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Home / Bay of Plenty Times / Opinion

Will Johnston's fishy gift for mum this Mother's Day

Bay of Plenty Times
10 May, 2019 09:46 PM3 mins to read

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Will, (right), Will's mum Laraine, (centre), sister Katie, (left). Photo / Supplied

Will, (right), Will's mum Laraine, (centre), sister Katie, (left). Photo / Supplied

Will Johnston
Opinion by Will Johnston
Will Johnston is the local 9am-3pm host for The Hits Bay of Plenty 95FM. He's also a celebrant and MC.

COMMENT: As a child, Mother's Day was one of my favourite times of the year. Yeah I know, what a suck up. Such a mummy's boy, right?!

Wrong. I loved Father's Day too. I was not discriminatory in my sucking up.

When it boils down to it, I
just like to see the reaction of someone when I do something nice for them.

It's kind of the purest form of gratitude, right; a parent's happiness brought about by an action of their child.

Turns out I took that too far and made a career out of it. I give things away on air to mums basically on a daily basis! Then when you throw in the fact I'm a celebrant ... What does that do too? Make mums happy. Lots of mums. To the point of tears!

As I'm writing this I'm having a sickening epiphany of how much of a suck up my entire life has been! Ah well, stick to what you know if it makes you happy I say.

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When I asked my sister, who is a mum of two boys (3 and 18 months), what her plans for Mother's Day were and her thoughts on it, she said: "We have no plans. My thoughts are ... someone bring me breakfast in bed and let me have a nap."

That's the point really, isn't it? To do something a little special or different or caring for the person who raised you, or an awesome mum/motherly figure in your life.

I was in full suck up kid mode when I was 9. My mother cut my hair. Clearly with a bowl as a guide. And I loved it.

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Mum loved little glass/crystal ornaments. At about 9 I went on a school field trip to a glass blowing factory and I spent all the money I had left on a glass ornament for her.

A whale. A glass whale. It was hideous. Not only badly made, but also was I telling her to lose weight or something?

Like where was my head at? She'd never shown interest in sea creature in her life!
But she loved it.

Outwardly at least.

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She made me feel great about having 'spoilt' her like that and I felt like the best kid in the world!

No one else, but a person who raised you, has the ability to make you feel like that.

So treat your mum tomorrow if you can.

Dare you to buy her a glass whale.

• Will Johnston is the local 9am-3pm host for The Hits Bay of Plenty 95FM. He's also a celebrant and MC. Follow Will on Instagram on @radiowill.

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