If I call now she will be on the doorstep within five minutes’
Image: Nine IJff
Jannine Berkelaar (39) is editor-in-chief of Kek Mama and mother of Elin (10) and Mats (8). Her friend Natalie Zwart (40) is editor-in-chief AI of vtwonen and mother of Hanna (9) and Thijmen (6).
Jannine: “Natalie has been in my life for a long time and I am very happy and grateful for that. She knows how to ask the right questions, even questions that are tedious to answer. She always wants to know the ins and outs and I really like that. This will lead you to other conversations. Her sincere interest deepens our friendship.”
Natalie: “We have known each other since high school, Jannine was one grade below. Only when we started studying at the same time and followed the same course did we become friends. We also met Charlotte there, unfortunately she couldn’t come to this photo shoot, but together we are a trinity.”
Power woman
Jannine: “I think Natalie is a real power woman, she has a busy job, has also started her own company and is always busy with multiple projects. But she is also a family person and makes time for her own wishes and needs. No idea how she does it all. I often think: how many hours do you actually have in a day?”
Jannine: “I think Natalie is a real power woman”
Natalie: “I just sleep eight hours. But I can say the same about you, you have a very busy job and always make time for your family, friends and sports. You look good and you go to all the events. I think we mainly support and inspire each other in this. We have the same energy, drive and ambition. But when other mothers take a different approach, I try to think: live and let live.”
Read also – It takes a village: why a ‘village’ of co-educators is not such a bad idea >
Without judgement
Jannine: “I like talking to you about work and about all the things we are besides mother. When I became editor-in-chief of Kek Mama, others might have thought: are you going to work more? Or: how are you going to do that at home? Natalie would never say that, she always supports me.”
Natalie: “We sometimes don’t see each other for three months, but it always feels good. Jannine never judges”
Natalie: “For a while we saw each other every week, at work and we played tennis together. Now sometimes we don’t see each other for three months, but it always feels good. Jannine never judges. When we meet, we first give each other a big hug. Then we are 100 percent present in the moment and we really see each other.”
Jannine: “I have few friends who hug as hard as you! No matter how often we see each other, we are always there for each other. Recently we had a friend in need. Without hesitation, we jumped straight into the car and drove over to her. I liked that, that we felt: this is the most important thing now, everything aside, we have to support her.”
Support each other
Natalie: “We know from each other: if I call now, she will be on the doorstep within five minutes. What I appreciate about Jannine is that she makes very conscious choices about spending time with her family; playing with Lego, cocooning together and doing fun things. She has a very nice family and it feels very stable. When I think of her family I feel a lot of love. I especially wish Jannine peace to occasionally realize where she stands, what a beautiful life she has and that she can be proud of herself.”
Jannine: “I wish everyone a Natalie: someone in your life on the same level, so that you can grow even more together”
Jannine: “How sweet. I do recognize it, sometimes I just keep on going. I wish Natalie sees what a special person she is. She can be insecure about certain things, but that is not necessary. I wish everyone a Natalie: someone in your life on the same level, so that you can grow even more together. We have known each other for 25 years and have grown up together. That is very valuable, I should say that to you more often. And that actually applies to everyone: say what someone else means to you more often. It’s good to realize from time to time how rich you are with such a special person. And for others it is valuable and nice to hear.”
87% of mothers in the Netherlands have to deal with mom shaming, according to research by Kek Mama. The editors found this so shocking that they started a campaign: Kek Mama launches mombracing, the counterpart of momshaming, and calls on all mothers to support each other instead of criticizing from now on.
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