‘After baby time that stopped’
Photography: Mark Groeneveld
In Kek Mama 5, Maxime Meiland talks about her revealing book, claiming toddlers in the schoolyard, her special family bond and growing up without hugs.
About the latter she says:
“After infancy that suddenly stopped – now with their grandchildren the same story. With Vivé they are still ‘kissing’, but that will be over next year. Because of that lack of physicality, I also had to get used to it with Clairetje. Since I’ve known Lee, who is very physical, I’m learning that more and more.”
More cuddling
“Sometimes I suddenly give Claire a hug before bed because I realize I haven’t held her all day. Then she looks at me with a look like: mom, what are you doing? Then that is a signal to me that I really need to hug her more often. I am disappointed that I do not have that naturally and I certainly want to stimulate it in myself.”
“Sometimes I suddenly give Claire a hug before bed because I realize I haven’t held her all day”
Love and warmth
Once Maxime asked her parents why they never hugged her. “Immediately they said: ‘You know we love you, don’t you?’ And then the conversation is over, haha. Of course I also feel in my heart that it is all right, but I think that extra moment of love and warmth is very important for a child.”
Read more? The entire interview with Maxime can be found in Kek Mama 5, available in stores from 2 May.
