Szening Ooi

No one prepares you for motherhood. It is tender, funny and raw, sometimes all at once. Motherhood bends time: it shows you the coordinates of your past and how you fit into the long line of your ancestors. It also helps you see into the future, into the tomorrows of tomorrows that the next generation will inherit. You don’t need to be a mother to experience motherhood. All you need is the desire to leave behind something better than what you found.

When I think of my son’s future and our family’s future in Aotearoa, I see Avondale, resplendent with her colourful people, her traffic-stopping Sunday market and her iconic town spider with occasional sneaker hanging off her web. I treasure the simple pleasures of everyday life here. Our evening strolls to the Whau River, Pokémon cards from the two-dollar shops, and the friendly library that feels like a second home.

Avondale is the most welcoming neighbourhood I’ve ever lived in, and I’m thankful to be able to build a life here. The longer we live here, the more my memories of Avondale will intertwine with my memories of being a mother. Seeing my child grow up here alongside his peers, my biggest hope is that they get to enjoy a good life and are joyful and secure in who they are. This neighbourhood has nourished generations and will continue to nourish more. Our diversity is our strength as we step in this new phase of transformation.