Aatir Zaidi
What does being a mum mean to you?
For me, being a mother has never just meant raising children, it has meant nurturing a whole world around them. From the moment my children were born, my life became about guiding them, protecting them, and helping them grow into kind and strong human beings. A mother carries many roles at once: a teacher, a listener, a supporter, and sometimes the quiet strength behind the family.
There were moments of joy and moments of challenge, but every sacrifice was made with love. Watching my children grow, build their own lives, and care for others has been one of the greatest rewards of my life. Being a mother means standing beside your children in every season of life, celebrating their successes, comforting them in difficult times, and reminding them of their values.
To me, motherhood is not only about giving life but it is about shaping hearts, holding a family together, and passing on love, resilience, and compassion from one generation to the next.
Even as my children become adults, that feeling of being their mother never changes, it simply grows deeper with time.
What is special about your mum?
My mum has always been a brave and all-round woman. Hailing from a small town in India, she moved to the bustling city of Delhi. There, she worked as a teacher for over two decades before relocating to New Zealand. Beyond raising my siblings and my extended family, she also provided emotional, financial and spiritual support. I admire her remarkable emotional resilience and her unwavering enthusiasm to help others.
We did not reflect on her role as a Kaumatua of the family and matriarch who held us all together. However, as she is ageing, we can see the value and hard work she has done. It is now her time to enjoy life.
