I am a mother, first and foremost. I love my son, even if I don't really say it, but he knows; he can pick up on things like that, much to my gratitude.
I am also the CEO of an airdot, but I feel more like a mother there, too. I have thought about it often, not that I'd tell anyone; Arthur, I've seemed to mentally refer to him as my youngest – a young child, which in all honesty is how I would see him even if it were not like it is with the rest of MJN – and Martin acts like he's my middle child every now and then – an early teenager like an early teenager; gawky, self-conscious, shy, with a bit of a complex… Alright, a lot of a complex.
I've always been split when it came to Douglas, though. One minute I think of him as my eldest, a young man straying into adulthood, but can still find time for his brothers and humour Arthur's games and whims, then helps Martin feel a little better in himself if the light-hearted teasing hits a tender area. Other times, I think of him and me as baby sitters. I have Arthur and he has Martin and we both have to run around a small house and keep them both in check. Martin is usually fine and can cope by himself until the walls he builds around his issues crumble down, and he's left in Douglas' arms to try and gain his control again.
But either way, I've neglected the one piece of advice I've heard repeated time and time again; never work with children or animals; but I don't really care as I wouldn't have it either way.
Wow… When I think of myself I think of my family – yes, family, more than I do me. Well, that just shows I am a mother, I suppose. While I think it's a little sad I think of myself like this, I can't say I'd change it for the world.