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Emma Del Rey's avatar

Well I’m crying because I love this idea and I feel you personally answered my call. I am so excited for this series and what a wonderful idea. I am already immensely grateful for the women in your life who are willing to share their wisdom and experiences with the community. It’s truly heart warming to me because I don’t know where to turn for that sort of support.

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Jo Hughes's avatar

Thank you Emma - for your comment and the inspiration, albeit unintentionally! I'm pleased you are looking forward to it and hope I can create something that does their wisdom justice.

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Crissie Flemming's avatar

Ah I love this and can’t wait for the series. That feeling of wishing I had my Mum here so that there was actually someone who was looking after me for once - instead of it always being me looking after everyone else massively resonates. I’ve found people who have been there for guidance for me, for which I am extremely grateful - but never anyone who just knows when you need help, has you at the top of their priority list, like I would do for my children. I have felt the anger and proper green eyed jealously of seeing others with amazing Mum’s and support systems that I longed for so much when the kids were little especially. My sister and I talk about that often as we only have a certain capacity to help each other when both of us are trying to juggle parenthood, jobs and life.

What I am pleased about is that I know I will have that tribe that you talk of if anything ever happened to me. My children’s Aunties whether they be real ones or the ones they have called Auntie since they were born would always step up for them in the way Helen did for you in that instance. That makes me happy. I also have so much to thank all those Aunties for helping me in so many ways. The difference like you say is the wisdom that comes from the older generation. X

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Jo Hughes's avatar

Ah, thanks for sharing so honestly Crissie. Your lovely mum - and others who are so sadly no longer here - were very much in my thoughts when I was writing this. There is nothing that can replicate that relationship and I understand people grieving the loss of it in so many moments, or grieving the absence of it if it's not something you ever had.

You have also made me think about the importance of life stages coupled with the elder wisdom. When the system 'works', it's not just the case that the older generation have the experience to support but also that they are at a stage of life where they are able to. This is where it falls down with friends (and siblings) because they have their own challenges to manage at the same time.

There is definitely an article coming on the importance of nuturing friendships. We think of those relationships as something personal to us, but actually they can / should extend to supporting each others families too x

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