The Meaning of Mum Art Exhibition
In May, Dress Smart is really proud to be partnering with our local school, Onehunga Primary, in our first ever Art Exhibition to show the ‘Meaning of Mum’ in our community.
We welcome you all to come and visit the Art Exhibition, located outside Coach. You can also check out the images below to find out more about the stories – and most importantly the people – behind the artwork.
Visit the Exhibition!
Monday 1 May – Sunday 21 May
Outside Coach at Dress Smart Auckland
Meet our Mums
At Dress Smart, we know the important role that mums, grandmothers, mum-figures (and absolutely dads and other men!) play in the lives of whānau.
We also know that lots of us and our tamariki don’t have a mum – we have a 阿媽, Mummy, māma, ਮੰਮੀ, or fa’ee. The special people we choose to celebrate might be our mum – or might be people who’ve stepped into that role for us. It’s friends, aunties, sisters, caregivers, neighbours, friends’ families, and teachers.
We asked the pupils of Onehunga Primary School to draw us a special mum figure in their own lives. The artwork encompasses such a wide range of responses. From dogs and dads to tinā and teachers, we’re so proud to present their hard work to you.
“Mummy”, drawn by Tupon, age 9
Lucia, 10
What do you call this person?
Miss
What do you love most about this person?
She gives great hugs and is funny and kind
What is something this person always says to you?
You can give me a hug when you need it
Interview with Lucia’s special person
Hey Sa! Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a New Zealand-born Samoan, married with four children and one grandson. When I’m not wearing my teacher’s hat, I’m wearing my ‘Mum! The wifi’s playing up’ hat, the ‘Darling daughter, your Mum needs you’ hat, the ‘Sa! We need to catch up’ and the ‘’Miss, I know I’m at high school now, but I really need your help’ hat.
Read more
Lucia chose you as her special person to celebrate. Why do you think that was?
I hope it’s because Lucia can see that my teaching and growling is because I love her unconditionally. I hope it’s because she sees through my words and actions that I care. I hope it’s because I inspire her to be the best version of herself that she can be, from when she gets up to when she rests her head on her pillow and to get up the next day and be better than yesterday. Above all, I hope Lucia chose me because she sees that I nurture and discipline her and her peers like I do my own children. There is no difference.
What’s it like to wear the ‘mum’ hat for so many children?
It is deeply, deeply humbling. I have no other words that can completely fathom how it makes me feel other than a truly overwhelming sense of gratitude. It reminds me that being a Mum doesn’t begin and end in the comfort of my own home.
Do you think ‘motherhood’ looks different these days?
I’d have to say, seeing the mother figures I had around me, the struggle was real, and it’s the same struggle today. From what I see around me, we’re still striving to hold it down at work while keeping our household in check. Our mothers were doing this long before our time. it might have looked different back then, but the struggle is still the same today.
With so much the same, what has changed?
The difference now is the readily available support, such as the ‘Transition to Work Grant’, health and parenting helplines, and forums such as Le Va, which supports Pasifika families. The biggest difference in motherhood now is having safe places where it’s ok to talk about depression and mental health issues and ask for help.
What do you want to say to tamariki this Mother’s Day?
Your Mum is so much more than the one who makes your lunch, cooks your favourite meal or takes you to training. She’s also the one that hugs you when you’ve had a rough day, even though she’s had a rough day too. She’s the one that saves you when you’ve forgotten your swimming togs, even though she had a million other things going on. She’s also the one that cries silent tears when you’ve been hurt, even though she’s still hurting from when you yelled at her that morning. It’s the little things your Mum does for you even when she has nothing left to give. So this Mother’s Day, really think about the little things that your Mum does because, no doubt, she’s given up a lot of magical moments in her life so that you could have them in yours.
What advice would you like other mum figures to have?
I see you. The Mum at home raising her family as best she can as she brings them to school with a smile on her face; I see you. The self-employed Mum owning it like a boss while trying to book a time for their child’s whānau meeting; I see you. The Mum with serious health issues who moves mountains so she can see her child at Zones sports; I see you. Know that you are valued. Know your worth and continue to portray that to your children.
Jonah, 8
What do you call this person?
Dad
What do you love most about this person?
That dad takes me to the arkad (arcade)
What is something this person always says to you?
Do you want to go to the park?
Interview with Jonah and Dad
Hey Jonah! Who have you drawn for us today?
This is Kevin and he’s my Dad!
Nice to meet you Dad! What’s it like to be Jonah’s special person?
I’m proud to be Jonah’s person and that he considers me a special role model.
Read more
Do you think that family life has changed since we were young ones?
Yeah heaps. The shift to better work life balance is one of the pros but then the juggle of both parents working full time adds a different juggle.
What’s the hardest part of being a father?
Juggling commitments to ensure I always make time for the kids. I really love spending time with them and I believe that face-to-face time is the most important thing, and at the end of the day that’s what our kids really want. They want US without the distractions, which is always much much easier said than done!
Jonah – do you have anything else you want to say about your dad?
My Dad is great at cooking fried chicken and crunchy pork. He’s good at fishing and I love him a lot!
Hugh, 8
What do you call this person?
Mummy
What do you love most about this person?
She gives me lots of hugs, that’s why I wrote the word hug on my drawing
What is something this person always says to you?
Unpack the dishwasher please!
Interview with Hugh’s special person
Hi Mummy! What name do you go by when you’re not mum-ing it up?
Pretty much it stays Mummy or Mum, but my original name is Penelope. I’m Mum to three boys and lucky enough to be step-mum to two bonus boys – there are a lot of boys around here!
Read more
What is the best thing about modern motherhood?
I absolutely adore being a mum and I think the best thing is we’re returning more to the idea of having a village to raise our kids together. Sometimes that’s a virtual village, sometimes it’s taking turns with school pick-ups and feeding extra kids. Sometimes it’s taking a call from another mum in the middle of the night because she needs to chat things through. We were never meant to do this alone.
What’s the hardest part?
The hardest part is that, often, most of it is hard. Two of my boys are autistic and have a variety of other health needs and I was also an independent mum (I like that better than solo or single!) for many years. I don’t think that anything can ever quite prepare you for how hard it is to suddenly go from having a partner – to then having to be everything to your kids. Exhaustion as a word doesn’t even begin to describe how it feels. I literally don’t think I’ve slept through the night in 15 years!
Solo or ‘independent’ parenting is really common in modern motherhood – what advice do you have?
I will start with a fact that really helped me (and it’s backed up by loads of research!): Kids only need one consistent, loving, reliable person in their lives to be ok, and that doesn’t have to be a biological parent either. In terms of advice, there are two quotes I love that were really important to me when things were tough: “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending” by CS Lewis. And “Plan A is no longer available, so let’s kick the $%^$ out of Plan B” by Sheryl Sandberg.
You’re 15 years into your parenting journey – anything you would have done differently?
Put myself on my ‘to do’ list as a priority. I learned the hard way that if you don’t look after yourself, you can’t look after others and then the whole ship goes down. And be kind to yourself – on hard days treat yourself like you would your own child, so lots of rest, breakfast food works great for dinner as well, aim to achieve nothing, and remember to drink water!
More artworks
Audrey, 8
What do you call this person?
Erin or Mummy
What do you love most about this person?
How she cuddles me
What is something this person always says to you?
Clean up your room Audrey
Neve, 9
What do you call this person?
I call her Mum
What do you love most about this person?
I love that she is kind and caring. And her baking.
What is something this person always says to you?
My mum always says that she loves me
Yuna, 7
What do you call this person?
Mummy
What do you love most about this person?
Because she takes care of me
What is something this person always says to you?
I love you
Benjamin, 7
What do you call this person?
Mum
What do you love most about this person?
She’s really good at problem solving
What is something this person always says to you?
Don’t fight Patrick!
Lucy, 9
What do you call this person?
Harry or Horse Harry!
What do you love most about this person?
Everything about him
What is something this person always says to you?
Arf, woof, growls
Davina, 9
What do you call this person?
Tootsy
What do you love most about this person?
She’s calm
What is something this person always says to you?
Meow purr
Emma, 9
What do you call this person?
Mummy
What do you love most about this person?
How she loves flowers
What is something this person always says to you?
You’re amazing
Izzy, 6
What do you call this person?
Mummy or mama
What do you love most about this person?
She always colours and creates with me
What is something this person always says to you?
That she loves me
Ella, 6
What do you call this person?
Caris (My Aunty)
What do you love most about this person?
She takes me lots of fun places
What is something this person always says to you?
Hi Ella-bella
Teile, 9
What do you call this person?
Mama
What do you love most about this person?
Telling me to eat healthy food
What is something this person always says to you?
I love you Teile!
Nadia, 8
What do you call this person?
Onay – mum
What do you love most about this person?
Her love and being kind
What is something this person always says to you?
I love you
Mila, 7
What do you call this person?
Māma
What do you love most about this person?
How she cooks us food
What is something this person always says to you?
My māma says I love you
Leigh, 8
What do you call this person?
Nadia
What do you love most about this person?
She is kind and silly
What is something this person always says to you?
Let’s play
Ava, 7
What do you call this person?
Mummy
What do you love most about this person?
Because she looks after me
What is something this person always says to you?
I love you
Beti, 7
What do you call this person?
Mum
What do you love most about this person?
I love her because she helps kids get better, she’s a doctor. And she’s kind to me.
What is something this person always says to you?
I love you
Emilee, 8
What do you call this person?
Mum and Mummy
What do you love most about this person?
They are very kind
What is something this person always says to you?
I love you too
Imogen, 9
What do you call this person?
Mummy
What do you love most about this person?
That she’s my mum
What is something this person always says to you?
I love you
Jaz, 10
What do you call this person?
Mum
What do you love most about this person?
She is kind
What is something this person always says to you?
I love you/take out the trash
Kaho, 7
What do you call this person?
Mama
What do you love most about this person?
I like her drawing
What is something this person always says to you?
I love you
Liliena, 8
What do you call this person?
Mum
What do you love most about this person?
She is funny
What is something this person always says to you?
I love you
Line, 5
What do you call this person?
Mum
What do you love most about this person?
Her hugs
What is something this person always says to you?
I love you
Macy, 9
What do you call this person?
Mummy
What do you love most about this person?
She is always happy
What is something this person always says to you?
I love you
Michael, 7
What do you call this person?
Mum
What do you love most about this person?
She is fun to play with
What is something this person always says to you?
You’re cute
Zara, 8
What do you call this person?
Mum
What do you love most about this person?
When she cooks dinner
What is something this person always says to you?
Clean your room