Your mum will always love you - even if you do forget it is Mother's Day today. To celebrate, the ODT asked six Otago people to sum up what their mother means to them.
• University of Otago student Jacobi Kohu-Morris. His mother is Reilene Morris.
‘‘I find Mum quite inspiring. She works hard for my two sisters and I, and she's very selfless - our needs are always put before hers.
‘‘She does everything she can so us kids can have a good life and stuff that she never had. I find that really inspiring.
‘‘I'm just going out on my own into the world for the first time, and I'm trying to find my feet. But I'm confident because she's always there if I need her for support.
‘‘There's always that support, no matter what. I think that's what everyone loves about their mum.''
• Chef, television personality and author Simon Holst. His mother is Dame Alison Holst.
‘‘She's worked hard to become one of New Zealand's best-known television personalities. She would get up and start work at 4am so she could fit in family as well.
‘‘Even though her public life was really busy, she always had time for me and I'll always appreciate that.
‘‘She is very diligent and extremely conscientious - she sets high standards for herself and that was a great thing to have modelled for me.''
• Opera singer Jonathan Lemalu. His mother is Tasi Lemalu.
‘‘Mum always impressed the need to be a kind human being, to enjoy life, family, community and faith, and to revel in my individuality and cultural identity.
‘‘I had pressure to pursue my music career abroad earlier than I did but Mum was adamant I finish my law degree (she pulled me out of rugby teams and choirs when studies were being ignored), a vital decision in hindsight for both education and vocal maturity on the world stage.
‘‘Having my own child, I now fully realise the responsibility and sacrifice necessary and look at Mum as an example for how I want to see Joshua grow up, with unconditional love and every opportunity to excel.''
• Dunedin Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse Lou Walsh. Her mother is Sandra Walsh.
‘‘To be honest, I wouldn't have been able to become a NICU nurse without her love, support and guidance.
‘‘I'm also a mum. I have a 6-year-old daughter. While I was studying to become a nurse, Mum baby-sat her.
‘‘It's also nice that Mum can bestow what she has learnt about parenting on to me as well.
‘‘My job can be upsetting at times, and Mum is a really good back-board.
‘‘I'm very close with Mum. She's like a best friend to me. She knows the right things to say, at the right time.''
• Oamaru restaurateur Sally-Ann Donnelly. Her mother is Robin Grant.
‘‘My mother means the world to me. I'm thankful to have the most amazing, caring and supportive mother.
‘‘She would do anything for us and she never complains. She has a great ear and never judges. I am truly grateful for all that she is.
‘‘PS: Her ironing skills are impressive as well.''
• The Chills singer/songwriter Martin Phillipps. His mother is Barbara Phillipps.
‘‘We were raised in an atmosphere of ‘give it a go'.
‘‘She and my father must have felt much trepidation when I first began fumbling my way into a career in music but, both being musicians, they stuck by me anyway and they were some of the parents who would often attend our impassioned but sometimes rudimentary early shows.
‘‘She stood up for me during some troubled times and is now thrilled to see the renewed interest in The Chills which means we are once again about to tour through America, Europe and the United Kingdom.''
