Cherish Your Cherubs Interview: Carissa from Putting on a Party

Carissa is one funny lady and one inspiring Mum. She has had an emotional journey to achieve her goal as a mother and also is very talented at putting together an awesome party. She started Putting on a Party from her love for all things party related and as a way to have a flexible work schedule. At the beginning of this year she found out one of her cherubs was Autistic and as a family it has changed their schedule. This is how Carissa cherishes her cherubs....

1.Tell us a little about yourself as a mother.
From my earliest recollection that is all I have wanted to be, a mother. I am so blessed to have three beautiful children, Izaak 11, Grace 9 and Noah 3. I was 27 years old when I had my son Izaak, I would have had a baby at 18 if I had the opportunity to be married and could afford a baby at that age. I am glad that I didn’t now in hind sight as I feel the maturity you have as an older mother is crucial to the type of mother you are. I sadly had 5 miscarriages before having any children and I was very anxious that I might not be able to have children. With a lot of TLC we managed to get Izaak. Then with no TLC really, ready or not we were having Grace. Several years later and two more miscarriages saw our family blessed with our little man Noah. I don’t have any war stories for births, although I think they were bad, no one else seems to. Izaak was 5 hours 5 mins of pushing, Grace was two hours from when we left home to when we were holding her, two pushes and noah was two hours and maybe three pushes.. I know yours was worse, but everything is relative right.

2. What is your favourite part about being a mother? 
I really had to think about this for a while, but I would have to say, I think it is the intimacy of this relationship, how it can go from feelings of pride when you watch them strive and achieve their dreams, to cuddles in bed in pj’s on a weekend sleep in to wiping up all the snot poo and spew along the way to when they are not well, or hurt or worried and you see that searching, looking for you because just you, your presence will make it feel or at least seem better.

3. Who inspires you as a mother? 
My mother, and My sister Joanne and my friend Margaret would be my biggest Inspirations

4. Why do you think it is important to cherish your children? 
I truly believe that love and acceptance are the most important things you can give a child. It fuels their self esteem and self respect, these are the most important things you can give your child.

5. What do you do to show your children you cherish them? 
Well, I am a kissaholic… and I have a squeeze fetish, not just cheeks, but hands while I am holding them, cuddles are way ott. A massive smile when they walk into the room to try to show them how they light up my life is my aim always. With our little boy Noah, he is Autistic and as yet doesn’t speak or understand verbal communications, so in this last year especially I have had to work on all the non verbal ways to express my love and emotions to him, and as a beautiful consequence of this my older two children get it too.

6. What do you hope your children feel or learn from you cherishing them? 
To love themselves. To know that who they are, is fabulous. To make choices in their lives with this foundation.

7. What is your favourite activity to do with your children and how does it help you to cherish them?
I love to celebrate their birthdays and make a big fuss over them. But each child has their own favourite thing they like me to do with them. Izaak loves tickles and rough housing play on the bed (it’s a kingsize one), Grace likes to shop for jewelry and pretty girly things, and Noah loves to swim, beach, pool, any sort of water play is brilliant to him.

8. How do you make time for your children in your schedule? 
My schedule pretty much revolves around my children, and just this year when Noah was diagnosed I ended my business and stopped work to do all the things he needed me to do to help him be the best he could be. So my schedule is a lot of therapy appointments, school events and housework! One thing we do in our house as a random sort of thing is we have a tickle add. You know how when the tv station is promoting a new series or whatever promo and they have an ad that they play way tooooooooo much… it usually has a boppy jingle to it.. well whatever we are doing no matter what, we down tools and attack the kids with tickles… just while the add is on.. it is a fun spontaneous thing that just adds a couple of minutes of laughter and fun in our house.

9. How does it make you feel as a mother when you know you are cherishing your children? 
It is so rewarding and uplifting, really validates me.

10. What advice would you give to other Mums about cherishing children? 
Take the time to be what they need you to be. Make them feel special and make time with them as important as all the other time commitments you have.

Thanks Carissa. Such a gorgeous family picture! You can also connect with Carissa on her Website or Blog or Facebook page. I recommend popping by if you are looking for some great party ideas.