My own parent trap 3



Growing up I had two mums. It sounds a little strange, but it was all that I knew.  As a teenager it was awesome, I could go between each Mum and get what I wanted a little easier.

You see my Mum is an identical twin and they are inseparable.

Even today in their late sixties they spend most their days together.

I would ring my Mum to chat and ask some questions, and without knowing my Aunty would answer the phone and giggle at the trick she was playing on me, pretending to be my Mum.

The parent trap movie, growing up was one of our family favourites. We would laugh at the tricks being played between those two naughty twins and laugh whilst watching our film on its videocassette.

Play the movie forward now and I realise why my Mum spent every day with her sister, raising their gaggle of children together.  

The isolation of motherhood often undoes me. It is not that I need more friends or family; I just need five-minute friends who are able to have a cup of tea at a moments notice. With all our busy schedules and task lists of perfect planned parenthood, it is easy to forget that in the midst of it all we are all longing for deep connection.


About Amanda

Amanda Viviers has published ten books and is a presenter on radio across New Zealand and Australia. She is also the co-founder of Kinwomen; a network created to inspire women to start conversations that matter. Head of Narrative for Compassion Australia, she is driven by a passion for social justice, she loves supporting projects for women in developing countries. Teaching women to live creative lives, beyond the circumstances, is something she pursues daily. Wife of Charl and Mum of Maximus and Liberty, she lives a creative life, longing to see people live inspired. Pinterest/ Twitter/ @Mandaviviers Instagram: @amandaviviers Facebook: @amandaviviersperth

3 thoughts on “My own parent trap

  • WENDY DOLAN

    Wow so true Amanda. Those regular 5 minute cups of tea are signs of significant ones in our lives. It’s not the 5 minutes it’s the spontaneity and the consistency of their love and fun in our lives.

  • Sally Hewitt

    This resonates with me so much Amanda. When I was a new young mum, living on the opposite side of the globe from my family I longed for those spontaneous cuppas with my mum and even a spontaneous phone call. I actually still long for them now but thank goodness for FaceTime, social media at its best. ??

  • Stephanie Kara

    Yeh, I remember and even now with more grown-up kids, it’s still something I value. ‘5 minute friends’ are a rarity, hard to find, so hold tight when you find them.

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