It was after she became a mum herself to now 17-month-old Sebastian (pictured above) that blogger Jen Bishop started to reflect on the multiple battles her own mother fought.
Jen who writes for The Interiors Addict and is an ambassador for the Cancer Council’s Girls’ Night, lost her mother from skin cancer when she was three and her sister was just 18-months-old.
“One of the things that really hit me when he (Sebastian) was born is that you realise this huge love that you’ve never really felt before’.
“For the first time I thought about what it must have been like for my mum knowing she was leaving her children, because I think everyone focuses on how sad it is for the people left behind but then as a mum I kind of put myself in her shoes and I thought ‘oh my god’ you know to imagine what it must have felt like knowing you had a baby and a toddler that you were leaving behind,” she explained.
Jen Bishop lost her mum to skin cancer when she was three years old. Jen pictured with her mum. Source: Supplied
“No child should lose their mum at whatever age”
Jen continued, “It really really hit me and I think more than anything having a child myself I just think, no child should lose their mum at whatever age but you know it’s just heartbreaking to think that this happens to people all the time.”
The cause is something very close to her heart and since becoming a mum she’s even more passionate about doing whatever she can.
Earlier this year she hosted a Biggest Morning Tea which raised $2,000 for the Cancer Council but she believes it’s about more than just raising money.
“I think it’s definitely really important to raise money to fund the research because that’s what ultimately changes the medicine but also really important to raise awareness of checking your breasts and pap smears and things like that, because if people don’t get these tests done they could just have something wrong that they don’t know about until it’s too late and it’s so simple really to get things checked out,” Jen explained.
It was having her own child that gave her a different perspective on what her own mother went through. Pictured with husband Damian and son Sebastian. Source: Supplied
Keep it simple when planning your night
When it comes to hosting a Girls’ Night In, which raises funds for breast and gynaecological cancer, it’s not about turning it into a big spectacle says Jen, who thinks fun should be the most important part of it.
Having something simple planned is the key and Jen said, “I think it should be about good company, getting all your friends together just having fun not making it a big thing,
“The best thing is getting everyone around and saying ‘just wear your pjs, we’re going to watch Dirty Dancing and Pretty Woman and order pizza’ and if everyone can donate $50 happy days.”
Jen’s go-to elements for styling a party are flowers, good food and drinks, good company and of course some sweet treats like donuts.
“Becoming a mum is such a game changer”
While Jen has always had a passion for supporting charity it was giving birth to her son that became her motivation to do more.
“I just think becoming a mum is such a game changer in so many ways but it just brings a lot of perspective into a lot of things.”
Girls’ Night In runs through October and all the information about hosting your own night is on their website.
