There is no manual for motherhood.
Because the truth is there is no right path. Every journey through motherhood is different, through all the twists and turns, and when you put sport into the mix, it adds to the juggling act.
Today the Otago Daily Times launches a multi-part series called ‘Sporting Mums’, exploring the road through motherhood in sport.
We spoke to southern sports stars who are all at different stages of their journeys through motherhood while chasing their sporting dreams.
They give us a peek behind the curtain of what it is like raising
children while training, playing and coaching.
They talk about the sacrifices and triumphs, the challenges along the way and the joy of raising children, and the little things that people might not even realise.
We start the series today with a chat to Sport New Zealand acting women and girls lead Kelly Curr, who tells Kyla Hodge about the importance of being able to be active after having children. There are more reasons than you might think.
If there is one thing that rang clear from those we’ll hear from in this series, it is that support — in any shape of form — goes a long way.
And there is no job more rewarding than being a mum.
It is a phrase that is thrown around a lot when it comes to women in sport, but it still holds great importance when exploring motherhood in sport.
Sport New Zealand acting women and girls lead Kelly Curr knows the value of mothers being active and having the chance to play sport.
"It’s so important — but it’s important for multiple different reasons," Curr said.
"For the mums themselves there’s a wellbeing piece around having your own time, being able to be active whether you’re an actual athlete or in a different way ... maybe as a coach or anything like that.
"There’s kind of that individual wellbeing that comes from being involved."
Mothers are also role models and have an influence — even if they do not realise it at the time — on how their children view sport and exercise.
"If they see mum being active, if they see mum volunteering in the community as a coach ... it has a real positive influence on how kids value that kind of thing as well.
"It becomes part of what the family does. There’s a really strong connection between active parents and active kids."
One of the hardest things for mums as they look at being active is the thought of being away from their children.
"I think one of the hardest things for mums is often mum guilt.
"So that kind of ‘I’m doing this stuff over here, it’s taking me away from my kids’.
"But actually it’s beneficial for them to see you be active ... and it gives you some you time."
Women have always explored becoming mothers while playing sport, but it has become more normalised and visible in recent years.
Rowers Brooke Francis and Lucy Spoors captured the nation when they raced to Olympic gold in Paris and were dubbed the "super mums", having returned to the boat after both having children. That goes a long way to showing other women they can still chase their dreams while having children.
"I think given the number of high-profile athletes that have come back to elite sport after kids ... there’s more role-modelling going on and there’s more visibility of it.
"I think it’s always been there to an extent; it’s probably just getting more attention."
High-profile athletes have a wide-ranging influence, but every day mothers returning to club netball, or various other activities, such as park run, also inspire those around them.
Wraparound support for mothers has been a key factor in helping women remain active — but that looks different for everyone. Support can come from family and friends, but it can also come from clubs and sporting organisations.
Childcare options and co-coaching opportunities were among the various ways organisations could help women feel supported in their return to sport, Curr said.
"I think there’s just a way of support, maybe not just thinking about supporting their immediate circle, but clubs and sports organisations.
"What role might they be able to play to attract mums back into sport, whether that’s through different kinds of, like, walking netball or modified versions of the game to just help people get back into being active."
Curr encouraged mothers to research and understand what is available in their chosen sport or recreation — and know it is OK to still want to be involved after having children.
— TOMORROW: Wendy Frew's life with four kids
