Day 26: Being with Mum

Today feels like the first day when I can actually breathe. I have a long list of things to do for work and home. I have actually started collecting new uniform for the Mini K's already for September. It may sound crazy but it's the only way I can be organised for the new school year and survive the summer holidays. Technically I should be working from home, Wednesday's to Friday's. These past few months, there's been a fair amount of travelling and rescheduling of clinic days. So this hasn't really happened. I have tried to keep my diary free over the summer holidays for my own sanity.

My mum has invited me for lunch today. My mum is an amazing home cook. She and my aunty used to run our local primary school kitchen when me and my little brother were there too. Their cooking was renowned and many of my school friends knew me through my famous mum's school dinners. With my family from Italy, growing up food was really everything and I was lucky to have such a variety of well cooked homely foods. Our staple is Vietnamese food. Sometimes a lot of time is taken to prepare dishes but it always tastes super fresh. Our whole family love food and our family banquets are something else. I love spending time with my mum. She's an introvert being and enjoys the simple things in life. We laugh and share anecdotes about the Mini K's.

I feel she enjoys being 'Nanny Tran' and she tells me being nanny

keeps her active both physically and mentally. My mum and I have slight differences in personalities but our values are very much the same. Especially when it comes to being a strong woman. As I've grown older I have learnt more about my mum's hardships and endurance of life's misfortunes. She is tougher than most people give her credit for. She is bright, intelligent and a keen reader. One of my first books given to me by my mum was Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Think that says a lot.

I love how my mum checks in with me about how work is going. She knows I'm super busy and travelling all over but doesn't really understand fully my job's responsibilities. She's been by my side at every stage of my career. I remember her dropping me off for my pre-reg panel interview and telling me just be yourself and you'll be fine. Despite not fully understanding extent of what pharmacists do, she just believes I am the right fit. Perhaps mums knows best after all.