As we gear up to pay homage to the mother figure in our lives, for many it is a time of celebration, appreciation and joy, but for others it is one of the most difficult days of the year.
This is especially true for women facing infertility or those who have recently experienced the loss of a mother, daughter or other loved one; especially now as the world fights a pandemic. Thandie Mkhize, 70, is a mother figure to many. A grandmother to eleven, three girls and eight boys, and mother to four. “Being a grandmother means the world to me because I now have time for my grandkids which I never had for my children because I was a working mother,” said Mkhize. Reminiscing about her mother, Thandie explains that she is of mixed race, born to a White mother and Black father. “My mother was a very loving person. She loved us. She was a strong woman who taught us values but most of all she taught us to be independent,” she said.
