About this title.
We’ve written this book largely because of the enthusiastic response, from both readers and listeners, to Christine Rea’s story. Christine was 47 years old, a single mother of four children, the youngest only 4 years old when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given two years to live. Her situation captured hearts around New Zealand and inspired this book, a mother’s manual. Rather than sadden you with a detailed account of one of the most difficult situations a mother or parent could ever find themselves in, we have chosen to be the vehicle for Christine to ‘speak from her heart’. Together we will share with you, her moving memoirs, her family’s reflections, numerous thoughts and aspirations, adding as well our own experiences as mothers, so that we may offer you, the reader, some practical, workable suggestions, support and most importantly hope.
Being a mother is challenging, exciting and probably one of the most potentially rewarding tasks we will ever face. However, being a mother with only 2 years to live puts an entirely different perspective on all aspects of motherhood.
A normal, healthy mother endures the stages as they come, from the toddler-taming stage, complete with tantrums and toilet training, to the adolescent stage with all the sex talk and mood swings.
We learn and grow as they do; and we often look back and wonder whether we could have done things differently and if we would do things differently again.
In Christine’s case, she had the ultimate challenge thrust upon her. The challenge of attempting to ‘predict’ the stages, the challenge of attempting to ‘outline all those things we want our children to learn, the things school won’t teach them’. She had the daunting task of ‘hoping’ she was leaving nothing out; and that is what propelled this book.
Christine’s request was for this book to go far beyond her own story and advance a new concept – ‘the school of making people’.
Just through writing it we have been inspired to make some small, subtle, yet important changes in our own mothering.
There are many days when we feel the task of mothering is just too demanding, exhausting and threatening to our sanity; we long to get the kids into bed so we can have a moment to ourselves.
It was the same for Christine. We know most mothers feel this way at times, it is a normal part of motherhood that is not likely to change. If there was ever a book written that would prevent ‘those days’ it would be an instant best-seller. However, we have chosen to assist you by giving you a different perspective to pursue.
Some of the ideas in this book will grab you and some won’t. Take from it what you can and apply it to your situation and needs.
Already, through the media, Christine’s story has inspired many mothers. We hope we can inspire more mothers to ‘think’ or ‘act’ in a more positive way which will benefit both the mother and her family; and then Christine’s legacy will have begun.
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About this Author.
Janine Antram is a health, fitness and lifestyle speaker and educator from Tauranga, New Zealand. She is a qualified fitness trainer with over 14 years experience in the fitness industry; and is currently completing a degree in applied science.
At 20, as an overweight solo mother, Janine, with infant daughter in tow, “jumped a bus and ran away to find a life”. Since then she has racked up a remarkable list of achievements.
She attained a top ranking in the 2000 World Body-shaping contest; has trained fitness competitors to win both national and world titles; and has appeared as a body-double for American actress and fitness model, Vicky Pratt. She has won numerous bikini competitions and has modelled for Tribe modelling agency.
Janine recently resigned as director/shareholder of a fitness centre to pursue her career in producing motivational and educational products for women.
She continues her quest both nationally and internationally to help inspire and educate others in ‘living the lifestyle’; and is a regular columnist in newspapers around the country.
Janine recently launched her self-development product, The Lipstick Connection www.lipstickconnection.com with best friend and co-founder, Hilary Saxton.
She has a passion for sharing with women the principles of creating a balanced life encompassing family, fun, work and children, while feeling energised, motivated and looking great.
Hilary Saxton is a qualified health, fitness and lifestyle coach and educator from Tauranga, currently completing a degree in business management.
She has over 17 years experience in the fitness and health industry and is dedicated to motivating people to achieve their personal health and fitness goals and sharing her knowledge about balancing a busy lifestyle and looking and feeling great.
Having been an active teenager and keen participant in most sports, in her early 20s she “turned against her own health” and one day woke up to find herself weighing over 90kgs and extremely unfit.
Hilary began to study health and fitness and turned her life around to make her new-found passion not only her hobby, but also a very successful career.
She has won body-fitness and body-building competitions and has also trained numerous competitors at both regional and national levels.
Hilary currently manages her own Pilate’s studio in the Bay of Plenty, while also managing a home and caring for her extended family of six children.
She is a co-founder of The Lipstick Connection, with Janine Antram.
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