"You won’t be able to tour comedy anymore."
These are the words Amy Hetherington heard when she became pregnant and had her daughter. These are the very words that ignited a fire within her and motivated her to prove everyone wrong.
I took it upon myself to go to every state and territory in Australia with my baby on my hip, and to perform my new show Crying Over Spilt Milk, primarily to prove them wrong.
She not only did that, but she also won two awards while she was at it: the Weekly Comedy Winner at the Adelaide Fringe in 2022, and the Fringe World Perth Best Overall Comedy for her new show Juggle in 2023.
Amy is proof that when new parents have support around them, they can do anything.
Darwin has been her home for the past 11 years and it is the support of the community that continues to inspire her and others to try new things, including comedy. It is here that Amy gave birth to her now 18-month-old daughter, Ruby.
Ruby has been travelling and on tour with Amy since she was 2 months old. Amy notes that the ‘juggle is hard’, but acknowledges that every parent’s journey is hard at times. While traveling and on tour, Amy often takes Ruby with her, but there are occasions when she can’t. It is particularly important during these times that she is supported by her husband and parents who are there for Ruby when she is on the road.
Being a mum is the hardest thing I have ever done.
Like any mum, Amy still experiences the ups and downs of parenting life, including the guilt of being a working mum on the road. But she notes that
I am proud of my choices because I love modelling to Ruby that you can chase your dreams and love your work - you just need the support around you to make it work.
When asked if she had any tips for mums who are also juggling work and children, Amy said that the key is to separate work from parenting where possible and create boundaries. When she is working, she is committed to work. And when she is parenting, she is committed to parenting.
She has also learned that it’s ok to not always be able to juggle everything perfectly and confided that she once broke down and screamed at strangers in a Pharmacy – true story. As mums we are often so hard on ourselves and expect everything to always be perfect and go to plan. But the reality is that when you have kids, this doesn’t happen. They are our greatest teachers when it comes to surrendering control and embracing the messiness of life.
Amy's story is a great reminder that as parents, we have the incredible opportunity to inspire and empower our children to chase their dreams and reach for the stars. And yes it can be easy to get caught up in our own fears and insecurities, but when we lead by example, we give our children permission to do the same.
So let's show them! Let's not hold back and let's follow our dreams. And despite the obstacles we may face, let's not give up and let's be determined to make our dream a reality, just like Amy did!
Let's teach our children to be resilient, to believe in themselves, and to never give up on what they truly want. And if we do it together, we will inspire the next generation of dreamers, doers, and change-makers!
So...from one mum to another, from one story to another and from one dream to another, let's do it!'
With love, kindness & determination,
- The Villagehood Team
If you would like to share your story too, please connect with the Villagehood team.
To learn more about Villagehood Australia and the programs we offer, please check our website www.villagehoodaustralia.com.
Villagehood Australia is a registered charity with the ACNC and is endorsed as Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR). You can donate to the charity here.
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