Pietermaritzburg - A mother’s all embracing, warm and safe love comes second to none. In the case of a Pietermaritzburg mother and daughter, who have grown to become best friends, even distance could not pierce their bond.
Nontuthuko Mashimane, 38, believes that although mothers should be appreciated daily, Mother’s Day should be just as big of a deal as birthdays. As such, her mother Thandiwe Mashimane, 68, will receive five-star treatment on Sunday.
Nontuthuko, an ethnomedicine practitioner, founder and owner of a nutrition and iridology (an alternative medicine technique) practice, said the pair shared a love for sport and that they both had accumulated a number of accolades from local and international ultra and trail marathons.
“We do everything together, travel, go to the gym and shop together. We even have the same outfits because when I like something, I know she would too so I have to buy two of each,” she said.
“My mom believes you are as young as you feel. So her being young at heart makes it so easy for me to look at her as my girlfriend, the girlfriend every woman should have.
But with that said, she still acts like my mom and her wisdom and advice is always nurturing. I can never explain the bond we have, but she always says it’s because she breastfed me for two years.”
When Nontuthuko was in Grade 11, her mother accepted a nursing job in London. This helped in improving their communication skills. They spent years writing letters and postcards and visited each other at least twice each year until she returned in 2020.
“It is then that I got to travel abroad and it’s when we got to really build our relationship to be more than just mom and daughter but to be best friends,” she said. “I see so many aspects and characteristics of my mom in me. When I look at her, listen to her, I see an older version of me.”
Their last race together was the Capital City Marathon in Pietermaritzburg last Sunday. Having completed five Comrades Marathons, five Two Oceans marathons and the Dubai, Istanbul and Berlin Marathons, Nontuthuko says running together has become her therapy.
“I hated running and she loved it, so in my teenage years she would encourage me to run the Spar Ladies races with her, and I guess my running gene kicked in,” she said. “We often wake up in the morning and run together and our runs are always a chatting session where we get to catch up about different things happening in our lives.”
For Thandiwe who is looking forward to a special Mother’s Day, raising a girl has been a blessing and she emphasised the importance of always affirming your love and instilling confidence.
“A girl child must know that she is mother earth and that the world is a wonderful place. I always say my daughter is 10 girls in one because she is loving, very respectful, humble and loves people,” she said. “From a young age, mothers should teach their daughters that they are more than enough. The sooner we tell our girls that in life, the better. Confidence is the best make-up in the world.”
SUNDAY TRIBUNE