a business magazine editor so used to stay up late at night editing while the kids were asleep – I needed my coffee! Another big thing for me is the social aspect of coffee and catching up with other mums over a cup of coffee while our kids played at the park or on the back deck at home……..it was a big part of what motherhood is all about for me. Funnily enough – even before I started working for Merlo Coffee – I was a strict Merlo fan and would always visit the Merlo store at Paddington for my supplies!

 

 

 

Linda Conwell, Accountant

 

Why do you love being a mum?

I love being a Mum as I have been lucky enough to watch my all my children grow into adulthood and I am very grateful they have all become respectful, honest, loving and hard working and I am very proud of them all.

I am also a proud grandmother of 8, so I also love the fact they have given me such adorable grandchildren. I feel extremely blessed to be Mum.

 

What’s the hardest part about being a mum?

Now that my children are young adults, the problems become ‘adult’ problems, and ones that I cannot fix. When the children were young the issues were simple and so much easier to resolve. Now that they are older, I must remember that they are each very independent people and must remind myself to just ‘be there’ and the hardest part is trying not to worry. I have come to realise that as a Mum, you never stop worrying about your children no matter how old they get.

 

What is one of your fondest memories of motherhood?

The day they were all born being the best memory, then throughout the years watching them play various sports and activities such as soccer, netball, ballet performances, me spending many hours sewing ballet costumes or managing/coaching teams.

Going on family holidays, we had the best times when we were simply camping; we would pack up the tent and the trailer and pile up the bikes, cots, prams and all the favourite toys, and off we would go for weeks at a time, hard work but lots of fun.

 

What’s the craziest/funniest thing your child has done?

One of my sons was a bit of a larrikin. He loved to be the class clown, and the opposite of his brother and sisters who loved all sports, he wasn’t really a big fan. We tried him in a soccer team once, to our dismay he decided to sit down on the ground and have a bit of a rest…the problem was that he was in the position of goalkeeper!! Needless to say, the soccer team participation didn’t last long after that.

 

How has coffee helped you during motherhood?

In the early years, I couldn’t have survived parenthood without those times sitting around friends’ tables, chatting and drinking coffee for hours whilst the children played.

Later on in years, once I started studying (I did it backwards, had the children first), in between juggling the family commitments, studying and working full time; my day could not have been possible without coffee. Even before working at Merlo I would buy my coffee from the Valley store!

 

 

 

Justine Rizzi, Account Manager

 

Why do you love being a mum?

It took my husband and I 10 years of IVF to get our son

He is the most spirited redheaded ratbag that you would ever meet but brings us unbelievable amounts of joy every day

The over welcoming unconditional love that you feel is the most amazing emotion that I have had and continue to feel

My son has just turned 5 so now at that age that we can do a lot more together and its hilarious when he says things and you don’t expect

What’s the hardest part about being a mum?  

Working Full time and juggling parenthood and work

Also, at this age we are still learning, and some situations can be frustrating and stressful when you aren’t expecting it but we try to take things in our stride and learn

What is one of your fondest memories of motherhood?

Everyday is amazing whether it be easy or hard

I couldn’t imagine my life without Byron

We love going camping to the beach and we especially love time away with no distractions to do the simple things and we have undivided family time

What’s the craziest/funniest thing your child has done?

Byron is a Denis the Menace so is constantly doing unexpected things

He is very confident in his own skin and completely unnerved by doing what ever he wants which can sometimes be good – or embarrassing

How has coffee helped you during motherhood?

Coffee is one of the first things I think about when I open my eyes in the morning

I can drink coffee at any time of the day and after 12 years of Merlo it’s almost as necessary as drinking water

It also helped a lot in the earlier years when Byron wouldn’t sleep

 

 

 

Kate KcKenna – Coffee Trainer

 

Why do you love being a mum?

My kids are my biggest achievement. I love being a Mum because every day brings new and exciting challenges. Every day you get to watch you kids grow and mature and learn totally new things. Its amazing how you can have 2 kids and raise them the same, but they turn out totally different. You get to watch them create their own little personalities.

What’s the hardest part about being a mum?

You never stop worrying about them. When they are babies you worry if they are warm enough or if they are hungry, but as they get older you worry if they will make good friends at school, are they learning enough in school and keeping up with the demands of school work, are they happy, are they eating enough fruits and veges.

Trying to juggle work as well as being a full time parent can be hard because you feel like you should be spending more time with them.

What is one of your fondest memories of motherhood?

The birth of my bubbas. I was lucky enough to have experienced a cesarean and a natural birth. The moment they are placed safely in your arms is the feeling.

When I brought home my youngest daughter from the hospital, my oldest daughter sat beside her bassinet and read her nursery rhymes as she slept. She was a very protective and loving big sister.

What’s the craziest/funniest thing your child has done?

My youngest daughter eats anything. She would sit in the dirt in the back yard and mix the dirt with water until it looked like melted chocolate then eat spoonful’s of it.

How has coffee helped you during motherhood?

My babies were pretty good sleepers so I was lucky in that department. But as a new Mum there were plenty of days where I would sit and talk about all of the difficult obstacles of motherhood over many cups of coffee with other Mums.

I find that a coffee just before school pick up keeps me going until the end of the day.

 

 

 

Lee Lee Chhor, Accounts Payable Clerk

 

Why do you love being a mum?

I love being a mum because it’s beautiful being able to see the innocence and happiness that children are. It’s funny being able to see things from a child’s perspective and being able to watch them grow into tiny little adults. Also, the early morning snuggles are the best.

What’s the hardest part about being a mum?

The hardest part of being a mum is all the emotions that go with them. Trying to put yourself into their shoes and seeing things from their perspective can be quiet challenging, but also makes you understand them a lot more.

What is one of your fondest memories of motherhood?

My fondest memory was probably the very first time my son put his arms up and wanted me to pick him up. I had just finished my first week back at work and overcome with the going back to work guilt. But that moment made everything much more worthwhile.

What’s the craziest/funniest thing your child has done?

The funniest things my son has done is learning to talk. There are lots of words that weren’t being pronounced right, and while you’re trying to be serious, it hard sometimes not to laugh. There are also times now when he doesn’t remember words that he’s trying to say and uses such a round-about way to describe things.

How has coffee helped you during motherhood?

Without coffee, I probably wouldn’t be as productive and tolerable in the mornings. Luckily, my son has never been an early riser, but there were times when he’d wake constantly through the night. The mornings after would require multiple very strong coffees! Also, it was great in the earlier years when trying to meet other mums. Coffee was a great excuse to stay awake while getting out of the house and being social.

 

 

 

Kate McKenzie – Head of HR

 

Why do you love being a mum?

There are simply too many reasons to list. I feel privileged watching their little personalities blossom. The bond we share deepens every day and they truly are my best friends. No one makes me laugh like they do!

What’s the hardest part about being a mum?

Balancing it all! School, Kindy, Work, Extracurricular activities. There are so many balls to juggle at any one point. Sometimes it feels like utter chaos, but I have learnt to embrace the mayhem.

What is one of your fondest memories of motherhood?

Watching my children develop their own personalities and interests. My two are chalk and cheese.

My daughter is super girly (and sassy). She loves dressing up, playing mummies, colouring-in and mucking around with my make-up!

My son on the other hand is a dynamo and loves, chocolate, cars, chocolate, trains, chocolate, paw patrol and more chocolate.

What’s the craziest/funniest thing your child has done?

My two are extremely mischievous and when they go quiet it is when I start to worry…A few antics include:

• Putting the dog on the trampoline
• Breaking an entire carton of eggs open as they wanted to find the baby chickens inside
• Flooding the bathroom when they used a whole bottle of bubble bath
• Stealing easter eggs from the fridge and hiding under a bed to eat them in secret

How has coffee helped you during motherhood?

To put it simply: “First I do the coffee and then I do the mum things.”

In those early sleep deprived days coffee helped me function; then it became my social life as my mother’s group met weekly for coffee; and now you won’t see me do a school drop off without a coffee in hand. Coffee really has been involved from the very start of motherhood. It is very serendipitous that I now work for Merlo Coffee.