Anele and Thembisa Mdoda chat to us about raising their children, excelling in their careers, and their future projects.
Watching the two sisters interacting with each other is amusing. The teasing and laughing reminds me of a typical sibling relationship. I almost find it awkward to interrupt because for a while, they are lost in their own world.
A TALE OF TWO CITIES
I ask them to describe their personalities, and they compare themselves to two of the biggest and vibrant cities in South Africa.
Anele: If I were a city, I would be Joburg. Similar to this city, I operate at a fast, high level of personality, and I am consistent. Whether I am excited, happy or angry, my personality remains on the same level.
Thembisa: I would be Cape Town, because the city usually entails four seasons in one. I go with how I feel. When I’m not well, I keep quiet and when happy, I’m really happy!
MAMA TAUGHT ME
When it comes to raising their boys, they draw inspiration from their late mother. Thembisa is a mother of two – Lonwabo and Lonwabile – and Anele of one – Alakhe. Because of the love and presence they received from their parents, they also ensure that they do the same for their kids.
Anele: Being present and loving means everything to me. Alakhe was about seven or eight months old when he experienced a nightmare for the first time. I was sitting in the lounge while he was sleeping in his room. When he started crying, I ran to him; he doesn’t cry often. I embraced him and he stopped crying. This made me realise something. Growing up, I was annoyed about how much my mom was always there. But, being a mom made me realise that all those times that I was sad, be it because I had not made it into the netball team or fighting with friends, she was always there – and this made it better. That is what resonates with me, because my mom always did her best to be there.
This story is from the December 2016 edition of Bona.
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This story is from the December 2016 edition of Bona.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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