Fife mums prepare to celebrate first Mother's Day in lockdown

But many are still planning to mark the occasion this Sunday – especially new mums in Fife who will be celebrating their very first Mother’s Day.

This will include Siobhon Robertson from Glenrothes who welcomed twin boys, Arlo and Jenson, into the world on December 10, 2020.

These are the first children Siobhon and partner David Gorman have together - David also has a daughter Zoe aged six.

She said she is really looking forward to her first Mother’s Day, which will be a double celebration.

“I always wanted to be a mum as I’m an auntie to 11 nieces and nephews,” she said. “Being a mum to twins just makes the special day complete for me.

"I feel very blessed to have been given the opportunity to be a mum to my beautiful boys. We will spend the day together as it’s also my 28th birthday that day too, so it will be a double celebration.”

Siobhon said she has found it hard not being able to see members of her family these past few weeks: “It’s been really difficult not seeing everyone as we are a large family which would normally spend a lot of time together.

"My sisters would normally never be away from the boys, but restrictions are preventing this just now.”

She added: “I think we will probably just have a takeaway on Sunday – we were hoping to go out but can’t because of what is going on.”

Christine Paterson from Glenrothes is also looking forward to her first Mother’s Day. Her daughter Chloé was born on June 10 last year.

Christine said: "I’m feeling excited.

"It still doesn’t seem real that I had a baby. The importance of Mother’s Day to me is just like everyday - the feeling of being loved by a beautiful baby.

"I don’t have any plans as we are still in lockdown but I can’t wait to open my first card from my baby.”

She said experiencing motherhood has been very difficult during lockdown.

"Having a baby let alone my first baby in lockdown was really scary. Her dad’s not involved so it’s been really rough. I stay with my gran which hasn’t been easy as she’s in her 70s.

"Not having the mum and baby classes or first time swimming has been really disappointing for me because I’m quite a social person. I’m gutted Chloé hasn’t made any baby friends yet.

"Adapting to motherhood has its ups and downs especially when you are in the house all the time - sometimes you go a bit stir crazy, but I try to change it up by taking Chloé for a walk round the estate.

She added: "But because of the lockdown, all Chloé’s firsts have been behind four walls which is really sad - first bath from mummy, first words, first solids, first attempt to walk, first night sleeping all the way through, first time sitting and first time laughing.

"Even looking at Chloé’s little red book it’s basically empty except from things I have been filling in.”

But it’s not only new mums who will be experiencing a very different Mother’s Day this year as every mum will be finding this one strange because of coronavirus restrictions.

Jade Wright from Kirkcaldy already has a four-year-old boy called Jake, but welcomed a new baby, Josh, on October 13 last year.

She said: “Comparing our usual Mother’s Day it will be very different this year not getting out and about to celebrate. We would normally go out for lunch to a restaurant but this year we will spending it in the house with probably me doing the cooking!

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“But having a baby in lockdown was a big change from having my eldest Jake.

"My husband didn’t get into any of my appointments or scans, I had to find out the gender of Josh by myself which wasn’t ideal - luckily restrictions had lifted slightly in October when I went in for my c-section, my husband got in from start to finish and even got to stay in overnight with us which I was thankful for.

"It was hard being away from my eldest Jake as there were restrictions on children visiting, but he got to meet his baby brother the following day at home.”

Gemma Adams lives in Burntisland with partner Greig, sons Andrew (9) and Alfie (5) and new baby Sienna, who was born on June 13 last year.

She said: “I love Mother’s Day and I am excited to be experiencing it with Sienna this year. Mother’s Day to me is important as it’s all about thanking our mothers for everything they have done for us and still do for us to this day.

"We don’t have any plans with lockdown in place, but we will all relax and have fun as a family at home. Normally we would go out for a meal.”

She has found not being able to see friends and family during the lockdown hard, but has a support bubble which has helped.

She added: “Andrew and Alfie are a great help with their baby sister and absolutely dote on her, but this time it’s been quite hard adapting to everything - with a new baby in a pandemic, lockdown and not being able to let family and friends meet our beautiful girl. It has also been hard on our two boys not being able to socialise and have Sienna in a social group with other babies.

"But we can only look up and things will get better.”

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