PARENT INTERVIEW
Interviewee: Cate Hillary
Interviewer: Sophia Rodriguez
Date of Interview: July 16, 2020
List of Acronyms: CH-Cate Hillary, SR-Sophia Rodriguez
Introduction
Parents are usually tasked with the responsibility of offering care and protection to their toddlers. Such responsibilities are not always easy and come with lots of challenges. Given the tough economic times, parents have been forced to maintain a balance between their work and caring for their children. However, some parents have gone beyond the odds to take care of their children as they believe it is an important cycle in recognizing and meeting the developmental needs of each stage. Today, I am pleased to interview Cate Hillary at her Florida home. Cate is a single mother to her two years old daughter, Elizabeth keen.
SR: May I start by saying thank you for having me in your house for this interview
CH: [smiling] Pleasure is mine
SR: Is Elizabeth the first child you have had?
CH: Yes
SR: How do you feel being a mother?
CH: I feel good and happy to be a mother, although at times there are challenges that I face as a parent, most of them I have been able to overcome.
SR: Being a single mother, what can you say is your responsibility in your family?
CH: Sophia, as a single parent I can say I bare all the responsibility for my family. I am tasked with the responsibility of looking after the health of my child and providing for her all the basic needs. Besides, it is my work to see to it that all her developmental needs are met.
SR: Earlier, you said that you have experienced some challenges as a parent. What are some of these challenges and how have been able to overcome?
CH: I am a nurse by profession and my line of duty is at times so demanding. The major challenge as a parent came when I had completed my six months of maternity leave. I say it was a challenge because I had to balance between my work and my child. As a first-time mother, one would love to spend most of the time with their child- an opportunity denied by work. However, my mother came over to help with the child and gave me ample time to attend to my work.
SR: Some parents I have interacted with say they have problems in identifying whether their children have retarded growth. What can you say about your situation?
CH: Yes Sophia, there are challenges in knowing when your child has a retard growth especially when the parent has no background on medicine and psychology. For me, given my medical background, I can say detecting retard growth in my infant has not been a problem. However, there are instances of uncertainty that forces me to consult with my colleagues.
SR: Different families experience varied dynamics, what is yours?
CH: Well, I can say that my mom, Elizabeth, and I have a great relationship. Elizabeth jokes a lot and she is determined to learn more. My mom loves telling her stories that she later tries to narrate to me when I get back from work. I can conclude that the three of us are having fun together.
SR: What message do you have to young mothers and those expecting to be mothers out there?
CH: First I would say that having little ones around is fun and everyone should dream of having one. Second, there are challenges associated with parenthood; however, the challenges should not deter one from bringing up a child properly.
SR: Thank you for your time and for hosting me in your home.
CH: Welcome.
Conclusion
The interview session was quite nice. There are a lot of facts regarding parenthood learned from Cate. First, it was encouraging to learn how Cate is devoted to taking care of her child. Also, despite being a first-time mother and a single mother, Cate has remained steadfast to provide for her child. The optimism in Cate encourages other mothers outside there.