A Mother’s Intuition
A mother just knows.
They simply do.
Even now, as I’m about to turn 36, my mum somehow knows exactly what I need. Sometimes it’s a cup of tea, a home-cooked dinner dropped at the door, or someone quietly washing the mountain of dishes that has taken over my kitchen sink. It’s those little acts of love that somehow say, I’ve got you.
This winter in Hobart has been a tough one for our little family. Hugo is still settling into daycare, Sofia started childcare about seven weeks ago, and we’ve been caught in what feels like an endless cycle of illnesses. It’s certainly been a change from the warm Brisbane winters we were used to.
A few weeks ago, Sofia developed an infection in the bone behind her ear. I’d never even heard of it before. Her ear wasn’t red or swollen, it just seemed to stick out a little more than usual. I assumed she was tugging on it because she was teething, as teething often makes little ears sore. I took her to the doctor, who reassured us there wasn’t an infection, but by the next day her ear was noticeably protruding. Tim took one look and immediately took her to the emergency department. I’m incredibly grateful to have a nurse in the family!
She spent three days in hospital on intravenous antibiotics, and during that time everything else simply stopped. Orders were forgotten, bills remained unpaid and life just froze. It wasn’t our first hospital stay—Hugo was admitted a few years ago with strep—but you never become comfortable when it’s your child. Things can change so quickly. We were worried about our little girl while also trying to care for Hugo, and Tim happened to be on call for work. It felt like everything was happening all at once.
Motherhood has shown me there’s an instinct inside me that is impossible to ignore. It’s fierce, unwavering and deeply protective. If my children need me, nothing else matters. I would move mountains for them.
I even notice it in the everyday moments. Hugo is learning how to navigate friendships at daycare, and watching another child push him or take a toy is enough to make every protective instinct in me come alive. There’s a part of me that wants to rush in and fix everything. But then I remind myself that growing up means learning resilience too. As much as I want to wrap him up and keep him safe forever, I know my job isn’t to remove every challenge—it’s to help him feel loved enough to face them.
Balancing motherhood with running my art business has been one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced. At the moment, I often only manage one full day of work each week before another illness keeps one of the kids home. Ear infections, conjunctivitis, coughs… it feels relentless. Meanwhile I’m quietly panicking that I’m falling behind on orders.
I’ve always been someone who likes order. I like things organised, tidy and in their place. Maybe that’s part of the way my mind works, but I also think it’s what allows me to immerse myself so deeply in my creative practice. Printmaking isn’t always glamorous—it can be slow, painstaking and frustrating—but it requires patience, discipline and persistence. Those qualities have become part of who I am.
I have no plans to give up what I love. This season is simply that—a season. The juggle of running a small business while raising two young children is very real, and some days it feels impossible. There will always be mortgages to pay, bills to cover and life to navigate, but I hope I can continue creating for many years to come.
So thank you for being here. Whether you’ve purchased a piece of my artwork, shared my work with a friend, attended a workshop or simply followed along, your support means more than you probably realise. Every order helps me continue doing what I love while raising my little family, and for that I am incredibly grateful.
Thank you,
Kate xx
Thanks for reading my latest journal about what’s been happening in my life lately. It’s been busy, but also beautiful and full. Hoping for more exciting adventures and inspiration along the way!
Kate xx
